Wanda & The Media

In a New Cannabis Landscape, Wanda James, a Navy Veteran Battles for Racial Equity
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35 Inspirational Leaders Improving the Future for Us All. These 2021 honorees muscled through a challenging year to change media, marketing and tech.
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This interview with CNBC 's Street of Dreams demonstrates how Wanda James speaks her mind and isn't afraid to share her strong point of view on today's cannabis business.
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WeedWeek interviewed Wanda James about marketing in the cannabis industry. In James’ response, she provided some ways to attract new users and experienced users.
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Simply Pure Developing Franchise Model, Cause-Based Brand - The company plans to partner with social equity licensees to establish firm footholds in the industry and obtain generational wealth.
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The Business of Drugs, documentary Episode 5. Despite the legalization of pot in California, roughly 80% of the state's cannabis sales still occur on the black market.
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“How To Do Your Part In Advancing Cannabis Reform In Your State” Wanda James, a career advocate and entrepreneur in and out of cannabis, said that advocacy remains essential because the goal has not been reached–particularly inclusion efforts.
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“What a Decade as an African American in the Cannabis Business Has Taught Me.” We have made many strides, but we still have a way to go. - an article by Wanda James
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With much to fight for, marijuana advocates give advice on ways you can help the cause. “The only way that we’re going to change how people talk about cannabis is when we fully legalize it,” added James.
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“Everything I Have Done In My Life Has Prepared Me For This Moment.” Wanda James talks success and social justice amidst a global pandemic.
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Wanda James and the political voice of the cannabis industry. 2020 CEO of the Year Finalist: James morphed a political consulting career into a venture in the cannabis industry
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Marijuana Dispensary Owner Details What Black People Face When They Enter The Business.” In a chat with Erik Parker, director of BET’s ‘Smoke: Marijuana + Black America,’ Wanda James, explains what she has experienced and what the hurdles are.
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Women in Cannabis: Q&A with Wanda James Simply Pure CEO shares her experiences as Colorado’s cannabis market evolves and provides advice for women in cannabis
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Nation’s 1st African American pot shop owner laments: ‘We still need more ownership by black and brown people’
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Hosts of the breakout podcast, Pod Save America, Jon, Jon, Tommy, Dan, and Alyssa, interviewed Wanda live on stage in Denver, Colorado on the episode titled, “A government eclipse.” published February 9, 2018.
Wanda was honored as the cover star for Cannabis & Tech Today Magazine for their Fall 2018 issue where they discussed her career trajectory and her insights behind the deeply political cannabis industry.
Wanda’s Way: Simply Pure’s Wanda James carved a path from humble beginnings to become a Naval Intelligence officer, political activist and a fearless cannabis pioneer who has achieved icon status.
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Weed and The American Family: Wanda & Scott Wanda James and her husband, Scott Durrah, have been on a mission to change the conversation about marijuana after her brother was arrested for possession of 4.5 ounces of pot – and sentenced to 10 years in prison.
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Featured in The Atlantic’s American Dreams documentary “The Rise of a Colorado Cannabis Entrepreneur”
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June 10, 2024 Politico Colorado’s Weed Market Is Coming Down Hard and It’s Making Other States Nervous
May 6, 2024 MG Magazine 17 Ladies Leading the Cannabis Industry in 2024
May 5, 2024 The Wall Street Journal Reclassifying Marijuana Could Unlock Billions in Tax Savings for Cannabis Companies
April 30, 2024 The Denver Post A big deal: What the feds’ move to reclassify marijuana means for Colorado cannabis
April 12, 2024 Thrillist The Best Weed Dispensaries in Denver Right Now
Feb 15, 2024 Veriheal Fourteen Years Later, Wanda James Sustains Simply Pure’s Mission
January 25, 2024 The New York Times In a New Cannabis Landscape, a Navy Veteran Battles for Racial Equity
January 25, 2024 The New York Times In a New Cannabis Landscape, a Navy Veteran Battles for Racial Equity
December 31, 2023 The Denver Post The first 10 years of legal marijuana in Colorado were a wild ride. What will happen in the next decade?
December 28, 2023 Weed For Black Women 21 Black Women Owned Cannabis Stores To Visit In 2024
December 20 2023 Benzinga 35 Cannabis Innovators To Watch In 2024: Leaders Shaping The Green Revolution
November 21, 2023 CPR NEWS Diversity doesn't happen in a vacuum' - CU officials on school's DEI quest
November 1, 2023 Cannabis Business Times: Power In Partnership: The Story Of Simply Pure Trenton
October 24, 2023 Denver Post : New Regents’ Policy Requires CU Boulder To Report On Annual Diversity Goals
October 19, 2023 MG Magazine: 8 Best-Rated Dispensaries in Denver
October 13 2023, NJ.COM, Hundreds attend N.J. cannabis event to network, get exclusive insights about industry’s future
Sept 26, 2023 NJ.com Meet Wanda James, a cannabis trailblazer entering N.J.’s legal weed market this year
Sept 25, 2023 Yellowscene Magazine Colorado’s cannabis industry faces its biggest challenge since legalizationS
September 6, 2023 NJ.COM Legal weed pioneer Wanda James to keynote NJ Cannabis Insider’s Oct. 12 conference
August 31, 2023 Benzinga Social Equity Stories In Cannabis: Advocates Discuss Inclusion As Legislative Changes Loom
August 31 2023 Herb 7 Best Dispensaries in Denver
Aug 7, 2023 Cannabis Industry Journal Trenton Makes The World Takes: A Q&A with Tahir Johnson, CEO of Simply Pure Trenton
July 5, 2023 Colorado Women Chamber’s of Commerce: Top 25 Most Powerful Women in Business
June 28, 2023 Colorado Politics: 7 former Denver mayoral candidates to help Mike Johnston transition into office
June 21,2023 Marijuana Moment Schumer Is ‘Confident’ Marijuana Banking Bill Will Pass This Session, According To Cannabis Entrepreneur Who Spoke To Majority Leader
April 25, 2023 The Washington Post How to be a good weed tourist
April 20, 2023 CU Independent Regents discuss future of weapons policy more students speak out
April 19, 2023 Axios Denver What Denver's Black leaders expect from the next mayor.
March 10, 2023 Yellow Scene Magazine A coalition of bi-partisan Black leaders in Denver stands together to condemn anti-Blackness in the 2023 municipal elections
March 7, 2023 Cannabis Business Times New Jersey’s Burgeoning Cannabis Garden Set for Expansion
March 10, 2023 Green Market Report Beyond Social Media: How to Effectively Market Your Cannabis Company
March 3, 2023 Best Stocks Pioneering Women In Cannabis: Honoring Their Achievements During Women’s History Month And Beyond
February 3, 2023 CU Boulder Today Energized crowd welcomes new African and African American studies center to campus
1/15/2023 The Burlington Record Efforts to Make Legal Cannabis Industry Equitable Are Falling Flat
December 2, 2022, Wall Street Journal Efforts to Make Legal Cannabis Industry Equitable Are Falling Flat
November 30, 2022 GH Gossip 9 Most Popular Cannabis Advocates in the World
November 9, 2022 Denver Post Democrats will control University of Colorado Board of Regents
October 22, 2022 NJ.Com Expansion and inclusion
Septmeber 8 , 2022 USA Today Cannabis startups should have the same opportunities as other businesses
June 6, 2022 Yellow Scene Magazine Board of Regents candidate reflects on the intersection of cannabis entrepreneurship, racial justice
May 25, 2022 Yahoo African-American industry pioneer, and vocal critic of its whiteness
Wanda James joins O’Cannabiz Conference & Expo as a Keynote Speaker, June 2, 2022
April 25, 2022 Cannabis & Tech Today 7 Highly Influential Cannabis Celebrities to Watch in 2022
April 20, 2022 XO NECOLE 5 Black Women Fighting To Decriminalize Weed
April 8, 2022 Westword Marijuana Makeover: Discovery+ Show Visits Colorado Dispensaries
February 28, 2022 Cannabis Business Times Legalize and Get It Done': Q&A With Cannabis CEO Wanda James
12/1/21 Rolling Stone Magazine How Cannabis Leaders Can Look To the Future
11/8/21 Colorado Politics Cannabis pioneer Wanda James to run for open CU regent seat
11/8/21 Westword Marijuana Business Owner Wanda James Running for CU Board of Regents
11/2/21 Forbes Clash Of The Titans: Can Cannabis Culture And Big Business Co-Exist?
10/27/21 America’s Black Forum Episode 3 The Racial Disparity in the Legal Cannabis Industry
7/22/21 CO Tourism Office Partners Colorado Tourism Office Partners with Inclusive Journeys to Launch The Inclusive Guide, A New Digital Greenbook and Releases Innovative Frontline Training Module
7/12/21 9News Denver's Wanda James is a powerhouse in the pot industry
7/11/21 Ad Week Women Trailblazers: 35 Inspirational Leaders Improving the Future for Us All
7/7/21 Westword Ten All-Stars Who Are Real Game Changers in Denver
5/18/21 Thinking Outside the Bud Wanda James, CEO, Simply Pure
5/14/21 Business Insider The cofounder of Colorado's first Black-owned cannabis dispensary on how Tiffany & Co. and Whole Foods acted as inspiration for her brand, and why she's banking on a new franchise model
5/4/21 MMJ Daily Winners announced for the 2021 CEA Awards Cannabis Person of the Year
5/1/21 Deadlines ‘Smoke:Marijuana + Black America’ Director Says African Americans Shafted On Pot Policing, Pot Business – Contenders TV Docs + Unscripted
4/22/21 Westword Marijuana and PTSD: Dispensary owner Wanda James reaches out to vets
3/8/21 Yahoo Finance Wanda James is on a mission to generate opportunities for BIPOC within cannabis industry
1/27/21 Benzinga Simply Pure CEO Wanda James Wants Women To Brag More
1/22/21 CNBC For Wanda James being in the cannabis industry isn’t about making money; it’s about social justice
1/21/21 Cannabis Dispensary Simply Pure Developing Franchise Model, Cause-Based Brand
1/20/21 MJ Brand Insights “Smoke: Marijuana + Black America” highlights Wanda James of Simply Pure
1/18/21 Canna Tech Simply Pure CEO Wanda James Shares Her Cannabis Journey
1/15/21 Westword After Serving Twenty Years on Drug Charges, Fred Harris Is Free
7/7/20 Estes Park Trail-Gazette Governor names three to Colorado Tourism Board
6/30/20 Westword Polis Signs Bill Granting Him Power to Pardon Past Weed Crimes
6/29/20 Denver Post Colorado Gov. Jared Polis says pardons for marijuana convictions can start in 90 days
6/29/20 Colorado Politics Polis signs social equity bill for Colorado marijuana industry
12/5/19 Marijuana Business Daily MJBizDaily Awards Hall of Fame inductees: cannabis business pioneers Steve DeAngelo and Wanda James
11/9/19 Westword Veteran-Owned Cannabis Companies That Call Colorado Home
11/8/19 Document Journal What it’s Actually Like to Own a Marijuana Dispensary as a Woman of Color in Colorado
10/25/19 XO Necole CEO Cannabis Connoisseur Wanda James Reveals How She Planted The First Seeds Of Success
9/9/19 Connecting Vets Radio Colorado’s First Black, Veteran-owned Dispensary is Changing the Conversation on Cannabis
8/9/19 Westword Colorado Tourism Now Has a Pro-Marijuana Influence
8/1/19 Channel 9 News Denver Fundraiser for Sen. Kamala Harris Focuses on Supporting Fellow Women of Color
7/7/19 Mic 6 minority-owned cannabis companies that are addressing inequality in the industry
7/2/19 The London Evening Standard The Cannabis Debate: The Merrill Lynch venture capitalist turned marijuana millionaire
4/23/19 NewsOne The Black Women Who Are Going Green
4/18/19 Westword Scott Durrah, City Council Candidate, Wins VICELAND Cannabis Cookoff
4/13/19 VICELAND Bong Appetite Chef Challenge Teaser
3/29/19 Denver Post In Denver, a council candidate will smoke weed with you and make you dinner
3/8/19 Cannabis Dispensary Magazine The Women of Cannabis Conference 2019
2/11/19 Leafly 9 Cannabis Couples Who Changed the Game
12/18/18 Cannabis Business Times 12 Cannabis Industry Power Couples
8/23/18 UpRoxx These Chefs Are Killing The Cannabis Culinary Game
8/10/18 Westword Sparking Change With Dispensary Owner and Activist Wanda James
4/23/18 Candid Chronicle Mary Janes: The Women of Weed
4/20/18 Newsone Celebrate 420 With Black Power --Plus Black-Owned Cannabis Businesses You Can Choose From
3/7/18 The Cannabist Colorado’s “Women of Weed” steal the spotlight in new documentary
3/5/18 Westword How Women Can Continue Rising in the Cannabis Industry
2/27/18 NowThis Living Legends: Wanda James - First African American Dispensary Owner
2/26/18 Herb.Co How this former Obama campaigner is changing the face of cannabis
2/9/18 Pod Save America, Featured Local Guest “A government eclipse.” (LIVE taping from Denver)
2/9/18 Westword Pod Save America in Denver: Liberal F*cking Action in the Age of Trump
2/8/18 POD SAVE AMERICA Pod Save America Live From Denver
2/1/18 Cannabis Dispensary Magazine, Cover Story Wanda’s Way
1/7/18 CBS 4 Denver State Leaders: Rescinded Pot Policy Throws Colorado ‘Into Limbo’
12/21/17 Dope Magazine Simply Pure: A Genuine and Passionate Cannabis Experience
11/3/17 Westword Amendment 64 OGs Take a Victory Lap with CSU
10/18/17 FAST COMPANY This Weed Warrior Is Breaking Barriers In The Marijuana Movement
4/20/17 Ebony 420 Day: 5 Blacks in the Marijuana Biz You Should Know
2/17/17 YAHOO!News Weed & the American Family: Wanda & Scott
2/16/17 The Cannabist Other Roots: Wanda James, the first black dispensary owner in Colorado, talks marijuana motivation
2/10/17 The Root The Pioneer: Wanda James, the 1st Black Woman to Own a Marijuana Dispensary, Gets Real
8/9/16 NY Daily News Colorado cannabis power couple says the NFL doesn’t have a choice, has to embrace the use of marijuana
3/1/16 THE AMBASSADOR CIRCLE
1/26/16 MIC.COM Millionaire or Felon? In America, Your Zip Code Decides
1/26/16 IDENTITIES.MIC The Booming Marijuana Industry Is Still Too White
12/24/15 THE CANNABIST SHOW She Owns A Marijuana Show; He's a Pot Baron
12/15/15 WESTWORD Marijuana Comeback: Wanda James, Scott Durrah Return With Highland Pot Shop
12/7/15 NEW CANNABIS VENTURES Simply Pure Is Colorado’s First Black Owned Cannabis Dispensary
11/25/15 BLACK ENTERPRISE MAGAZINE Marijuana Inc: Growing Opportunities For Black Businesses
8/17/15 THE ATLANTIC American Dreams
4/20/15 NBC NEWS Colorado's Black Potreprenuers
4/20/15 INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS TIMES Marijuana Legalization 2015: Meet The 20 Most Influential People In Cannabis
4/1/15 KUSA (9NEWS) Colorado Teaching Jamaica About Pot?
3/31/15 FUSION The Unbearable Whiteness of the Marijuana Industry
3/11/15 FUSION NETWORK w/ Ryan Nerz
1/1/15 KUSA (9NEWS) Jamaican mayor tours Colorado pot businesses
1/1/15 SMILE JAMAICA Colorado, Cannabis Global Initiative
1/1/15 SMILE JAMAICA Weed Conference, Wanda James - Owner, Cannabis Global Initiative (Oct 2014)
12/16/14 AL JAZEERA AJ+ Diversity in Industry
10/1/14 CNBC Marijuana USA (Full Episode)
1/20/14 JAMAICA OBSERVER Obama Fundraiser at Ganja Event
1/18/14 JAMAICA OBSERVER US activists for today's ganja forum
4/20/12 THE RAW STORY Obama financier-turned pot shop owner: ‘They can’t criminalize us’
5/2/11 CBS SUNDAY MORNING The Dope On Cannabis Cuisine
1/31/11 Fox News Simply Pure Chefs
1/4/11 WESTWORD Wanda and Scott have a new edible company
12/12/10 NBC NIGHTLY NEWS Pot entrepreneurs smell opportunity in medical laws
11/23/10 CNBC CBS-Marijuana USA (Trailer)
7/27/10 WESTWORD Dispensary owner & vet Wanda James lauds new PTSD rules, calls for pot rescheduling
5/5/10 THE DAILY SHOW Gone to Pot
9/18/09 DENVER POST Out of the Cannabis Closet
2/1/97 BLACK ENTERPRISE MAGAZINE Go For It!