Angelica Sanchez
30
Senior director of government affairs and compliance
MWG Holdings
Angelica Sanchez says her path into the industry was “a combination of good timing and hard work.” Sanchez was working as a budtender at the California dispensary Perfect Union in 2016, when she was given an opportunity that changed her life.
With the 2016 passage of Proposition 64, which legalized adult-use cannabis in the Golden State, she was tasked with creating the first city and state applications for MWG Holdings, the parent company of Perfect Union. The work included MWG’s applications for retail, cultivation and distribution licenses, “and it snowballed from there,” Sanchez says.
Her natural aptitude for parsing regulatory jargon and implementing policies propelled her to not only become the senior director of government affairs and compliance for MWG Holdings, but it has also earned her a seat on the National Cannabis Industry Association’s State Regulations Committee.
“My focus within the committee is to learn and advance policies that level the playing field and nurture a sustainable cannabis industry,” she says.
Preventing the unregulated hemp industry from undermining California’s cannabis market something she looks forward to addressing with regulators, she says.
Outside the industry, Sanchez serves on the board of directors for the Sacramento Rainbow Chamber of Commerce Foundation.
“My work at the Rainbow Chamber of Commerce Foundation uplifts and empowers the LGBTQ+ community, ensuring they always feel welcomed, loved and supported,” she says.
Q&A
What brought you to the cannabis industry, and how did you find your niche as a compliance liaison?
It was a combination of good timing and hard work. In 2016, I started working as a budtender at our first store serving the medicinal market. Back then, flower wasn’t tested or prepackaged; we worked with bulk weight, mason jars, and tongs. With the passage of Prop 64 later that year, I was tasked with creating the first City and State applications for MWG’s retail, cultivation, and distribution licenses, and it snowballed from there. I became so familiar with the regulations that I was asked to write or review the standard operating procedures that would keep us in compliance with these new requirements. The cannabis industry in California is ever-changing, updating its rules and regulations at the City or State level, so it’s a full-time, all-encompassing position. Over the years, I’ve become adept at ensuring we’re in compliance with the latest regulatory requirements, from cultivation to retail. When I started, I was always stressed we’d lose a license or fail because I did something wrong, but these years of work have taught me that I’m much more capable than I give myself credit for. I’m proud to say that the Department of Cannabis Control inspectors call Perfect Union a model dispensary and regularly tour other departments at our flagship dispensary in Sacramento.
What compelled you to serve as the director for the Sacramento Rainbow Chamber of Commerce? Why is it important to you?
The LGBTQ+ community is very close to my heart. I grew up in a religious family, and to say they were conservative is an understatement. We were Pentecostal, which included rules like not cutting your hair (as it’s god’s glory), not wearing men’s clothing (pants), and abstaining from makeup and jewelry (can’t be a jezebel). But it wasn’t any of these beliefs that caused me to leave; it was their stance on same-sex marriage. My oldest sister came out as lesbian when I was 13. She was 22 and was living on her own, but she faced a lot of backlash from the church. Growing up, the church referred to the LGBTQ+ community as abominations; it was a sin in their eyes to be with someone of the same sex. This was a pivotal moment for me because I knew in my heart that this view was wrong. I loved my sister, and there was nothing wrong with her. Love is love, and no one should be ashamed of who they are or who they love. Standing with the LGBTQ+ community is the right thing to do, and I will never allow anyone to spread this kind of hate around me. My work at the Rainbow Chamber of Commerce Foundation uplifts and empowers the LGBTQ+ community, ensuring they always feel welcomed, loved, and supported.
What regulations are you hoping to improve during your time with the NCIA State Regulations Committee? How would it help?
My involvement in the NCIA State Regulations Committee is about fostering a nationwide network that thrives on shared experiences. The committee allows me to collaborate with other industry leaders and offers a unique opportunity to delve into how different states navigate policy changes. Despite operating in different states, we encounter similar obstacles. Whether it’s regulatory hurdles or market challenges, our shared experiences provide valuable lessons. By exchanging strategies and discussing policy implementations from various states, we gain a broader perspective, arming ourselves with examples, data, and information to advocate for fairness and sustainability in the industry. My focus within the committee is to learn and advance policies that level the playing field and nurture a sustainable cannabis industry. Right now, the unregulated hemp market is affecting the cannabis industry nationwide, and learning how other states have addressed this issue helps my conversations with California legislatures on how to ensure the hemp industry doesn’t undermine the cannabis industry.
Could you tell me a little about the biggest milestone you’ve hit in your career?
Reaching my eight-year work anniversary with Perfect Union this past January is my biggest milestone. When I started working here, I had no idea what lay ahead or the pivotal role I would play in the growth of this company. Navigating the unfamiliar terrain of licenses, permits, and regulations wasn’t easy. I faced challenges head-on, often unsure of myself, but I kept my head up and embraced the unknown, figuring it out, learning, and growing every step of the way. I suffered from imposter syndrome because, to be honest, no one was an expert when I started. We were the blind leading the blind. All of us were figuring it out: the government, retailers, cultivators, manufacturers, and distributors. I’m proud to be in a place where time and experience have taught me to have faith in myself and my abilities to navigate this roller coaster of a ride we call the cannabis industry.