Before we start, let me just give the disclaimer that this is a very biased review. This review of the Higher Conference is from the perspective of a black woman who has been searching for a space just like this. 

The Higher Conference, created by Sheena Roberson of Cannabis Noire, hosted its second annual show at Billy Penn Studios in Philadelphia. And if you weren’t there, you missed a truly empowering and unforgettable experience. 

Higher Conference 2024 Venue: Billy Penn Studios

The studio space at Billy Penn Studios regularly hosts events and has a co-working space and private offices. It’s a work of art in itself! The old warehouse has been completely transformed. Light pours into the space and the chic furniture creates a warm and welcoming feeling, even contrasted against the exposed brick and high metal rafters. I walked in and immediately knew that this conference would be different than any I had been to before.

Highly Curated to Facilitate Healing

The Higher Conference is not a traditional cannabis conference. This space, guest list, and speaking topics are curated specifically for women of color in the cannabis industry, something that you won’t get at any other cannabis conference in the country. The conference organizers expand on the idea of the traditional cannabis industry by including healers like Morgan Dominique of Sacred House Maryland, who hosted yoga sessions at the Wellness Pavillion–a healing space that was an integral part of the conference. 

Deep Conversations

The goal for Higher Conference is to uplift, affirm, and address gaps for women of color across health and wellness industries, and that goal is reflected brilliantly in the speaker’s topics. The conference hosted 20 amazing panels that gave women of color from various disciplines a chance to share their perspectives. The topics included motherhood, business and career, health equity, mental health, cultivation, intersectionality (race, sexual identity, and socioeconomic) issues, and so much more! 

My favorite panel, titled The Canna Tech Divide: Women of Color in Tech, featured Asha Pope, Candace Clark, and Lisbeth Vargas Jaimes. Despite these ladies having varying roles in cannatech, they expressed the common thread of building community in their respective spaces, a theme that is vital in honoring the plant and womanhood. 

Lisbeth summed up the entire conference experience with this quote: 

“Right now, events are profitable, so many cannabis companies are pivoting to events instead of being real community builders and investing dollars in initiatives that actually make an impact. This is a reminder that who we support with our dollars and social posts will matter more than ever…”

Key Takeaways from Higher Conference 2024 

I left this conference with feelings of inspiration, empowerment, and more knowledge than I know how to process in this lifetime. Roz McCarthy of Black Buddha Cannabis, a key sponsor of Higher Conference, said it up best in her keynote speech on day one, “WE BELONG IN THE ROOM!” 

So cheers to all the women of color (and allies) who left the conference with the power to show up to every room with the support of her sisters at the front of her mind! I’m grateful for the experience. While the next conference hasn’t been announced yet, one thing I can guarantee is that I will be in the room! 
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