Dr. Chanda Macias, CEO of National Holistic Healing Center in Washington, D.C., is a trailblazer in the cannabis industry. Despite facing adversity and low expectations growing up, she pursued her education at Howard University, where she fell in love with science. Inspired by the impact of cancer on her community, she delved into researching the potential benefits of cannabis.
Encountering resistance due to the stigma surrounding cannabis, Macias shifted her focus to prostate cancer research, laying the groundwork for her future endeavors. Her passion for exploring the medicinal properties of cannabis only grew stronger as she advanced in her career as a research scientist.
In 2012, when Washington, D.C. announced plans for medical cannabis dispensaries, Macias saw an opportunity to make a difference. Despite facing challenges in the application process, she was determined to enter the industry. Seeking guidance from industry veterans in California, she honed her skills and knowledge to fulfill her dream of opening a medical cannabis dispensary.
Dr. Chanda Macias’s journey is a testament to resilience, determination, and a deep commitment to exploring the potential of cannabis as a medicine. Those early experiences set the stage for what was to come. “It was crazy—and invigorating,” she reflects on the steep learning curve.
Upon returning to D.C., Macias applied the knowledge she gained towards her license application, creating a vision that combined scientific precision with compassionate care. The process pushed her to her limits. Finding a property, a crucial requirement, proved to be a difficult task. Landlords were hesitant to lease space for a cannabis dispensary. After months of searching, she eventually secured a basement location in Dupont Circle, but at a cost that was beyond her financial means.
“I stopped paying my mortgage and moved my family into a 900-square-foot apartment so I could afford the lease,” she says, tears rolling down her cheeks. It was a risky move that led to her losing her home. However, Macias remained steadfast. “I lost my house, but I believed in myself and in the plant,” she says. “I had no other option.”
A Tough Battle
Obtaining a dispensary license in Washington, D.C., was just the beginning of Chanda Macias’s uphill journey. The obstacles she faced tested her resilience at every turn. Just when she thought she had made progress, life threw her another challenge.
After winning her license, Macias encountered an immediate setback: her landlord revoked the lease for her Dupont Circle location. This left her scrambling, without a property to meet the regulatory requirements for opening her dispensary. “I had already sacrificed my home to make this dream a reality,” she explains. “Now, I was in danger of losing my license before I even started.”
For three years, Macias fought to keep her dream alive, pushing to transfer her license to a different location. The strict regulations made it nearly impossible. With no dispensary to operate, she shifted her focus to another passion: researching natural medicine in Africa. Leading a team of Ph.D. and medical students, she studied the treatment of malaria and infectious diseases, hoping to make a difference while rebuilding her own life.
But the battle to open her dispensary was far from over. In 2015, she received a letter from the D.C. Department of Health warning her that if she didn’t open within 60 days, her license would be revoked permanently. This was a turning point. Macias flew back to the U.S., leaving her research team behind, and threw herself into the race to open her dispensary against all odds.
The Final Stretch
Macias faced a monumental challenge: convincing her landlord to allow her to operate and setting up a dispensary within two months. The original landlord, who had left the space vacant for years (“It was a rundown basement unit after all… Nobody wanted it”), finally agreed to renegotiate the lease after she poured her heart out in a letter, detailing her dedication and expertise. “I laid everything out: my academic achievements, my background… I wanted him to see how serious I was,” she recalls.
With a lease secured, she quickly transformed the space. “Our initial reception area was furnished with my living room furniture,” she recalls with a chuckle. “We took down pictures from our apartment walls and hung them in the dispensary. We did everything possible to make it work.”
But the challenges didn’t end there. At the time, D.C.’s cannabis market was dominated by vertically integrated growers who were reluctant to sell products to independent dispensaries. “No one wanted to sell to me,” she explains. “It was heartbreaking. I had come this far and couldn’t even stock my shelves.”
An unexpected ally came to her aid: Corey Barnett, a Black grower in D.C., offered to sell her a single ounce of a strain called Buffalo Soldier. “It was all I could afford,” she recalls. Macias began educating patients on the benefits of the plant, slowly expanding her customer base. “We started with 13 patients,” she says. “Then Corey asked if I needed more cannabis, and I told him I couldn’t afford it. He trusted me to pay him back, and that’s how we started to grow.”
Her patient base grew steadily, reaching 250 patients as word spread about her dispensary. “I was educating people about the plant and building trust,” she says. “Every patient who walked in felt like a victory.”
The opening of the National Holistic Healing Center marked the end of years of sacrifice and struggle. But for Macias, the journey was far from over. Her success was a testament to her perseverance, but it also shed light on the systemic challenges faced by entrepreneurs in the cannabis industry, especially women and people of color. “I gave up everything for this,” she says. “But I knew I had to keep moving forward—not just for myself, but for the patients and the community I serve.”
Turning the Tide
By 2017, Macias’ mission to revolutionize the cannabis industry had already pushed her resilience to its limits. Yet, her determination to bridge gaps in access, equity, and education propelled her towards new challenges, this time in Louisiana, a state rich in history and complexity.
Macias’ connection with Southern University, one of the nation’s most esteemed Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), began through educational initiatives. She had offered internships to students at her D.C. dispensary, mentoring the next generation of Black scientists and cannabis professionals. This relationship deepened when the university approached her with an ambitious project: revitalizing its struggling medical cannabis program.
Louisiana had initially granted its medical cannabis cultivation and manufacturing license to a company called Advanced Biomedics. However, after two years of missed deadlines and operational challenges, the program was on the brink of collapse. The university turned to Macias for a solution. “They asked me to step in, but the catch was that I needed to raise $2.18 million,” she explains. For most people, this would have been a deal-breaker. But for Macias, it was just another hurdle to overcome.
Her commitment to the project went beyond business. Macias worries that big corporations will push out smaller businesses, stifling diversity and innovation in the industry. As a leader, she is committed to amplifying marginalized voices and ensuring that opportunities are accessible to all.
Reflecting on her journey, Macias acknowledges the challenges she faced as a woman of color in a male-dominated industry. She faced discrimination, threats, and doubts, but she never wavered in her mission to create change. “I had to fight twice as hard to prove myself,” she says. “But every obstacle made me stronger and more determined.”
In her advocacy work, Macias has learned the power of resilience and community. By building networks, fostering dialogue, and standing firm in her beliefs, she has been able to make a meaningful impact in Louisiana and beyond. “We have to lift each other up and keep pushing for change,” she states.
As she looks to the future, Macias remains hopeful about the potential of the cannabis industry to transform lives and communities. Through her leadership, advocacy, and unwavering commitment to justice, she continues to be a beacon of hope for those seeking empowerment and equality in the world of cannabis. Rescheduling cannabis to Schedule III may help with some challenges, but Macias is concerned about the potential for Big Pharma to take over the industry. She believes that rescheduling could harm small businesses that have been the backbone of the industry. Her advocacy work focuses on preserving diversity and ensuring that underrepresented communities have access to the cannabis space.
Macias takes a personal approach to leadership, mentoring new license holders, advocating for policy changes, and sharing her experiences to support small businesses. She has faced her own struggles, including losing her home and fighting against systemic biases. Her goal is to make the path easier for the next generation.
Despite the difficulties, Macias finds inspiration in the stories of her patients, such as a mother of six who found hope through cannabis after being given a terminal diagnosis. Another patient with multiple sclerosis went from being wheelchair-bound to walking with the help of cannabis. These stories remind her of why she continues to fight for access to cannabis.
Balancing advocacy work with motherhood has been challenging for Macias, with her children facing stigma and safety concerns due to her work. She has made sacrifices to ensure their well-being, including sending her youngest daughter to boarding school. Over time, healing and understanding have strengthened their relationships, with some of her children now working alongside her in the cannabis industry.
Macias is organizing the Women Grow 2025 Leadership Summit, featuring WNBA star Brittney Griner as a speaker. Griner’s resilience and leadership in the face of adversity inspire Macias and the community. Despite challenges in securing Griner’s participation, Macias persisted, knowing the impact it could have on others.
Inclusivity is a key focus of the summit, aiming to ensure that all attendees feel represented and engaged. Macias emphasizes the importance of creating spaces where everyone can access information and participate fully, regardless of their background.
Macias’s commitment to advocacy and education stems from her belief in the potential of the cannabis industry. She warns of challenges such as high taxes, federal restrictions, and the threat of corporate consolidation. Her advice is rooted in resilience, dedication, and a commitment to the greater good, reflecting her own experiences in the industry.
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