Mary Pryor is a woman with a mission. As the co-founder of CannaClusive, Cannabis For Black Lives, Fit For Us, and Breaking Bread NYC, she is driving diversity, equity, and inclusion in the cannabis space. She is also the Chief Marketing Officer for TONIC CBD. But beyond her professional pursuits, Mary is a Detroit native with a big heart and a willingness to speak her truth.
Growing Up and Speaking Out
Mary’s upbringing was defined by her mother’s battle with Multiple Sclerosis and her father’s drug addiction. As a child, she wanted to be a lawyer or an engineer, but a traumatic incident in 8th grade changed her trajectory. After standing up to a bully who called her the n-word, she became one of the most popular girls in school.
Today, Mary continues to defend herself against bullies, but this time it’s against the cannabis industry. When she entered the space in 2015 to find medicine for her Crohn’s Disease, she was shocked to see that it was dominated by white males and questionable products. Since then, she has become a premier voice in the arena of cannabis social equity.
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in Cannabis
Mary’s goal is to create safe, minority-owned spaces, products, and businesses in the cannabis industry. She co-founded CannaClusive in 2017 to drive diversity, equity, and inclusion in the space. The collective has created InclusiveBase, a database full of Black and Brown companies in the cannabis industry, and The Accountability List to hold people accountable for performative commitments to social change.
Luke Anderson, co-founder of CANN and a founding member of Cannabis For Black Lives, describes working with Mary as intimidating but enlightening. Mary’s signature observations and her willingness to speak out have made her an influential figure in the cannabis industry. She has been featured in USA Today, Essence Magazine, and even become an advisor for The Parent Company, which owns Jay-Z’s Monogram.
Looking to the Future
Mary’s vision of social equity in the cannabis industry is not limited to CannaClusive. She is also the co-founder of Cannabis For Black Lives, which makes it easy for companies to put their money where their mouth is. Fit For Us is aimed at improving the health and wellness of minorities, while Breaking Bread NYC is a nonprofit aimed at feeding homeless people.
Mary’s passion for minority-owned spaces, products, and businesses in the cannabis industry is something that everyone can get behind. Her message is clear: diversity, equity, and inclusion are not just buzzwords, but a way to create a better industry for everyone.
