Timeka Drew, an experienced cannabis executive and social equity advocate, has recently been appointed as the Chief Growth Officer at NUG, Inc., a vertically-integrated California cannabis company. This appointment comes as NUG transitions its focus from a Northern California-based operator to having a presence in multiple states, with pending projects in New Jersey and New York. Drew’s appointment is expected to play a key role in this transition, as she brings a wealth of experience and expertise to the team.
Prior to joining NUG, Drew served as the VP of Licensing and Operational Compliance for multi-state operator Eaze and held executive positions with multi-state operator 4Front Ventures and California-based Field Extracts. Drew is also a proud part of the national Equity Trade Certification Leadership Coalition and serves as a member of their Policy Committee. She currently serves on the board of the Cannabis Equity Retailers Association and is a member of the Social Equity Owners and Workers Association. Drew also serves on the board of advisors for Social Equity LA and as a member of the Social Equity Advisory Committee for Hall of Flowers.
Drew’s passion for cannabis and social equity led her to become a cannabis licensee and entrepreneur. She is the founder of Biko, a Los Angeles-based brand that serves cannabis connoisseurs with consistency and award-winning production quality while helping normalize black women as curators of luxury cannabis experiences. As a social equity licensee and medical cannabis patient, Drew remains passionate about equity and access, and her new role as Chief Growth Officer at NUG will allow her to address cannabis business development in a creative, community-focused way.
“When I shared my vision of a social equity-based growth strategy with the NUG leadership team, they were not only open to considering it, they decided to bring me on board to help build and implement that vision, truly expanding upon the foundation the company was built on,” Drew said. “This new role will allow me to address cannabis business development in a way that is focused on empowering social equity partners and businesses.”
Drew’s partnership with NUG began when she chose the company to operationalize her Los Angeles retail storefront license, which was awarded as a part of the Department of Cannabis Regulations Phase 3, Round 1 process. The store will be located in the Southeast Los Angeles Community Plan Area and is estimated to be open to the public this summer. Through this partnership, Drew will scale her brand Biko through NUG’s existing retail channels while simultaneously collaborating with the NUG brand to bring unique product activations and innovative experiences to Southern California cannabis enthusiasts.
Drew’s appointment as the Chief Growth Officer at NUG is a testament to her expertise and experience in the cannabis industry. As a social equity advocate, she is committed to empowering social equity partners and businesses, and her vision for a social equity-based growth strategy is expected to drive NUG’s national expansion efforts in the years to come.
