Chanda Macias’ mission is to make cannabis accessible worldwide

Chanda Macias is on a mission to bring medical cannabis to the world one country at a time.

With over 25 years of experience in healthcare, education and business, the CEO of National Holistic Healing Center, a licensed medical cannabis dispensary in Washington, D.C., has dedicated her life to breaking barriers and building bridges to better healthcare worldwide, including operating an MMJ business in Germany.

From her early days as a cancer researcher to her current role as a global cannabis advocate and CEO of Women Grow, a group that focuses on female leadership in the cannabis industry, Macias’ journey is one of resilience, passion and a commitment to helping others.

Her groundbreaking work cemented her legacy as a leader driving change in the cannabis industry and earned her recognition as Woman of the Year at the annual Empowering Women in Cannabis reception hosted by Women Grow and MJBizCon.

“My quest started in the United States, but global legalization or global access will help us all,” she said.

“Healthcare shouldn’t be siloed to one country and not another. There should be public access for everyone. I’m doing it one country at a time in the most compliant way possible.”

Other honorees are:

• Angela Pih, founder of Los Angeles marketing agency Point Brand
• Kristi Palmer, co-founder and president of multistate product brand Kiva Connections
• Rachel Wright, founder of cannabis industry accounting firm Verdant Strategies
• Mary Jane Oatman, executive director of the Indigenous Cannabis Industry Association

How Macias got from cancer to cannabis

Macias earned a degree in biology and later a Ph.D. in cellular biology at Howard University, where she focused on cancer research. Early in her career, she studied aggressive cancers like breast cancer in women and prostate cancer in Black men – diseases that disproportionately affect underserved communities. “I wanted to dedicate my life and research to helping people with these diseases,” she said.

But when she asked her adviser if she could study cannabis as a potential treatment, she hit a wall.

“He told me, ‘You can’t study cannabis – it’s federally illegal.’”

That moment planted a seed that would grow into her life’s mission: to make cannabis accessible to those who need it most.

After earning an MBA in supply chain management from Rutgers University, Macias’ career took off. She worked as a research scientist at Colgate-Palmolive, helping launch billion-dollar brands, and as a patent examiner at the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.

But her heart was always in healthcare, and when the opportunity arose to enter the cannabis industry, she jumped in with both feet in 2013.

Dispensing medical marijuana globally

Today, Macias is CEO of National Holistic Healing Center, a Washington, D.C.-based medical cannabis company that cultivates and processes cannabis medicine globally. The dispensary accepts patients from around the world. Her work has always been about more than business – it’s about people.

“Providing medicine to patients who need it – that’s my reason for being in this industry,” she said. “There’s nothing more rewarding than helping someone improve their quality of life.”

But Macias didn’t stop there. She expanded operations to Louisiana and partnered with Southern University, the first historically Black college and university (HBCU) to launch CBD medical products.

Medical marijuana cultivator and producer Advanced Biomedics was awarded Louisiana’s medical cannabis cultivation and manufacturing license, but the state asked Macias to take over after the company missed deadlines.

Macias’ impact isn’t limited to the U.S. She’s also managing director of Deutschland Holistic GmbH, a pharmaceutical and medical cannabis wholesaler based in Germany.

Her goal is to build a global cannabis supply chain that connects international producers with European markets.

Building a global supply chain is no small feat. Macias and her team adhere to the strict European Union Good Distribution Practice standards, which ensures every product is sourced, tested and distributed with the highest levels of compliance.

“In the U.S., we see strain and cultivars everyone loves, but globally, I’ve seen some miraculous medicine that has impacted patient populations with positive and significant wellness,” she said.

“I would love the opportunity to be able to import back into the U.S. those types of medicines that can help our communities – especially for rare diseases.”

Cannabis advocacy and education in the Black community

Advocacy is another cornerstone of Macias’ work. She’s collaborated with lobbyists, politicians and government officials to push for cannabis decriminalization, employment protections and expanded access for marginalized groups. Her efforts even influenced former President Joe Biden’s decision to pardon federal simple possession charges, she said.

Macias’ advocacy hits close to home. As a mother of three children with special needs and chronic illnesses, she’s seen firsthand how cannabis can transform lives.

“All of them have used cannabis to recover – I know that cannabis works,” said Macias.

Education is another area where Macias is making waves. She encourages HBCUs to train the next generation of cannabis leaders and push young Black students to enter the industry.

“I encourage more HBCUs the education of the cannabis industry, participate in legal research and help their communities with access to this type of medicine,” she said. “It is a real medicine that can help the Black community.”

Margaret Jackson can be reached at margaret.jackson@mjbizdaily.com.