The owners of Green Leaf Lab took the time to celebrate making a bit of history this year. The business, which operates out of Oregon and California, is the first woman-owned cannabis and hemp CBD lab in the nation. It also now has certification as a woman-owned business by the Women’s Business Enterprise National Council (WBENC).

With offices in Portland, Oregon, and Sacramento, California, Green Leaf Lab is the first women-owned business in the cannabis industry to get this designation.

CEO Started Business After Knowing Someone With HIV

Rowshan Reordan, CEO and founder of Green Leaf Lab, said in a news release that she is “joyful and deeply humbled “ by her company’s accomplishments in the past decade.

“We were the first cannabis laboratory to receive license and accreditation by a state agency, showing our commitment to quality science,” Reordan said. “We are now a certified woman owned business. It has been an incredible journey. I am extremely optimistic about the future for Green Leaf Lab.”

It’s another accomplishment in an industry that is trying to attract more women.

Reordan “grew up in the cannabis community” in the Pacific Northwest, according to the news release. She said she saw a close friend battle HIV and learned about the need for access to clean, tested and safe cannabis. Many HIV patients use cannabis to combat symptoms of the condition, including weight loss, appetite problems and nerve pain.

Reordan then opened her first lab in Portland, later opening the second one in Sacramento. She remains committed to the safe consumption of cannabis and hemp CBD products.

Advantages of WBENC Certification

By getting certified by WBENC, a business gets access to a network of support. They also get targeted business opportunities, higher visibility in corporate and government supply chains, access to education and development programs to spur growth and increase capacity, and “networking and mentorship opportunities with thousands of women entrepreneurs and those who support them.”

The WBENC also works as a third-party certifier for the Small Business Administration’s Women Owned Small Business Federal Contracting program.

The WBENC certification process is known for being extremely thorough. The organization’s certificate validates that a business is at least 51% owned, controlled, operated and managed by a woman or women. “This means one or more women must have unrestricted control of the business, a demonstrated management of day-to-day operations, and a proportionate investment of capital or expertise,” according to the WBENC.

To earn WBENC certification, businesses go through a vetting process that includes a review of business documentation and a site visit. Businesses who make the grade are known as WBEs, or Women’s Business Enterprises.

In addition to its business success, Green Leaf Lab makes a point of giving back and trying to inspire others, including contributing to Girls Inc, STEM, and other non-profits that are committed to diversity, equity, and empowerment. Reordan said: “As a woman-owned business, I believe in empowering other women.”