The day I met Jane West

It was September 2015, during the CWCB convention in Los Angeles. I was recruited by a woman for a paying job as a booth worker, and that same woman would later introduce me to someone I had only ever seen on CNBC: Jane West.

My excited Instagram post (before Photo)

September , 2015

Jane made a huge impression on me. She was everything society told me a cannabis user wasn’t supposed to be: confident, professional, a career woman, and a mom. She embodied everything I was told I couldn’t be if I used cannabis regularly. Jane spoke out loud the very thoughts I had kept inside, validating me in a way I never expected. Meeting her in real life was a turning point—a moment that made me believe in myself more and listen to the naysayers less.

On the first night of the convention, a few other women and I were invited to the Women Grow after-party at the Figueroa Hotel. The entrance to the pool and patio area was filled with Women Grow Branded swag bags, and outside, just past sundown, the colorful lights illuminated the long, rectangular pool. Our destination was beyond that, in the smoking area, where we mingled with a fascinating array of attendees.

I met more than one interesting person that night, but those stories are for another time. Eventually, I found Sheila, the woman who hired me, and she insisted on introducing me to Jane West, a co-founder of Women Grow. I was surprised to find her there in person, realizing just how small the cannabis community still was. To me, Jane West was a celebrity, and I was starstruck.

Sheila literally dragged me over to Jane, enthusiastically introducing us and explaining what a big fan I was. When Jane shook my hand, I was rendered speechless for the first time in my life. I was so embarrassed, but Jane was incredibly gracious, doing everything she could to make me feel comfortable. While I was mortified, I was also filled with gratitude. After she was called away, my heart finally slowed down, and I realized I was riding a different kind of high, filled with a newfound sense of confidence.

Later that night, Jane came up to me and my companions to point out a giant cannabis leaf projected onto the side of the hotel. It was the Women Grow logo in lights, and it made the night even more surreal.

The next morning, before the Expo reopened, we were scrolling through social media, looking at photos from the event. And there I was—in a picture with Jane West. Just as I was taking it in, who walked by my booth? Jane herself, dressed casually, a stark contrast to her elegant look from the night before. Once again, I found myself tongue-tied. Thankfully, Jody, my travel companion, snapped me out of it and urged me to go after her. I ran after her like a teenager and flagged her down.

This time, I managed to blurt out everything I needed to say about how she had impacted my life. I apologized again for my nervousness the night before and thanked her for everything she had done for me. Once again, Jane was gracious and kind. She told me that the things I admired about her were qualities I should also admire in myself. 

Then, she did something I’ll never forget—she asked, "Can I get your opinion on something?" I eagerly said yes, but it wasn’t just the question that floored me; it was the fact that she asked. I felt over the moon. That simple interaction made me feel seen, and it fueled my commitment to Women Grow.

The only photo my face wasn’t contorted (After)

September 17, 2015

If I had never seen Jane West again, I would have been content with that moment. But luckily for me, that wasn’t the last time. In hindsight, I can see how much that interaction meant to me, especially given where I was in my life and how much I craved validation from someone I respected. Though it’s been years since I last saw the trailblazer that is Jane West (yes, we all know it’s a pseudonym), I still support her in any way I can. I’m grateful she now has Jane West Flower Shop, offering all the elegant glassware and accessories I could ever want.

I hope you enjoyed this retelling of a night I’ll never forget, and the story of how a complete stranger changed my life—twice.