The First Female CEO of a U.S. Publicly Traded Cannabis Company

Cannabis consultant Sara Gullickson was recently named CEO of Item 9 Labs Corp, an Arizona based company focused on the development of cannabis-related technology and products.

Gullickson’s new position with Item 9 Labs makes her the first woman CEO of a U.S. publicly traded cannabis company. Gullickson formerly served as CEO and Founder of Dispensary Permits, a cannabis consulting firm, which was acquired by Item 9 Labs on Nov 26, 2018.

“From the beginning, Item 9 Labs valued my industry knowledge and nearly decade of experience. It was clear we share the same company culture and brand identity rooted in health and wellness. I am excited to be at the executive forefront and cultivate a company that will grow with the burgeoning global cannabis market,” stated Gullickson.

The position is a milestone for the financial sector where women hold only 10% of top executive positions at publicly traded companies in the S&P’s Composite 1500.  Within the cannabis industry, only 27% of women hold C-suite positions, which is slightly higher than the 23% national average for women across all U.S. businesses.

“Our Company has seen accelerated growth in the past year and we knew we needed someone with Sara’s experience and industry intuition to take us to the next level. With Sara’s international background and market foresight, Item 9 Labs is poised to become one of the preeminent leaders in boutique and organic cannabis products catering to the natural lifestyle market,” said Bryce Skalla, President of Item 9 Labs.

Image: SaraGullickson.com