Many people in the cannabis industry say they have been lifelong advocates of the plant, but few can embody that feeling like Zoe Wilder, who won the 2024 Green Market Report Women in Cannabis Award for public relations earlier this year.
“Zoe is *the* PR agent for all things cannabis,” freelance writer Beca Grimm wrote while endorsing Wilder on LinkedIn. “During our long association, she has helped me connect with countless experts in the field, facilitated interview requests, and otherwise kept me up to date on industry trends.”
Wilder attributes her initial knowledge and acceptance of cannabis to her mother, who “openly enjoyed cannabis and normalized the plant for her.” But the seed planted in her childhood blossomed into a full-blown cannabis advocacy in the mid-’90s.
“When I saw firsthand how cannabis can improve the quality of life for people with health problems, my mission crystallized,” said Wilder Green market report. While working on her master’s degree at Fordham University, she became interested in harm reduction in substance abuse, which led her to become “alienated” from the Western approach to medicine.
“Elements of the allopathic system repelled me as I saw patients suffering, repeating the same old patterns and getting stuck in the same old routine. This inspired me to dedicate my life to finding alternative ways so that we can all succeed, reach our full potential and succeed in business,” she said.
Wilder is also the founder of Liquid Culture, a community of artists and creatives dedicated to preserving and promoting the psychedelic experience, and an ambassador for the Last Prisoner Project, a coalition of cannabis industry leaders, executives and artists committed to reparations in the cannabis industry.
In addition to being a fierce advocate for cannabis legalization and working to right the wrongs caused by the war on drugs, Wilder uses her passion to tell her clients’ stories – including that of one of her most famous clients, Jim Belushi.
“Most importantly, Zoe’s spirit is the heartbeat of this endeavor,” said the founder of Belushi’s Farm. “She truly believes in the magic and mission of medicine and in my personal quest to make it accepted and accessible to all who could benefit from its power.”
In nominating Wilder for the award, Belushi added: “She is a true angel – competent and conscientious, independent and determined – who leads us with heart, determination and expertise. Beneath her thick head of curls, she is everything.”
