Women-Led Blunt Brunch is Redefining Cannabis Networking

The very first national Blunt Brunch launched in 2021 after a year of international isolation. Just 50 tickets. It sold out immediately, confirming what founders Adelia Carrillo and Parisa Rad already suspected: Women in cannabis craved connection that felt genuine, not transactional.

Today, the event draws more than 350 industry professionals to Las Vegas each year during MJBizCon. Beyond Vegas, cities like Phoenix, Chicago, Tucson, and Los Angeles have hosted the now-signature blend of elevated brunch, candid conversations, and champagne-fueled collaboration.

The spark that started a movement

“That 2021 launch day changed everything,” Carrillo said. “We left that brunch feeling invigorated. The energy in the room was raw, real, and uplifting. We had what we now call ‘blunt conversations,’ and it became clear this wasn’t just helping us — it was helping every woman in that room feel seen, heard, and supported. In that moment, we recognized we had something truly special.”

The mission has only sharpened since. Along the way, Blunt Brunch evolved from a networking event into infrastructure. Relationships born at the events lead to business adventures. Partnerships are formed, agencies are hired, roles are filled, funds are raised, and brands are launched.

“We’ve seen women find mentors, business partners, investors, and lifelong friendships through Blunt Brunch,” Carrillo said. “But more importantly, it’s helped shift the narrative around what leadership looks like in this space. We’re showing that women can lead with compassion, creativity, and collaboration and still drive serious business growth and innovation.”

Soft power, strong results

Blunt Brunch is known for its aesthetic — pearls, pink blazers, photo-ready tablescapes — but beneath the playful exterior is a serious thesis: leadership doesn’t have to mimic masculinity to be powerful. The brunches have become a living example that femininity and authority can unapologetically coexist. Showing up as one’s authentic self is part of the strategy.

“Blunt Brunch started because Adelia and I were tired of walking into rooms full of men and feeling like we had to prove ourselves over and over,” Rad said. “We just wanted a space where women in cannabis could drop the armor and connect like real humans, not just business cards.”

The brunches — which sometimes take the form of evening soirées — create a ripple effect. Women leave inspired and supported, then take that energy back to their teams, companies, and communities.

Carrillo and Rad are so focused on building that they sometimes forget to pause and appreciate how far they’ve come. It’s only when they encounter former attendees that they realize the full scope of Blunt Brunch’s impact.

“We’ll hear about someone who met their future business partner at a Blunt Brunch, and together they launched a brand now on dispensary shelves across multiple states,” Carrillo said. “Or another woman will share that a casual conversation over brunch led to her landing a position that completely changed the trajectory of her career.”

Building a national network

Beyond business, Carrillo and Rad believe some of the most meaningful outcomes have been the friendships. Women who met once at a Blunt Brunch now travel together, support one another’s growth, and celebrate milestones side by side.

“That’s the magic of it all,” Carrillo said. “These moments remind us why we do what we do. Blunt Brunch isn’t just building professional connections. It’s building community, sisterhood, and legacy.”

What started as a single table of women talking openly about their wins, challenges, and ambitions has sparked a cultural shift on the distaff side of the industry. The old model of transactional, competitive networking has been replaced with something far more sustainable: women pouring into one another.

As the community has grown, so has its impact. Success stories prove that when women feel supported, they show up differently, lead differently, and change companies from the inside.

“We’re redefining what leadership looks like,” Rad said. “It’s no longer just suits and ties. It’s pearls, pink blazers, and power moves. We’re proving that femininity and professionalism can coexist beautifully. The ripple effect is real: Women who met at our events have since launched companies, hired each other, and even invested in one another’s dreams.”

What’s next for Blunt Brunch

Today, Blunt Brunch is in what the founders call “a strategic scaling phase.” The team is expanding to the East Coast, returning to Chicago, and experimenting with co-ed formats and new city activations.

“We’re also deepening our partnerships with organizations like NECANN and MJBizCon, as well as continuing to host meet-and-greets and Women’s Lounge activations that bring our community together in meaningful ways during major industry gatherings,” Carrillo said.

In addition to expanding face-to-face gatherings, a membership platform and virtual community are under development. The platform will provide women year-round access to resources and support, which are increasingly important as the industry shifts and consolidates.

Rad, Carrillo, and their team are also developing event-production services to help brands bring the signature Blunt Brunch vibe to their own activations.

“Think ‘pearled-up and powerful’ energy — just bigger, bolder, and more inclusive than ever,” Rad said.

From one brunch table to a national network, Blunt Brunch has become more than an event series. It’s a reminder that in a fast-moving, often volatile industry, women have earned more than a seat at the table. They’ve earned a table of their own.

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