Women to Watch: Taronda Ransom
By Brandon Dunn
Taronda Ransom is the founder of Pure Leaf Collective, an employee-centered company that she says, “knows the value of teamwork, cohesiveness, and positive vibes.” An aspiring applicant for a medical marijuana dispensary license, Ransom says that Pure Leaf Collective is focused on providing organic cannabis for preventative care of veterans, seniors, and low-income patients, “We are a wellness brand focused on the healing and preventative care of all patients and their conditions.”
Ransom has been actively pursuing her dream since discovering cannabis. “I got into cannabis by becoming a patient and using products for injuries I obtained while playing sports, such as back pain and knee pain.” Ransom says she saw the direct effects of prescription drugs and wanted a healthier alternative for herself and those around her. “My company is four years in the making, I fell in love with the idea of being able to provide a safe place that offers top quality products to the people who have been most affected by the war on drugs. I knew I wanted to be a part of history to help change the stigma behind cannabis through education, community outreach, and sustainability.”
Ransom says that cannabis has become her passion, “It’s a lifestyle, and the way of the future. Not only does it have endless health benefits, but it can have an economical impact as well. It provides me a chance to be a part of history and make a difference in the industry, the community, and to become a leader among my people.” For Ransom, people and community drive her passion for the industry.
“Being a minority woman is one of the toughest challenges I face. With us being underrepresented in this industry, it is critical that we share knowledge and offer guidance to help other women to get started and succeed. The industry is consistently growing, and more minority women need to be a part of that moment. I have been blessed to meet some women in the industry that are helpful in every aspect of the business and want to see me win, and for that I really appreciate them,” she says, “Right now is the perfect time to be a woman in the industry, we are taking the industry by storm. We are setting new standards, breaking boundaries, and reaching new limits, we are taking over and it’s only the beginning.”
Ransom was part of the Minorities 4 Medical Marijuana bootcamp and participated in the Ignite Missouri pitch competition. “It was an amazing learning experience. Sarah and Roz developed a solid program that not only gave us knowledge for getting started in the Missouri market, but in the cannabis industry. They brought in experienced cannabis industry leaders, local influencers, and even investors to provide insight and tips to help us get started and be successful as minorities and new cannabis business owners.” Ransom said the opportunity to participate in the Ignite competition was, “ an elevating experience, especially for being my first time pitching in front of a crowd. I really appreciate the opportunity to express my passion for the plant and share my vision with my family, potential patients, and the community.”
Ransom describes bringing medicinal cannabis to her hometown of St. Louis, “The opportunity to open a dispensary in the community I went to school in, grew up in, and my family still lives in today, only comes around once. I am taking full advantage of this time to ensure the dispensary is owned by someone who is a direct reflection of that community.”