Why a Genetic Baseline Is the Industry’s Missing Key” By Priscilla Agoncillo, CEO Orginal Breeders League
Picture this: you walk into three different bakeries, order Nana’s Lemon Bar, but you get three completely different desserts. The current state of cannabis is totally beloved, completely creative, but wildly inconsistent. The industry is missing a sort of shared “recipe card” – a way for everyone, the breeders, labs, doctors, and patients, to speak the same language. This is why establishing an official Cannabis genetic baseline can offer.

In another example, you can think of This Baseline as a universal music sheet. Cannabis Breeders can still riff, improvise, and create, but the base melody of a cultivar is now written down & documented for all to see. With that score in hand, a Breeder can finally prove their original songs and the work they have done. That clarity matters for developing real intellectual property. When the identity is undeniable, genuine innovation can be defended, recognized, and rewarded. It was and has always been the Breeders who have kept these plants alive through prohibition and throughout time, and they deserve honor instead of dilution or erasure.

A Baseline can also be used like a library card catalog. Instead of wandering aisles blindfolded, we can go straight to the right shelf: disease resistance here, early finishers there, rare terpene bouquets are tucked in the back! Cannabis Breeding now becomes faster, cleaner, and more intentional. Through thus fundamental step we preserve diversity rather than wearing it down, and it give heritage lines the respect they deserve.

Now let’s take a step back and look at the bigger picture. Right now, lab tests are like rulers that disagree—centimeters in one country, inches in another. A genetic baseline gives the world one standard measuring stick. This would mean that a terpene profile in Mendocino can match up with a report from Madrid or Morocco. COA’s can finally be compared apples to apples. Clear, sensible regulations can finally be in place in order to create a seamless intrastate and international trade. Manufacturers will benefit from consistency and consumers will start building trust.
Now we get the cherry on top: Personalized Medicine. Cannabis is a symphony of cannabinoids, terpenes, and flavonoids, each interacting with our bodies in unique ways. Once cultivars are anchored to a baseline and labs test against shared unified standards- we can finally start connecting specific plant profiles to individuals. Imagine through the organization of this data, the patterns that begin to reveal themselves. This genetic “chord” eases nerve pain without heavy sedation; that one quiets anxiety without blunting creativity; another supports sleep without foggy mornings. Patients and consumers can begin to count on cannabis in the same way they count on prescription medicines to be consistent, safe and tailored to their needs.

But who would own or control this Baseline Data? The answer is You. The Cannabis Genetic baseline itself belongs to everyone. Think of it as an infrastructure—like the highway or freeway system or even the alphabet. No single company, person or government should be able to lock that gate ever. But what ever you create on that road—your cultivars your stabilized seed lines and your unique discoveries—all belong to you. It is your intellectual property, now easier to defend because the measuring stick is public and unified. Commons for the framework and credit for the creators is how fairness in this industry will finally take root.

To our beloved Breeders: this is your story. You carried the plant through shadows, kept the flame alive, and shaped cannabis culture. A global baseline doesn’t tame your art—it spotlights it and ensures your signature is legible, your work is respected, and your contribution is never erased.

For consumers and patients- standardization is about making sure the medicine & products you have come to rely on is always safe, dependable, and designed around you.
The future of cannabis is bigger than one breeder, one company, or one country. It’s a chorus. A genetic baseline gives us the key, the tempo, and the tuning fork, so the song we play together rings clear, compassionate, and stays true to its roots.

Photo credit: Priscilla Agoncillo

In the ever-evolving cannabis industry, few voices have been as vital and visionary as Julie Chiariello, Editor-in-Chief of Skunk Magazine. Since stepping into leadership, Julie has transformed Skunk into more than just a publication—it has become a platform for education, empowerment, and equity. In a space historically dominated by men, Julie’s unapologetic advocacy for women and her commitment to sustainability and plant medicine have broken barriers and opened doors for countless women, including Latinas, to shine. For those of us navigating the cannabis space today, Julie’s leadership is a reminder that representation matters and that Latinas belong at the forefront of shaping culture, business, and community.

As we enter Hispanic Heritage Month 2025, the celebration takes on deeper meaning. Across the country, Latine communities are under attack, with recent ICE raids targeting Latino families, disrupting lives, and sowing fear. These injustices echo a painful history of systemic oppression. At both Latinas in Cannabis and Skunk Magazine, we refuse to stay silent. We stand firm in condemning these actions. Now more than ever, it is critical that we come together, uplift one another, and showcase our power, resilience, and brilliance. Our community is not defined by fear but by strength, solidarity, and the countless contributions Latinas make to the cannabis industry and beyond.

The cannabis plant itself teaches us about healing, connection, and resilience—values that resonate deeply with Latine culture. For generations, our abuelas and madres have passed down ancestral knowledge of plant medicine. Today, Latinas are reclaiming that legacy, weaving tradition into innovation as entrepreneurs, cultivators, educators, and advocates. From founding brands to leading equity movements, Latinas are unapologetically shaping cannabis as a force for cultural pride, economic empowerment, and community care.

One of the most powerful spaces where this collective energy comes alive is the Annual Latinas in Cannabis Summit, which returns for its third year this September in Los Angeles. Hosted in collaboration with Eaze, the Summit has cemented itself as the premier gathering for Latina cannabis professionals and enthusiasts. It is more than just a conference—it is a celebration, a reunion, and a launchpad for opportunities. Deals are struck, businesses are born, careers are elevated, and stigmas are shattered.

This year’s Summit will feature impactful panels and skill-building workshops spanning cannabis education, entrepreneurship, executive leadership, finance, and even the intersections of cannabis with motherhood and cultural identity. With onsite cannabis sales curated by Eaze, a limited-edition Cannabiotix x Latinas in Cannabis T-shirt activation, and immersive experiences like the Puffco Dab Wagon, the event is as dynamic as the women it honors. The Vendor Village will showcase Latina-owned and ally brands, amplifying voices that often go unheard in mainstream spaces.

But beyond the activations and panels, the heart of the Summit is community. It is a sacred space where Latinas can come as they are—powerful, multifaceted, and proud. It’s where we find sisters who share our struggles and our triumphs, and where we collectively build a future rooted in equity and representation.

As Latinas, we know what it means to work twice as hard for half the recognition. We know the weight of stigma, the challenge of balancing culture with career, and the persistence it takes to thrive in industries that weren’t built for us. But we also know the richness of our heritage, the depth of our resilience, and the unstoppable force of our collective power. When we stand together, we are not just part of the cannabis industry—we are transforming it.

This Hispanic Heritage Month, let us honor our ancestors, celebrate our present victories, and envision the future we are building. From the pages of Skunk Magazine to the stage of the Latinas in Cannabis Summit, the message is clear: Latinas are not only part of the cannabis movement—we are leading it.

Here’s to Latina power in cannabis. Here’s to Julie Chiariello and every mujer paving the way. Here’s to community, resilience, and celebration. And here’s to the unstoppable force that is Latinas in Cannabis. ¡Pa’lante siempre!

Photos credit: @stoner.shenanigans