Chanda Macias’ mission is to make marijuana accessible to the entire world

Chanda Macias is on a mission to bring medical marijuana to the world one country at a time.

With more than 25 years of experience in health, education and business, the CEO of the National Holistic Healing Center, a cannabis treatment center in Washington, DC, has dedicated his life to breaking down barriers and building bridges for better health care around the world, including MMJ’s business operations in Germany.

From her early days as a cancer researcher to her current role as a global cannabis advocate and CEO of Women Grow, a group focused on female leadership in the cannabis industry, Macias’ journey is one of strength, passion and commitment to helping others.

Her groundbreaking work cemented her legacy as a transformative leader in the cannabis industry and earned her recognition as Woman of the Year at the annual Empowering Women in Cannabis event hosted by Women Grow and MJBizCon.

“My search started in the United States, but global legalization or global access will help us all,” he said.

“Health care should not be closed to one country and not another. There should be public access for everyone. I am doing it one country at a time in a very compliant way.”

Other honorees:

• Angela Pih, founder of Los Angeles marketing agency Point Brand
• Kristi Palmer, founder and president of multistate product brand Kiva Connections
• Rachel Wright, founder of cannabis industry accounting firm Verdant Strategies
• Mary Jane Oatman, executive director of the Indigenous Cannabis Industry Association

How Macias got cancer turned into cannabis

Macias earned a degree in biology and later a Ph.D. in cellular biology from Howard University, where he focused on cancer research. Early in his career, he studied aggressive cancers like breast cancer in women and prostate cancer in Black men — diseases that disproportionately affect underserved communities. “I wanted to dedicate my life and research to helping people with these diseases,” she said.

But when he asked his counselor if he could study marijuana as a treatment, he hit a wall.

“He told me, ‘You can’t study cannabis – it’s illegal.’

It was then that he planted the seed that would grow into his life’s mission: to make marijuana accessible to those who need it most.

After earning an MBA in supply chain management from Rutgers University, Macias’ career took off. He worked as a research scientist at Colgate-Palmolive, helping to launch billion-dollar brands, and as a patent examiner at the US Patent and Trademark Office.

But his heart was always in healthcare, and when the opportunity arose to enter the cannabis industry, he jumped in with both feet in 2013.

Distributing medical marijuana around the world

Today, Macias is the CEO of the National Holistic Healing Center, a medical cannabis company in Washington, DC that develops and processes cannabis medicines around the world. The dispensary welcomes patients from all over the world. His work has always been more than business – he talks about people.

“Providing medicine to patients who need it – that’s my reason for being in this field,” she said. “There is nothing more satisfying than helping someone improve their quality of life.”

But Macias didn’t stop there. He expanded operations in Louisiana and partnered with Southern University, the first historically Black college and university (HBCU) to launch medical CBD products.

Medical marijuana grower and producer Advanced Biomedics was awarded a license to grow medical marijuana and produce in Louisiana, but the state asked Macias to take over after the company missed a deadline.

Macias’ influence is not limited to the US. He is also the managing director of Deutschland Holistic GmbH, a German-based pharmaceutical and medical marijuana retailer.

His goal is to create a global cannabis supply chain that connects international producers to European markets.

Building a global supply chain is no small feat. Macias and his team adhere to the strict standards of the European Union Good Distribution Practice, which ensure that all products are sourced, tested and distributed with the highest standards of compliance.

“In the US, we see difficulties with crops that everyone likes, but around the world, I have seen a miracle medicine that has affected patients with good and important health,” he said.

“I would love the opportunity to be able to bring back to the US those types of medicines that can help our communities – especially rare diseases.”

Advocacy and education about marijuana in the Black community

Advocacy is another pillar of Macias’ work. He has worked with lobbyists, politicians and government officials to advance marijuana decriminalization, employment protections and expanded access for disadvantaged groups. His efforts even influenced former President Joe Biden’s decision to pardon administrative charges, he said.

Macias’ advocacy hits very close to home. As a mother of three children with special needs and chronic illnesses, she has seen firsthand how marijuana can change lives.

“They’ve all used marijuana to recover – I know marijuana works,” Macias said.

Education is another area where Macias is making waves. He encourages HBCUs to train the next generation of cannabis leaders and push young black students to enter the field.

“I encourage more HBCUs to educate the cannabis industry, participate in legal research and help their communities access this type of medicine,” she said. “It’s a real medicine that can help the Black community.”

Margaret Jackson can be reached at margaret.jackson@mjbizdaily.com.