The first images that come to mind when considering High Times is, of course, the luscious centerfold flowers. The secondary images associated with the magazine are sexy models fondling very large water pipes or apparently standing under a waterfall in a wet t-shirt advertising a BC seed company.

Attending the first High Times Medical Marijuana Cannabis Cup in Seattle, WA one could reasonably expect to find a plethora of such hot women. Yet, highlighting the leading role women are assuming in the cannabis field, fishnet clad babes were by far the exception than the rule, a total of three being sighted the entire weekend.

While there were only four women on the official panels compared with eighteen men, women cultivators, collective owners and glass artists are clearly breaking the green ceiling and winning respect and awards alike for their work.

Northwest Trichome Circle, whose strains were cited as outstanding by multiple Cannabis Cup award winners, entered Organic Plushberry in the competition. The strain tested at astoundingly high levels in both dominant qualities: 21.56% THC and 4.1% CBD. Molly, the collective’s cultivator, notes that the uncertainty surrounding the outcome of November’s I-502 has limited business to delivery only rather than risk investing in a fixed location.

Lesley Dock, co-owner of Cool, Calm, Collective and Happy Wayz Medibles in Seattle conceived of her business at the 2011 Hempfest and by 2012 was an exhibitor. Her precisely dosed hard candies, featured in the September 2012 Washington issues of both Dope and Culture magazines, are available in multiple flavors and in 50, 100 and 200 mg hash oil dosages.

Ms. Dock’s passion is helping cannabis naive patients find relief and “not feel like criminals” for using their medication, hence the name of her collective. She was drawn to the field by the personal experience of losing her mother to cancer at the age of 12 and seeing how medical marijuana “helped her get up each day.” She states her business choice has been hard with her family but she finds satisfaction when patients compliment her on both her compassion and knowledge.

“I can’t believe it. I don’t think it has still set in,” said Savannah Roberts, glass artist with Sweet Tooth Glass of Eugene, OR on her 2nd Place victory in the Best Glass category. The award, chosen by the attendees, was recognition for Ms. Roberts who has found the pipe industry to be “overly supportive” and “encouraging” to women, who traditionally have been drawn toward beads and other ornamental work.

Roberts breaks the gender stereotype with her grotesque horror show corpse heads and tentacled sea creatures. With chainsaws to the skull, gory hanging eyeballs and deathly green pallor, the number of sold stickers on these intricate pieces attested to their popularity.