Meet Shandy Riddle

We were lucky to catch up with Shandy Riddle recently and have shared our conversation below.

Shandy, thanks so much for taking the time to share your insights and lessons with us today. We’re particularly interested in hearing about how you became such a resilient person. Where do you get your resilience from?

The scene begins in the deep South, where the soil is rich with history—both pain and power. Mississippi, a land that has witnessed struggle but also the unyielding strength of Black women like me, stands as both a battleground and a birthplace of transformation.

I stand barefoot in the field where Beyond the Grass will flourish, my hands pressing into the earth. The soil is dark, fertile, alive—just like me. It holds my ancestors’ whispers, women who endured brutality but still found a way to nurture, to build, to love. Their resilience pulses through me, through my veins, through my breath.

Behind me, the shadows of my past stretch long—the little girl who was harmed before she could even name her pain, the woman who survived again and again. The weight of grief sits heavy, the faces of those lost still lingering in my mind. There were days I thought I wouldn’t rise from that darkness, but here I am, standing, planting, growing.

To my left, my Blackness is my armor and my pride—a lineage of women and men who carried the world on their backs, who fought for their place in rooms designed to exclude them. I am their continuation, their wildest dream blooming in a place where others said I wouldn’t survive.

To my right, the fight for equity, for a seat at the table, for ownership in an industry that has historically shut out people like me. The Beyond the Grass banner waves as a reminder that I am not just here for myself. I am opening doors, carving out space, making it undeniable that Black women belong here.

And at the center of it all is ME. Scarred but whole. Wounded but healing. A Black woman who turned pain into purpose, loss into legacy, and soil into something sacred.

I didn’t just survive. I grew.

Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?

Hey everyone! I am Shandy and I am the first Black woman-owned cultivation farm operator in Mississippi’s cannabis industry and the founder of Beyond the Grass Cultivation, a medical cannabis cultivation farm dedicated to healing, equity, and empowerment. My work is about far more than growing plants—it’s about growing opportunities, restoring dignity, and ensuring access to natural medicine for those who need it most.

What excites me the most about Beyond the Grass is the impact it will have on both patients and the industry. Mississippi’s cannabis market is still young, and representation matters. Being a Black woman in this space means breaking barriers, creating generational wealth, and making sure that Black and Brown communities—who have historically been criminalized for cannabis—now have ownership and leadership in the industry.

Beyond cultivation, I also co-lead, with my friend Christopher Kea (Owner of Bornstoner brand; IG: bornstonerbrand), The Minority Cannabis Collective, a platform focused on educating and advocating for Black and Brown entrepreneurs and patients. Through patient drives, educational seminars, and legislative advocacy, we will make sure that cannabis is not just another industry where we’re left out. I am also a member of MS Women in Cannabis and I am the North MS Ambassador for MS Patient Voices.

As for what’s new, Beyond the Grass is ready to GROW! We are working on increasing our cultivation capacity, introducing new strains tailored for specific medical needs, and creating more partnerships to support small cannabis businesses in Mississippi. We’re also planning community education events to ensure that patients understand the benefits of medical cannabis and how to access it.

At the heart of it all, Beyond the Grass is a story of resilience—turning pain into purpose, breaking cycles, and creating something that will make my daughters proud. This isn’t just business. It’s legacy.

Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?

Looking back, three key qualities have been most impactful in my journey of launching Beyond the Grass and breaking barriers in Mississippi’s cannabis industry:

1. Resilience – The ability to push forward despite obstacles, trauma, and grief has been the foundation of my success. The cannabis industry—especially for Black women—is not an easy space to navigate. I faced setbacks, legal hurdles, financial barriers, and the emotional weight of my past, but I refused to let any of that stop me.
Advice: Build your resilience by embracing challenges as part of the process. Find your “why” and hold onto it tightly. When things get hard (and they will), return to that purpose—it will keep you moving forward. Also, surround yourself with people who uplift and remind you that you belong.

2. Resourcefulness & Business Knowledge – Entering a regulated industry like cannabis requires more than passion—you need to understand laws, business structures, funding strategies, and market dynamics. I had to educate myself quickly on licensing, compliance, cultivation, and how to run a sustainable business.
Advice: For those just starting out, educate yourself relentlessly. Attend industry events, seek mentorship, and stay informed on state and federal cannabis laws. If you don’t have access to capital, look for grants, partnerships, and creative funding solutions. Be willing to learn and adapt constantly.

3. Advocacy & Community Building – The cannabis space has historically excluded Black and Brown communities, so I knew my journey couldn’t just be about me. Through The Minority Cannabis Collective, I’m working to ensure more people of color have access to industry opportunities and that patients get the education they need.
Advice: Build relationships and give back as you grow. Connect with people who share your mission, uplift others, and don’t be afraid to use your voice. The more you advocate for yourself and your community, the stronger your impact will be.

For anyone just starting out, BET ON YOURSELF! The road won’t be easy, but if you stay committed, keep learning, and build the right network, you’ll create something bigger than you ever imagined.

How can folks who want to work with you connect?

Absolutely! I’m always looking to partner and collaborate with like-minded individuals and organizations who are passionate about equity, access, and innovation in the cannabis industry. I would absolutely love to partner with Memphis Living Legends 8Ball and MJG, Issa Rae, J.Cole, & Quinta Brunson just to name a few.

Who I’m Looking to Collaborate With:
✅ Cannabis Industry Professionals – Cultivators, dispensary owners, processors, and researchers who want to work together to expand access, develop new products, or advocate for fair policies.

✅ Advocacy & Community Organizations – Especially those focused on social equity, expungement, medical cannabis education, and patient access for underserved communities.

✅ Black and Brown Entrepreneurs – Individuals looking to break into the cannabis space who need mentorship, resources, or collaborative opportunities to grow their businesses.

✅ Medical Professionals & Researchers – Physicians, nurses, and scientists who want to explore cannabis as medicine, conduct research, or help educate patients.

✅ Investors & Business Partners – People and organizations committed to supporting minority-owned businesses in cannabis and helping with funding, scaling, or expanding operations.

How to Connect
If you’re interested in collaborating, let’s connect! You can reach me through:
📧 Email: beyondthegrass@yahoo.com
📱 Social Media: FB: Beyond the Grass Cultivation; IG: beyondthegrass2024; LinkedIn: Beyond the Grass Cultivation

Let’s build something powerful together—because cannabis is more than an industry, it’s a MOVEMENT!

Contact Info:

• Instagram: beyondthegrass2024
• Facebook: Beyond the Grass Cultivation
• Linkedin: Beyond the Grass Cultivation