About Mountain Girl Cannabis
Our Roots in Recreational Cannabis Run Deep
Once upon a mountain, two love birds bonded over a recreational joint and a few beers, not yet grasping the socioeconomic and political history of cannabis use in this country. Even less — the medicinal properties that this plant naturally possesses. Almost two decades, a minor run-in with the “system,” and much experimentation later, Mountain Girl Cannabis is proud to be the first cannabis dispensary licensed for recreational retail in Vermont.
Various loaves of bread balancing on each other.
Why “Mountain Girl” Cannabis?
The name Mountain Girl Cannabis was born in part from the founders’ deep appreciation for Carolyn Garcia’s advocacy for sustainable cannabis cultivation, educated consumption, and her work on the advisory board of the Marijuana Policy Project, which focuses on policy reform. Carolyn Elizabeth Garcia is often referred to as “Mountain Girl.”
The name also pays homage to the Green Mountain State, where the founders reside and often find themselves taking in the beautiful views (and some cannabis) by foot or by board, depending on the season.
About Our Team
Josh MacDuff
From growing up in a small town and becoming the only immediate family member to graduate high school to being ushered out of his dorm during his Freshman year of college on cannabis possession with intent to deal charges to marrying the love of his life at 19 — Josh has always averted the conventional path in life and what is deemed “success.”
Through the guidance and mentorship of his wife and the work ethic earned from his father, Josh has found his “success” as a contributing member of his community and reliable family member and father. He has had a relationship with cannabis since 12, and looks forward to every opportunity to use his soapbox to remove the stigma of cannabis use and promote its many beautiful benefits, whether they be social, spiritual, medicinal, or otherwise.
Josh has over 10 years of professional experience in various sales and leadership roles through the banking and insurance industries. Whether as a farm underwriter for a local insurance company or as a branch manager for a local credit union, Josh has always advocated for the people in his community. Most recently, he has served as a commercial insurance producer and has been heavily involved in the cannabis insurance industry, helping many hemp farmers and retailers access and understand the hard-to-place coverage needed to safely operate their businesses.
These experiences have given Josh the ability to build relationships and make deep connections in the communities in which he serves. He has the great fortune of learning from business owners of virtually every industry segment from Vermont all the way down to the Bronx, and has built a foundation of leadership and risk management practices to help create a safe and successful culture for his team.
Our story is built on the advocacy and stewardship of our fearless founders, Ana and Josh MacDuff. After years spent bending the ears of those who will listen about cannabis use and legalization, opening up shop as Vermont’s first licensed recreational dispensary felt like the natural next step.
From a native of the Andes Mountains decorating Colombia to the Green Mountain State she currently calls home, Ana loves being surrounded by nature and has a genuine curiosity in natural healing modalities. She values freedom of choice and believes that everyone should have access to education as a precursor to make better choices.
Ana holds a Master of Science in Managing Innovation and Information Technology from Champlain College. She has over 10 years of experience working for Information Technology departments in the insurance and waste management industries. Through this experience, Ana has led the implementation of complex projects from inception to fruition.
Ana is no stranger to the uncertainty of new endeavors, the encumbrance of compliance and regulation, and the need to balance competing priorities from multiple stakeholders — all attributes prevalent in the era of cannabis legalization.
Ana MacDuff
Meet Our Wellness Guides
Kass Cummings
Highly Recommends: “Double Cherry Crescendo flower from Subterra Cannabis and the Salted Pecan Brittle Crunch Dark Chocolate Bar from Cultivar Chocolates ”
Chandler Volk
Highly Recommends: “Forlotto Goji Wrap Halloween Preroll from Forbin’s Finest and the Maid of Honor Live Hash Rosin from Low Key Alchemy ”
Brett Simpson
Highly Recommends: “Cherry Glue flower from Forbin’s Finest and the Sour Guava Jelly gummies from VTreats”
Cat Milholo
Highly Recommends: “Watermelon Habanero gummies from Tall Truck and First Class Funk flower from Forbin’s Finest ”