Kimberly Cargile

Kimberly Cargile is a mother, an advocate for natural medicine and a business owner. Kimberly has been dedicated to advancing the medical cannabis industry in California for almost twenty years now. She is the C.E.O. of one of California’s oldest and most respected cannabis dispensaries, A Therapeutic Alternative and is a founder and owner of Modesto Cannabis Collective, Riverbank Cannabis Collective, Davis Cannabis Collective and Dixon Cannabis Collective.

Kimberly’s interest in natural medicine and holistic health was kindled as she worked her way through college as a certified fitness trainer and yoga instructor. From 1999 to 2005 Kimberly studied cellular and molecular biology as a pre-med student. In 2005 as Kimberly was researching natural and osteopathic medicine and its place in our society, she learned that this valuable and age-old style of practicing medicine was being repressed in this country. At that time, she changed her major to Liberal Studies with a minor in Psychology and a focus on Social Justice and decided to do her part in educating the community and the government to promote natural medicines.

When Kimberly graduated from Humboldt State University in 2006 as a Presidential Scholar on the Dean’s List, she moved to Sacramento to begin her career. She earned invaluable industry and business management experience as the general manager of one of California’s first dispensaries. There she had an opportunity to work behind the camera interviewing medical cannabis patients for a documentary. During that special time, she spent with those patients she realized that she had a responsibility to stand up for those that are too sick or too scared to stand up for themselves. So, she decided to start volunteering for Americans for Safe Access and began organizing patients and advocates for City Council meetings, County Board of Supervisor meetings, Planning Commission meetings, State Senate and Assembly meetings, protests and signature drives.

In 2009, Kimberly started working as a business consultant for the medical cannabis industry. Over the years she has helped open or reopen dozens of cannabis businesses including dispensaries, cultivation sites, manufacturing companies and garden supply companies. Kimberly has been instrumental in advancing industry standards with her position on the boards of many advocacy groups.

At her current position as the C.E.O. of A Therapeutic Alternative, a California State licensed cannabis dispensary, Kimberly is proud of the fact that her staff can help a patient find the product that will relieve their symptoms based on the specific cannabinoid profile and administration technique. She has been commended by various City, County and State government agencies for operating a model dispensary.

In 2013, Kimberly was voted one of the top ten most influential people in the cannabis community in Sacramento by Sacramento Alternative Magazine. In 2016, Kimberly was nominated for the Luminary Award by the National Association of Women Business Owners. And just this year, Kimberly was voted by the Sacramento News and Review as one of 2019’s Top 5 Women to Watch and the Sacramento Business Journal’s award for Women Who Mean Business. Kimberly is a published writer, has been interviewed by many publications, radio, podcasts and television.

Kimberly believes that education is the basis of change. She provides education by providing government tours of her businesses, speaking at hospitals, colleges and at numerous conferences. She organized the first class on Cannabis at Sacramento City College, The Chemistry of Cannabis. She currently teaches the section on marijuana in the Alcohol and Other Drugs Health Course at Sacramento State University on a semester basis. She requires all of the cannabis sales consultants at her dispensaries to participate in continuing education in order to stay on the cutting edge of cannabis science in order to provide the highest quality of service to their members.

2014 to 2018, Kimberly worked tirelessly on the State legislature and regulations; giving tours of A Therapeutic Alternative to various stakeholders involved in the legislative process including: advocacy groups, legislators and regulators. Kimberly has worked hard to continually learn as much as possible about the science, law and politics of medical cannabis.

In the last few years, Kimberly has become a mentor to many of her employees helping them move up to ownership positions themselves. She is currently partnered with previous employees as owners in 5 cannabis dispensaries, 2 cannabis cultivation sites a cannabis manufacturing company and a holistic health center. Her passion for helping others has fueled her desire to stay in the industry through some very hard times. Kimberly is respected for her knowledge, ethics and compassion. Her experience has earned her the title as an expert in the cannabis industry.

Kimberly will speak about “the transition from the old self-regulated market into the new regulated market, how that has been for me, why others should do it and how…”