Sara Gullickson is the CEO of Item 9 Labs Corp., a national publicly traded cannabis company specializing in the development and manufacturing of innovative cannabis products and proprietary delivery platforms. Gullickson is also the owner of Strive Wellness of Nevada LLC, a medical cannabis cultivation and processing facility with distribution rights, and dispensary Strive Life of North Dakota.
Prior to her executive-level position at Item 9 Labs Corp., Gullickson served as the CEO and founder of Dispensary Permits, a nationally recognized cannabis consulting firm. Established in 2010, Dispensary Permits won multiple cannabis licenses across more than a dozen competitive state markets. In addition to application success, Gullickson has assisted in opening and operating cannabis facilities from the East to West Coast, helping multiple startups secure funding for new ventures.
Gullickson has received multiple accolades as a cannabis industry leader. She was named to Marijuana Business Magazine’s Women to Watch in 2019 list, Herb Magazine’s Top Ten Cannabis Entrepreneurs, and Phoenix Business Journal’s Top Forty Under 40.
An industry spokesperson, Gullickson headlined cannabis tracks at the Real Estate Wealth Expos in Los Angeles and Toronto, and the XLive Conference in Las Vegas. Gullickson has also presented at MJBizCon, World Medical Cannabis Conference & Expo, Dispensary Next, Cannabis World Congress and Business Expo, MJAC Investorshub International Conference, Women Grow Leadership Summit, and other large-scale business events.
Gullickson believes it is her duty to help the industry evolve successfully. She has assisted in the development of regulatory frameworks and cannabis application processes in the United States, Canada, Europe, and New Zealand. She has also volunteered her time to advocacy efforts, attending multiple political gatherings to raise medical cannabis awareness, both at Lobby Days in Washington, D.C, and at the Phoenix Capitol.