Space Gem: Meet the woman breaking barriers in the cannabis industry 

Wendy Baker is the founder and owner of Space Gem, a Humboldt-based edible company that uses local-grown ice water hash and organic ingredients to provide a high-quality high through her line of edibles and tinctures.

Providing vegan and gluten-free products, Baker has a variety of edibles ranging from sweet and sour gummy drops and belts, to what she calls cosmic tincture and gem juice which can be added to foods or beverages. 

Baker is originally from the Chicago area and came to Humboldt for the cannabis scene. She started Space Gem in 2013 out of a love for weed and seeing a need for high-quality edible products for medical patients.

As for the name, “They’re little gems that take you to space, that’s how the name came up,” Baker said.

Baker’s products are sold at over 300 dispensaries throughout the state and have won multiple awards including the 2023 Emerald Cup’s Best Edible for their sour space drops, and the 2024 California State Fair’s Golden Bear. 

Despite Baker’s success, being a woman in a largely male-dominated industry has proven difficult.

A survey conducted by MJBizDaily, a Colorado-based business news outlet for professionals in the recreational and medical cannabis industry, found that in 2023, women ownership of cannabis companies was at 16% (which was down from an average of 21% the previous two years).

Joshua S. Meisel is a professor of sociology who co-founded the Humboldt Institute for Interdisciplinary Marijuana Research at Cal Poly Humboldt.

“In general women working in cannabis have faced the same pay inequities, limited opportunities for career advancement, and harassment that exist in legitimate economies,” Meisel said in an email response. “Legalization created opportunities for women entrepreneurs to enter the cannabis space.”

While Baker enjoys the community aspect of the cannabis industry, she also recognizes how unequal it can be.

“I’ll be at a table of all guys and the person that I’m sitting next to is usually the person that they think owns Space Gem or something,” Baker said. “And they don’t talk to me or they don’t even look at me.”

Baker has also had to deal with her share of criticism.

“I’ve been told what I should make, I’ve been told what I shouldn’t make, money things have come up…you know distributors not paying us, and they wouldn’t treat a guy that way,” Baker said. 

But despite the shortcomings of the cannabis industry, she wants to keep focusing on providing a quality product, her way.

“I think [criticism] also keeps me humble in a way which I’m kind of grateful for… but no one else is gonna speak for me, and I make that very clear, that no one else is gonna speak for me,” Baker said.

She also has her share of supporters.

Gaurav Mehta, or ‘G’, is an owner and manager for Ganjery, a cannabis distributor and dispensary out of McKinleyville. Mehta has known Baker for a long time and purchased her product long before Space Gem was official. Back when Baker was still operating out of a home kitchen and using Avery labels.

“She’s put her stamp on the market and she’s such a powerful force in the market,” Mehta said. “She’s inspiring so many other women to do the same thing.”

With plans to soon open a new Ganjery dispensary on G Street in Arcata, Mehta says he will definitely be carrying Space Gem products.

“Space Gem is a big part of this community and a big part of our shop,” Mehta said. “Wendy’s a badass owner…she’s gonna keep rocking for a long time.”

Space Gem products can be found in Arcata at Humboldt’s Premium, Herb & Market Humboldt, Pacific Paradise and the Fireplace.

You can follow Space Gem on Instagram @spacegemofficial.