ABOUT

At her core, Dr. Chanda is a wife, mother, biomedical researcher, entrepreneur, mentor, and an inspiration to thousands in the cannabis and hemp industries. For over 15 years, Dr. Chanda has devoted her time, talents and expertise to advancing the careers of women and minorities while improving the quality of life for patients suffering from various ailments.

In 2015, Dr. Chanda founded National Holistic Healing Center, the leading medical cannabis dispensary in the nation’s capitol that currently serves patients with a medical marijuana card from any state. Under her leadership, NHHC has majority market share in Washington, D.C., significant patient retention, and has increased patient enrollment through her education platform. Dr. Chanda contributes growth to the market through education on ailment strain ailment, aligning a medical marijuana strain with a specific condition or ailment.

Dr. Chanda connects, educates, empowers, and inspires women entrepreneurs and patients through her outreach platform as the CEO and Chairwoman of the Board of Women Grow. Since its inception in 2014, Women Grow has cultivated thousands of women-owned cannabis and hemp centric businesses with a global educational reach.

As the Vice-Chair of the National Cannabis Roundtable (NCR) Board, Dr. Chanda promotes common sense federal legislation, tax equity, and financial services reform.

As a Research Scientist, Dr. Macias investigated oral care solutions and treatment options at Colgate-Palmolive Company, a Fortune 500 Company. Her innovations have resulted in numerous scientific achievements including publications, compilations, and several U.S. and global patents.

Additionally, Dr. Chanda was the Director of STEM Education in the College of Engineering, Architecture, and Computer Sciences at Howard University, where she was awarded federally funded grants. Through the NIH-Minority Health International Research Training grant, Dr. Macias trained students including MD’s, PhD’s, and advanced undergraduates in biomedical research of infectious diseases in Africa to address healthcare disparities.

Dr. Chanda earned her Bachelor’s Degree in the Department of Biology at Howard University and had the honor of being a Ronald E. McNair Scholarship recipient, which pivoted her into the medical space. She then earned a PhD in Cellular Biology from Howard University and extensively studied cancer. Her studies led to the development of a model used to understand the mechanism of prostate cancer metastasis to bone, which impacts the African American male community at a higher rate than any other cancer. She has a scientific portfolio to support her contribution to biomedical research. 

She also earned her MBA from Rutger’s University in Supply Chain Management, and has demonstrated excellence in the design, planning, execution, control, and monitoring of the supply chain in the medical cannabis market. She has created net value, built a competitive infrastructure, leveraged logistics, synchronized supply with demand, and measured performance in the industry.