Queen Of The Underground

Photography by David Grant
Intro by High Moon
Questions by Sarah-Anne

She's not the pop star, but in Canada's cannabis scene, Katherine
"Katy" Perry commands just as much attention. From humble beginnings in the legacy market to running TOKE Cannabis, one of Ontario's most respected licensed retail chains, Perry has become a trailblazer for education, access, and innovation in the legal cannabis industry. With a deep respect for the plant's cultural history and a sharp eye on the future of Canada's cannabis market, she's transforming how people experience cannabis.

"My advice: trust yourself, and don't ask for permission.
Be bold. This industry needs more women who lead."-  Katherine Perry

1. Tell me how your time at Canadian Green Dispensary and Holistic Services shaped the way you now work in the recreational industry?
It taught me to listen first. Cannabis is personal everyone comes with different needs, questions, or hesitations. I carried that mindset into Toke: educate, respect, and make every customer feel seen.

2. Recently Toke won best independent retailer of the year award, what would you say is the leading cause for this?
Our team. Everyone here cares. From product knowledge to creating a welcoming space, authenticity is everything. People notice when you genuinely care.

3. As a woman in cannabis what barriers have vou had to face and what advice would you give to other women looking to make a name for themselves in this industry Not being taken seriously. 

My advice: trust yourself, and don't ask for permission. Be bold. This industry needs more women who lead

4. What 3 women have been most influential in crafting the woman you've become today?
First, my mom — she showed me resilience and grit. Second, women I've worked alongside in cannabis who balance family, business, and personal ambition every day. And third, my daughters — they inspire me to lead with integrity and courage, because they're watching how I show up.

5. Where did the Queen of the
Underground come from? What does your product bring to the, market that other don't?
It came from wanting to honour the roots of this industry — specifically the female trappers who built it quietly
passionately before legalization without a lot o fanfare. I wanted to build something that felt real, bold, and accessible. Queen of the Underground brings: consistent products with integrity, without all the fluff and hype you see everywhere else.

6. You've partnered with Atlantic, what benefits does this bring to the quality of flower and price point?
Partnering with Chris and Atlantic was a no brainer. First, it lets us scale without losing
quany. Iner culuvanon standaras are amazing, and it means we can keep prices fair while still giving customers top-notch products. It's a balance that consumers.

7. Who is Queen of the Undergrounds ideal customer?
The Queen of the Underground customer lives where culture is made, not where it's marketed. They're confident, expressive, and drawn to brands that feel raw, rare, and rooted in subculture rather than mass appeal.

8. Currently at the time of this interview you are pregnani with your third child, how would you recommend parents talk to their children about cannabis?
"Be honest and age-appropriate. Don't make it this forbidden mystery - that just makes kids curious in the wrong way. Share facts, talk about responsibility, and give context. When children feel informed rather than judged, they're more likely to make smart choices later."

9. Not only do you run an award winning chain of stores but you're also involved with the company
meen of the
Underground, what brought that on?
Running an award-winning chain gave me a front-row seat to what was missing in the industry. I saw a real gap for something that felt culture-driven rather than corporate.

10. When you think of your history in cannabis what do you carry with you when it comes to post probation?
When I think about my history in cannabis, I like to think that I still carry the hustle, the grind, and the fire that got me through early post-probation. It taught me how to push boundaries, take risks, and still play the game smarter than anyone expected.
Every store, every product, every idea I have comes from that space — it's about breaking boundaries, taking risks, and doing it my way.