Peggy Noonan, Arizona Cannabis Industry Pioneer, Dead at 73

Peggy Noonan, an Arizona cannabis pioneer who established the first scratch-made cannabis kitchen in the state, died on April 10 following a four-year battle with leukemia, Tucson Weekly reports. She was 73.

Noonan was the founder of Copia and served on the state Department of Health Services Labeling and Packaging Committee. She also owned Reliance Commercial Construction Inc. which specialized in medical cannabis dispensaries, cannabis production facilities, and cultivation sites.

“Peggy was a pioneer in life, as in with business, and was one of the early trailblazers in the Arizona medical marijuana industry. For nearly the past 10 years, Peggy put her extraordinary energies and talents into building business enterprises that have bloomed into Copia, an industry leader in infused products with the first scratch made cannabis kitchen in Arizona and with leading products, like OGeez!” – Copia, in a press release, via the Weekly

Noonan’s son, Brian, will take over his mother’s role at the company.

“For those who knew my mother, it goes without saying that she loved this company and the Arizona community, and bringing the passion she put into the company to others,” Bran Noonan said in a statement. “My mother possessed an unmatched entrepreneurial spirt, and as the company moves through 2021 and beyond, we will do so in her honor and by continuing to build upon her legacy.”

Noonan was named Trailblazer of the Year by High Times in 2015. The company won an Errl Cup Award from the magazine in 2018 and 2019 for its Peanut Butter & Potent-C Elixir and OGeez Gummies, respectively.