Dr. David Toomey – CEO of Med-X, Inc.

Dr. David Toomey’s professional life has been spent helping others. He has been a family physician for over 23 years and a Hospice Medical Director for the last 10 years. Working directly with the elderly and focusing on their complex medical issues and pain relief has provided Dr. Toomey a firsthand look into the impact that medical cannabis can have on quality of life. In addition to his work at Med-X, Inc., David helped to develop and test, in clinical trials, the all-natural Thermal-Aid product line that is made, marketed, and sold throughout the U.S. by their sister company, Pacific Shore Holdings, Inc. Dr. Toomey and Med-X, Inc. are focused on CBD oils, application of these oils in various mediums, and their abilities to relieve pain, anxiety, PTSD, and seizures. With top-of-the-line research and development facilities, Med-X and Dr. Toomey are on the forefront of the green rush movement with an overall goal to help patients and the environment at the same time. David, who used to only be able to help 20 patients per day in his practice, now has hopes to impact millions across the world. How you ask? Let’s find out.

Why did you decide to enter the cannabis industry?

I decided to enter the cannabis industry because of the work I was doing with hospice. I’ve been a hospice medical director for over ten years, dealing directly with elderly patients and all the pain they have to manage on a daily basis. I knew that addictive prescription pharmaceuticals couldn’t be the only option available to these suffering patients. There had to be another treatment that would be able to help them, and that’s why I got into the industry.

Our society has a great alternative medicine option that can help treat these patients and it’s available right now.

It really is that simple for me.  Our society has a great alternative medicine option that can help treat these patients and it’s available right now. Cannabis isn’t new to the world. They have had it in Europe since the 1970’s. Israel is doing a phenomenal job leading the medical advancement charge as well. We’re just slow here in the United States, like we are for a lot of different things, unfortunately.

What were you doing before you got involved with Med-X and the cannabis space? How has that helped you in what you are doing now?

I’ve been a family physician for 23 years, primarily working with the elderly. Additionally, I’ve been a medical director in assisted care facilities and extended care facilities, like nursing homes for example, so I’ve taken care of a lot of very complex people throughout my professional experience. In medical school, they teach you about diseases but you never really see them in person until you see them in the real world. I’ve probably seen just about every disease that is out there.

When you help patients who are at the ending stages of their lives, you see all kinds of different ailments and you take care of a lot of complex people, often with multiple medical problems. It’s not uncommon for a patient to have 20 different diagnoses that I take care of, including all types of cancer and pain. What I try to do is improve the quality of those patients’ lives, so I gravitated towards Med-X and cannabis as a viable treatment option.

Our 100% all-natural pesticide has been third party tested, confirming both the research and claims behind the product.

Right now with Med-X, where are you guiding your daily passion and energies? What projects are you excited about?

Currently, we are working on our CBD oil production. We have roughly seven different strains of cannabis in growth right now in an effort to bring our CBD percentages up, while lowering the THC content. We’re working with some Charlotte’s Web and Harlequin plant derivatives. The Harlequin is a 5:2 CBD to THC ratio. We’re trying to refine that number and get it down even lower as far as the THC and bring the CBD levels up higher. In our facility, we are picking off the clones of these different strains to figure out what is altering the percentages and how we can improve the product. We are excited to be heading in this direction.

How important is the growing process to the final product?

Keeping the growing process clean is extremely important. After all, the endgame of cannabis is consumption, so to have a great product you need to make sure it is as clean and natural as possible. Med-X, as well as our sister company Pacific Shore Holdings, Inc. have one of the only EPA registered, 100% all-natural pesticides on the market. We grow our plants completely pesticide free, while at the same time maintaining the ability to control the insect and mold problem that can come with cannabis cultivation. Our 100% all-natural pesticide has been third party tested, confirming both the research and claims behind the product. We use it in our cultivations, and hope that more people use it in theirs, because in the end we simply want everyone to be consuming a product clean from toxic chemicals or harmful molds.

Being a physician who wants to help people, while working for a company that wants to help people, provides me with great satisfaction.

One thing about cannabis delivery methods is that ‘old-school’ users mainly consume cannabis by smoking it. Often times they don’t know if they’re smoking a product with pesticides or if there is mold on it. Recently in Denver, cultivators had tens of thousands of plants quarantined due to pesticides. In our growing facility, as well as in our research and development labs, we are 100% pesticide free.

How would you describe your personal work ethic in one word?

Driven.

What would you consider your strength as an entrepreneur?

I think I’m best at the research and development side of the business as well as speaking to people in small groups. We have a great management team in place and they are fantastic at presenting our materials in a large venue format with a big audience.

One of the things that I like most about Med-X is our digital media platform (MarijuanaTimes.org). In a typical day of treating patients I might get to as many as 20 people because of the complexity of the people I see. That’s about all the lives I can touch in one day.

Each one of our experts has 20 to 30 years of experience in their field. It’s basically like playing on the Michael Jordan era dream team.

Through the multiple product development protocols I’ve been through, my continued education and the work I’ve done with multiple insurance companies and pharmaceutical studies, I’ve touched things that span across the nation and across the world. On a daily basis, instead of only touching 20 lives, I can touch millions of people’s lives. Being a physician who wants to help people, while working for a company that wants to help people, provides me with great satisfaction. It’s a great feeling to be able to have this level of impact. It makes it easy to get up every day to do your job.

How do you think Med-X is separating themselves from competitors in the space? How are you staying ahead of the game?

The number one thing is probably just the management team we have in place. Not just me as the CEO, but Matthew Mills, the COO and Ron Tchozewski our CFO as well. We also have top financial experts in place and a Board of Directors with a gamut of experience, a Research and Development facility and a digital media platform that I feel are unmatched. Success and positive growth really comes down to having an awesome team consisting of experts with long track records in their respective fields. Each one of our experts has 20 to 30 years of experience in their field. It’s basically like playing on the Michael Jordan era dream team. I feel like, with this team, there is no challenge we can’t take on and beat. That’s how we’ve gotten as far as we have in such a short time.

You helped develop, test and run clinical trials of the Thermal-Aid product you mentioned in our pre-interview. Can you talk about the Thermal-Aid product line and what goes behind development and testing something like that?

The Thermal-Aid product line is a hot and cold pack system that was developed as an all-natural product. The development of this product consistent of countless studies, just like our products do now at Med-X. We made sure that it wouldn’t grow mold, as well as a myriad of other things. Then we developed the Thermal-Aid Zoo, a hot and cold pack for kids, disguised as a stuffed animal. It’s for kids and adults alike. Currently, we have it all across the nation in physical therapy departments as well as in pharmacies.

We don’t cut corners. We don’t skip steps. We’re not shipping our products overseas for any reason. It’s all done here.

Prior to launching that product, I tested all aspects of it in our lab. I tested the efficacy against other products and then tested it again in a clinical trial with patients. With patients, we tested Thermal-Aid against conventional medications like Tylenol, NSAIDs and narcotics. I was able to show, in a controlled environment and a double-blind study, that Thermal-Aid was a comparable treatment that was 100% natural, unlike the competitors we tested against it. These were substantial studies consisting of legitimate patients and published findings.

How does that Thermal-Aid product experience help you with your Med-X projects?

It helps a great deal as far as having excellent control. You always have to have excellent control. Once you’ve established control, then you have to figure out how you want to formulate the study. How do you figure out who are legitimate patients you can try different things on? How about the quality control of the product that you’re assembling or growing? Who is the manufacture of the product? All these questions are extremely important and my background, having been through all of these decisions multiple times, allows me to make sure that what we are doing at Med-X is truly the best practice. We don’t cut corners. We don’t skip steps. We’re not shipping our products overseas for any reason. It’s all done here.

Anyone can say that their product has this effect or is natural to this extent. However, if you really want to be taken seriously, you have to back that up.

In addition to our testing, you have to get a third party tester as well if you want your product to be truly legitimized. Anyone can say that their product has this effect or is natural to this extent. However, if you really want to be taken seriously, you have to back that up. That’s why we take our products, like our 100% all-natural pesticide for example, and send it off to a third party, EPA accredited lab so that they can tear it apart and tell us we are 100% right about it being 100% natural. We can then take that information and share it with the public, maintaining as much transparency as possible.

How have you incorporated third party testing to truly validate your product claims?

In this industry you will often hear someone say, “Hey, we have the best 100% natural product.” Often times someone will respond, “Show us the proof.” We want to make sure that every product we put out, we are 100% accurate in our claims as to its applications and results. When we say something is 100% natural, it’s not our company saying that, it’s the legitimate and accredited agency. For instance, in Colorado our pesticide is on their short list of approved products for cultivators to use in their grows. This is what happens, when you do things the right way.

Colorado approval can be found here on page 11.

Qualifications for pesticide use in CO can be found here.

How do you find inspiration in the industry? What inspires you day in and day out?

I like to find creative ways to innovate and solve problems. That is what keeps me going. I love to take an unconventional approach or look at a problem from a different angle in an attempt to find that unique answer. What I love about this industry is that there is so much that still needs to be discovered. There is an infinite amount of space for innovation and creativity. It’s inspiring in and of itself.

What is the best piece of advice you like to give out?

You have to be a great listener and have an open mind. Listen to what people say. Not just one person, but many different people. By doing this, you can ascertain bits of knowledge along the way from each person you speak with. Then you can take that information, assemble it in a way that makes sense for you and decide how you can best apply it. That is the best advice I’ve come across and it is the advice I tend to give out.

I like to find creative ways to innovate and solve problems. That is what keeps me going.

Where do you think your great ideas come from? Where do you find that creative ability?

I think great ideas come from life experience and the people you meet along the way.

Practicing family medicine, as long as I have, has provided me with a unique chance to develop and create some interesting ideas over the years. I’ve met all types of different people throughout my career. I can talk to someone who is a plumber as easily as I can talk to someone who is a teacher as I can talk to someone who’s medical professional like a dentist or a surgeon. I can go across that whole venue and relate to all those different people because of my history.

My father was a carpenter, so I know how a great deal about carpentry. I also trained myself in car mechanics. I call myself a house, people and car doctor. These are just things I’ve always done my whole life. The combination of all of these experiences really gives you an open mind. Sometimes you are simply working with a patient or on a house project and a great idea just pops into your head. That idea might not have ever happened had you not initially opened your mind to learn something new or work with someone you previously haven’t.

In California, we anticipate legalization of recreational use in 2016 or 2017, so regardless of when, we are going to be there when it happens.

What is on the horizon for Med-X? What can we expect to see?

Our sights are set to be a major player in the cannabis industry. In the cannabis space, you can be in business to touch the product or to not touch the product. We want to cover and become a leader in both sides. In terms of not touching the product, we are developing and improving on our new and existing all-natural pesticide and soil line of products. As for touching the plant, we want to be at the forefront of developing our own strains with a high CBD content and lower THC percentage. Then once we’re ready, we want to spread them throughout the entire cannabis market, especially as further legalization takes place. In California, we anticipate legalization of recreational use in 2016 or 2017, so regardless of when, we are going to be there when it happens.

Tell us something that you wish you had known before entering the cannabis industry as an entrepreneur?

I didn’t realize how many people had already tried cannabis in their life. I wish I would’ve known how widespread medical use may have been and how many people were using it for pain relief. I didn’t know that before entering the space.

As a physician, we all ask questions, “Hey, how many cigarettes do you smoke?” or, “How much alcohol do you consume? Do you do any drugs?”

I don’t ask, “Do you do any drugs?” anymore. Instead I ask, “How much cannabis do you smoke?” I am very specific with that question now, and then we ask, “Are there any other drugs that you use?”

I didn’t realize how many people had already tried cannabis in their life.

Until I entered the industry, I really never asked that question. However, now I think it’s a really, really important distinction to make.

People would be scared when they answer the question as a whole, “No, I don’t do any drugs,” but when you ask them specifically, “Hey, do you do any cannabis for your nerves or to help you sleep or you have for some pain?” I was really surprised at how many people answered ‘yes’ to that question.

How often do you get interests from other doctors who don’t know about cannabis, those who may want to find out more?

Presently, I would say it’s a very low percentage yet. Most of the doctors I deal with are more interested in making money in the industry, on the investment side. There isn’t a lot of, and certainly not enough, interest from a medical standpoint yet. Most physicians are and will continue to be afraid of cannabis until the federal government makes a move to schedule 2.

There has been a great loss of autonomy in medicine over the last 10 years.

Although, I think that’s just physicians in general, most of them tend to be conservative. In the climate we live in now as physicians, with the insurance companies looking over your shoulder, the government’s looking over your back, everyone’s telling you what to do. There has been a great loss of autonomy in medicine over the last 10 years.

You’re almost forced to be conservative, right?

Certainly. Especially from the legal aspect as it pertains to malpractice suits. By the way, I have been in practice 23 years and have yet to be hit with a malpractice suit. I’ve been told that, by now, I’m supposed to have already have had one and a half. That is what they tell me the average is at for how long I’ve been practicing. The fact that there are people who have already calculated how many suits you are supposed to have says everything about how doctors are forced to be conservative these days.

How would you advise someone who wants to enter the space, whether it’s on the doctor’s side or as an entrepreneur?

If you are looking to enter the space, you better read a lot. I would take your time to go over all the digital media that’s available. On our side, we have our MarijuanaTimes.org platform where people can read up on the industry. Just read and read and read. Educate yourself before you take the leap to join the space. Then once you do that, then try to talk with someone who is already in business.

You really have to have some passion, because you have to do the research and the footwork to enter the industry if you want to be successful.

You have to be passionate as well. The strategy of, “I’m going to get in this to make a little bit of money,” isn’t going to work. You really have to have some passion, because you have to do the research and the footwork to enter the industry if you want to be successful. You have to meet people, network with them, and grow as a professional. Luckily for those who might want to enter the industry, there is still plenty room for growth and there are plenty of great entrepreneurs out there who have no trouble sharing their experience to help others. In that specific arena, I think our industry is leading most other industries in the world.

Do you have a book that you would recommend or something that you’ve been inspired by?

My favorite reading is probably pretty unique to me. It consists a lot of medical journals and things from overseas, a lot of publications from Israel. I’m not Jewish, I’m just incredibly interested in their application of medicine. Their elderly people are allowed to smoke cannabis in their nursing home for pain relief and other associated treatments. Israel is 30 or 40 years ahead of America on the research of cannabis for pain, anxiety and stress. I read a lot of overseas medical journals, not usually available to the mainstream public.

Is there anything else you would like to share with our readers?

Med-X wants to be at the forefront of cannabis research, development and products. We want to be a company that makes a difference, and like I said, affect the lives of millions of people versus the 20 a day I could previously reach. That means a lot to me and it means a lot to everyone that works at the company as well. They allowed and entrusted me to be their CEO, so I have a responsibility to get us to that point. The excellent team behind me is going to allow me to accomplish that. Our company’s going to be able to touch millions of people’s lives every day. I think that’s the number one thing that drives our ship.

How do you think independent, third party testing can help validate the cannabis industry? What do you think it will take for physicians to take the leap into cannabis recommendations? Join the conversation and comment below!

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Michael Christopher – Founder of Loft Tea

Years ago, Michael Christopher took up yoga as a way to deal with his old athletic injuries. In doing so, he ignited an inner passion for health and wellness that directly laid the foundation for Loft Tea; a company that offers infusions aimed to enhance daily wellness routines through the application of proprietary blends that are optimized for active mornings, energizing afternoons and restful evenings. For Michael, success means more that simply building a website and throwing up product. Success means education, wellness and the promotion of an overall health based lifestyle. Loft Tea is accomplishing this idea by focusing on the non-combustible cannabis delivery systems. According to Michael, it’s time to ‘give our lungs a break’. Recently he gave us a break and came down from his ‘loft’ to ‘tea’ch us a thing or two about how he became who he is today.

What was the deciding factor for you to join the cannabis industry?

I’ve been familiar with cannabis as a plant since I was a young man. When I was 18, I traveled through Europe and was able to go to Amsterdam. Like many people who visit, I really took notice as to how legalized private and public consumption worked, and how it could establish a quality marketplace. It was then that I had a vision of what a legal market could really provide as far as cannabis experience and lifestyle.

Fast forward ten years and the global cannabis industry is seeing an uptick in legalization, legislation, proposals and it is directly leading to a burgeoning cannabis market. Because of these developments, I really started to pay attention and study the industry. I was able to jump into the job market a couple of years ago and that is really what brought me to where I am today.

Loft Tea was born out of a desire to find more healthful, non-combustible means of consumption.

What skills from your previous career/experiences helped you in what you are doing now?

My professional background comes from the technology industry. One of my first post college jobs, based out of Manhattan, was with a very young startup company that was innovating POS (point of sale) software for mobile devices. I spent days, nights, and weeks in the hospitality and technology industries trying to really improve service and reduce cost pertaining to software infrastructure for hospitality clients (restaurants, bars, cafés, nightclubs, hotels). Eventually, the startup was acquired by Groupon, Inc.. Throughout the entire process, I got to really experience what it was like to build and launch something completely new into the digital world with real world implications. More importantly, it was something that actually improved on the service and customer experience, which was rewarding. Today there are anywhere from 3,000-4,000 restaurants, bars and nightclubs  using that software product.

Today I use a lot of my brand management and product development experience that I gleaned from my Groupon acquisition. We went from a very small team of three to an organization of 11,000, there is a ton that you learn from and experience like that. We had to scale quickly and Groupon was very good at giving us an amazing assortment of tools and technology to make this a seamless transition for our customers.

My first exposure to the business of cannabis came through a referral from a Groupon colleague who invited me to attend a panel group for a cannabis packaging design startup based in New York in 2012.  I was always trying to find a path to work within the cannabis industry and I decided to leave Groupon after 2 years, and dove into the industry. The packaging design firm was specialized for the cannabis industry and during my time there, I was able to interact with businesses, customers and industry professionals in legal states as an ancillary business. I found out what problems the customers were having and the difficulties businesses were dealing with when it came to design and labeling restriction. It really gave me a great first hand account of what the industry was doing out west, where cannabis was becoming more prevalent.

Tell me about the point in time you realized the ‘green rush’ was coming?

My first trip out to Denver was two and a half years ago. It was a huge eye-opener. They were so far ahead of New York (and every other state for that matter), and they still are. I saw that there is a top tier of companies out there that are truly doing an incredible job leveraging existing technologies from agriculture in their businesses. Additionally, I saw software companies, POS companies and other tech companies also finding success in the industry. They were putting a system in place that was really going to legitimize the industry and undoubtedly lead to legalization on a wider, hopefully national, scale.

Personally speaking, the green rush became apparent to me when I started to get phone calls from my friend’s parents, who wanted to ask me about cannabis stock advice. These weren’t people that you would expect to be interested in the cannabis industry, but people are seeing the financial opportunity and I think that is a microcosm of the bigger picture. Cannabis was becoming a more widely accepted industry.

I don’t think cannabis should be thought of any different within the mix of natural remedies, because it is a plant that has been used for centuries.

The onus falls on us to keep pushing the safety and efficacy of the products, using technology. The industry needs to show users, both new and old, that we can actually implement safety, regulation and access to these products with the proper supervision and management. If we can do that we can provide real growth and opportunity for everyone involved.

What in particular are you doing to impact the cannabis industry?

While we have a handful of important missions, our primary goal is to discover new and more healthful delivery methods for consuming cannabis. Right now, there are roughly 7-10 different ways to actually consume cannabis. Loft Tea was born out of a desire to find more healthful, non-combustible means of consumption. We’re not focused on  the combustion of raw flowers through traditional joints or water pipes with actual lighters. We’re actually focused on a more health-focused consumer that I believe has been overlooked up until this point and are under-served.

The exciting part of the vaporizer space is the amazing technology. There’s some amazing companies doing great work, and the price and the cost of vaporization has come down enough to where we can start to actually rely on it as a primary method of consumption. We started with that in mind. We said ‘we know we don’t want to be burning it, we want a more healthful means, give our lungs a little bit of a break’. We wanted to create an experience behind these products that had more to do with consuming cannabis than just medicating or just getting high.

Our tea business is at the forefront of our company.

You have an entire active wellness movement going on in the U.S. with running & yoga lifestyles,  where mindfulness can be connected through an overall natural wellness approach to life. I don’t think cannabis should be thought of any different within the mix of natural remedies, because it is a plant that has been used for centuries. Along the same line, teas and also other natural herbs have been used for centuries for various sources of wellness as well. I’m really trying to educate new or less frequent cannabis users that there are actual wellness benefits more than just feeling the psychoactive effects of THC.

Who is a person that you consider your role model or someone who has been a mentor to you? Why and how did this person impact your life?

Peter Thiel. He has been a technological leader in building amazing products. Peter is also really focused on the biotech space, so there’s a lot of interesting and risky things he’s doing to change how the world works. I find that amazing and inspirational.

Personally speaking, I don’t really have to look too far beyond my parents. My mother, for example, works for a mutual fund company out west. She’s an amazing inspiration. She went from personal banking to  very large accounts and product management on the financial product side. She tells amazing stories and has experience working with people in all walks of life, so I look to her to as my source of motivation and inspiration. If I’m half the person she is, I think I’ll be all right at the end of my life.

I encourage people to attend meetup groups, find internships or simply reach out to companies that inspire you.

Tell me about an esteemed achievement of yours.

Last year, I was asked to work for an NGO (Non-Governmental Organization) based out of Japan. I was selected as a music, art, and technology expert. They brought me to South America to integrate and interact with indigenous and local institutions on the ground. Our goal was to help protect the Patagonian region of South America and propose protection to UNESCO.

I took a month out of my life to focus completely on the environment and the native people. We toured all the way from the north of Chile to the south of Argentina. We were trying to import some of the technology and infrastructure, while at the same time raising awareness back in New York and with our social media. That experience was a first for me. It was hugely rewarding and I still draw upon that experience every day.

How would you advise someone who wants to get his or her start in the industry?

I think that, if you’re a person that would like to get into the industry, you should start by identifying your strong suit. Find out what your best pre-existing talents are and figure out how to most efficiently apply them to this industry. Research who might want those talents and who might need them. Then start reaching out.

Find out what your best pre-existing talents are and figure out how to most efficiently apply them to this industry.

Advocacy groups are probably the first place to look. I think Drug Policy Alliance and NORML events attract a lot of key industry players and policy makers that actually have to interact with both sides of this issue. Currently I would say most of the help actually is needed on the policy side. If you’re a writer, if you’re a social media influencer, if you’re a great networker, that’s really all you need to start making a difference.

I encourage people to attend meetup groups, find internships or simply reach out to companies that inspire you. Start by offering some sort of service, just to get your foot in the door. That’s really how I started and I think the rest lines up if you have the right intention.

What inspires you? Where do your great ideas come from?

At the end of the day I’m not normal unless I practice my yoga. I’ve been doing it for a while now. I’m a former athlete, so I keep it up to help me deal with old injuries, but it really helps my mind calm down and remove distraction. That is actually how Loft Tea was born; through a small group of yoga practitioners that are software coders, designers and herbalists. We started by making teas and products for just ourselves. Once we noticed the amazing health benefits in each other, we started giving them out. For me, yoga is a place where I’m always able to go, think about whichever problems I’m facing and find the solution that suits me best.

The entire Loft Tea experience was born from our desire to enhance the quality and effectiveness of yoga practice, mindfulness and spirituality. We wanted to do that by promoting the physical wellness benefits that cannabis research already supports. Much of it is privately funded or not truly accepted by the FDA, but I think there is a whole other mindfulness aspect to the cannabis plant in addition to the medical implications. I hope that our brand helps tell that story, while also showing new and less frequent users that there is much more to cannabis than getting high.

For us, it is about the entire experience, lifestyle and education behind everything we do.

What are you doing to ensure you continue to grow and develop as a leader in this space?

We have worked to build a meaningful, trustworthy bond with our initial customers right out of the gate. Our first round of products is providing enticing and valuable information on how to use cannabis products. Generally speaking, we think this will be a lasting strength of ours as we use our marketing and user outreach to create the storyline that aligns our products with what we are truly focused on doing. Building that trust, especially when you do it genuinely, is the foundation for customer retention and successful business development. It goes far beyond building a website and throwing a bunch of products up for sale. For us, it is about the entire experience, lifestyle and education behind everything we do.

If we are sitting across from each other a year from now, how do you think our conversation about the ‘green rush’ will be going?

First off, we’ll be a couple months out from the presidential election. My hope is that, whichever candidate makes it into the White House; they support the ongoing path of cannabis legislation. There are too many people working tirelessly for legalization to move backwards. While all that remains to be seen, hopefully we’ll be hopefully talking about four or five states voting on full adult-use legislation. If that passes next November, we can actually look to other state markets without federal incursion and start building the businesses that so many other entrepreneurs are dreaming of doing within the correct regulatory stature and tax framework.

What is your favorite cannabis delivery system?  How about the best advice you have ever received? Join the conversation and comment below!

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Matthew Mills: Med-X, Inc.

Mr. Mills and his company are focused on bringing innovation to a space that demands immediate innovative thinking, by developing safe and effective products for a new industry and its patients, as well as resolving the problems that occur in cultivation. Needless to say, they are aiming far and wide at accomplishing major goals in the cannabis industry. How are they doing it? What are the steps they are taking to develop their team and execute on their milestones? We have brought on Matthew Mills, President and COO of Med-X, Inc., to talk to us about the cannabis industry and what Med-X, Inc. can bring to the table.

What is the story behind your involvement with the cannabis industry?

My core competency is capital raising; crowd-funding. I’ve raised capital for a number of companies since I started in the dot-com arena as the new millennium came into place. I raised about $20 million for a dot-com project during my tenure. Not only did I get the opportunity raise and manage capital, but I was given the chance to climb the corporate ladder of the company, with multiple promotions from Executive to VP to Senior VP and Investor Relations Director and Spokesperson, but finally Chief Operating Officer of the company. It all evolved when our company went public and the investors I was involved with made a great deal of capital. During the growth of the project, I had begun several relationships with physicians, biochemists, mathematics and financial professionals into mutual investors in the project. We started a kinship and after I became semi-retired, I was convinced by my partners (who are now physicians and biochemists that sit on my Board of Directors) convinced me that I should undertake a new venture.

The focus on product development and capital raising continued to support efforts to mature a number of green scene products. As the cannabis industry began to evolve, we gathered as a team comprised of these professionals – physicians, biochemists, operational, mathematics, and financial gurus that have a great deal of net worth and knowledge. We recognized back in 2013 that this industry was going to continue to evolve, so we started to educate ourselves. My CEO is a physician and his last 2 years of continuing education that was required to keep his medical practice, has had a great deal of focus in the medical marijuana industry. At the same time, my CFO has been constantly educating himself on the financial side of the industry. Simultaneously, I have been focusing my attention on cultivation, agricultural engineering, and pest management.

As the cannabis industry began to evolve, we gathered as a team comprised of these professionals – physicians, biochemists, operational, mathematics, and financial gurus that have a great deal of net worth and knowledge.

I am a California licensed pest control applicator for agriculture, commercial, and the residential arenas. I don’t usually go out into the field as a pest control technician. I became licensed for the education side of things. When we started building our laboratory and scaling our product development, we were positioned to be able to jump right in. We decided back in 2013 that we were going to get into this industry due to the number of road blocks and problems that were evolving in the industry, such as the use of pesticides and the inbred problems with mold and fungus. I was in the process of developing a natural pesticide product while this industry was in its infancy.

Lo and behold, we now have a pesticide product that’s approved by the Agriculture Department of Colorado for the cultivation of cannabis, as well as being registered with the EPA on a national basis. That same product is also moving into hospitality, pest control, home & garden while negotiating with forestry services and the military. Professionals came together, saw an opportunity, gathered, became educated, and now we’re moving on the combination of it all.

Professionals came together, saw an opportunity, gathered, became educated, and now we’re moving on the combination of it all.

What were you doing before?

Prior to starting Med-X, I was in the crowd-funding world for about 15 years and raised a number of projects through the crowd-funding world. I was also was involved with a lot of product development, operations, and Internet e-commerce media. That’s what’s brought us to where we are today.

What other industry might you compare the ‘green rush’ to and why?

That’s a tough question. I can’t really say I compare it to any other industry. I compare it to a growth factor: The industrial revolution and the dot-com explosion are very similar in regards to the business growth.

Right now, where are you guiding your passion and energy towards?

Until the Federal Government removes Cannabis from a Schedule 1 status to a Schedule 2, our company is going to focus on the ancillary side of our business model – like our “Nature-Cide” product line and our media company “Marijuana Times,” which is focused on bringing comprehensive information to the masses who are seeking it. Our energy is guided towards becoming profitable in those realms, while also taking the company to the public markets through the recently announced Regulation A+. Securing capital in the open markets will ensure that we’ll be in place to pursue cultivation as Congress moves to schedule changes.

Who is a person that you consider as a role model? Maybe someone who has been a mentor to you? Why and how did this person impact your life?

Well, I think that I had a lot of mentorship from the people I’ve worked for in the past. I’m a very enthusiastic to learn and always follow success. It might not have been so much the people that have mentored me, but it’s been the people that I’ve read about that do things other than just make money. They’re philanthropists; They’re focused on community and of course, making money but making that money works for the community itself and helps people. Our team has had a lot of success and we’re all very different people. You look at people like Warren Buffet and Richard Branson who are guys that have done one hell of a job in their careers and you greatly admire them. I admire them and intend to follow in their footsteps in the ways that they have led their careers in a positive direction while staying focused on community.

What inspires you the most about this space?

I’m inspired by our ability to come in and help; this industry needs a lot of help. There are a lot of issues on the medical side. 95% of medical cannabis found in dispensaries on a national basis is riddled with pesticides and mold. Med-X has a solution for that and it’s going to help a lot of people! We believe that our research and development is cutting edge, and it’s going to be sought after as this business matures.

95% of medical cannabis found in dispensaries on a national basis is riddled with pesticides and mold. Med-X has a solution for that and it’s going to help a lot of people!

Tell us about an esteemed achievement of yours.

I had a major achievement in the dot-com realm. I raised capital for a Dot-Com company that went from $0 to $200 million in revenue and had a market capitalization of $600 million. I’m going to say that professionally, that has been my biggest career achievement. However, the biggest overall achievement is collecting a team of people who make a difference daily to many, my partners are by far my biggest achievement.

 Where do your great ideas come from?

Well, when you surround yourself with great people, it’s easy. We use a ‘think tank’ approach and come together as a group. Our products evolve as the physicians, financial experts, and mathematics professionals on our team recognize a problem and come up with a solution. This certainly isn’t the Matthew Mills show – This is a show of a group of people that think out loud and think together as a group to benefit the community.  That’s our focus, and it’s turned into something really great for us. Our great ideas are a group effort.

What are you doing to ensure you continue to grow and develop as a leader in this space?

As we become a profitable business and become a publicly traded company in order to gain access to market capital, we believe our management team will be sought after for the collective vision we have. Now that our products are in the process of being approved for agriculture nationally and registered with the EPA, I envision we’ll be able to get to that profitable point and experience continued growth. Our focus long-term is to become a cultivator and feed the supply chain. Now that’s going to be a massive opportunity! I would think that with the knowledge that we have, we’d eventually end up being acquired. The big boys are going to get involved in this when the schedules change and they’re going to want to tap into the knowledgeable people in the industry. We believe we are those people.

Now that our products are in the process of being approved for agriculture nationally and registered with the EPA, I envision we’ll be able to get to that profitable point and experience continued growth. Our focus long-term is to become a cultivator and feed the supply chain. Now, that’s going to be a massive opportunity!

What is important to you – mission, vision, or core values? Why?

Our mission is to innovate an area that needs innovation. Cultivation of marijuana is a difficult task. Obviously, there are a lot of issues in the cultivation area currently according to the Agriculture Department of Colorado and finding solutions for those issues is our focus. We are seeking to provide products and services that benefit patients, especially those that need medicinal products to relieve themselves of pain, stress, and myriad of other ailments. Our focus is on the community itself and fulfilling the need for patient care.

If we are sitting across from each other a year from now, how will our conversation about the ‘green rush’ be going?

By next year, Med-X should be recognized as a publicly traded company. At that point, we should be in position to build our first cultivation center here in Southern California and I would also think that we would be profitable by that point solely due to our pesticide products, which are so desperately needed in this industry. Also, we will have acquired a number of different businesses that are related to the industry as we are already planning.

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Brad Irvin: Hippie Butter

He was a world traveler and worked with well-known musical artists to engineer a cool crisp sound for their various concerts, but as amazing as this was for him, his interest was drawn away from it to pursue another endeavor and it all started out with a handful of hemp seeds. Brad Irvin, founder and CEO of Hippie Butter, is one of the mavericks who has made hemp cool, hip, and educated us about the many benefits it has for our health. He’s extremely passionate about his product and enlightening his customers how to implement it into their future.

What was the deciding factor for you to join this particular industry?

I’m Brad Ervin, former chef, 25-year rock ‘n’ roll sound engineer, and now the CHO (Chief Hemp Officer) of Hippie Butter Hemp Seed Food Products. As I toured the world with artists like George Strait, Bette Midler, Paul McCartney, and many others, I discovered the “superfood,” hemp seeds. During a tour in Canada, I became sick and exhausted from too many long hours and too much bad food, which is so common in the entertainment industry, and I stopped for a snack at a convenience store that happened to carry hemp seeds. When I tried some, I fell in love with the nutty, crunchy taste, and started eating a handful a day. It wasn’t long before I was feeling more energized, less stressed, and had a heightened sense of well-being.

As I toured the world with artists like George Strait, Bette Midler, Paul McCartney, and many others, I discovered the “superfood,” hemp seeds.

Since hemp seeds were too good to keep to myself, I took some home to share with my wife, who is a thyroid patient. She also found that hemp seeds made her feel better, by increasing her energy and sense of well-being. She passed them along to her friends and before we knew it, people were clamoring for my hemp seeds – I couldn’t keep up with the demand.

When I started buying hemp seeds by the case, the problem I ran into was finding a U.S. company that actually carried them. Finding quality hemp seeds was next to impossible, so I thought to myself, ‘There should be a company that makes a wide variety of high-quality hemp seed products in America!’ That was my “lightbulb” moment three years ago which prompted me to launch Hippie Butter.

What skills from your previous experiences helped you in what you are doing now?

I’m a former chef and have 25 years of experience as a rock ‘n’ roll “live” sound engineer. I draw upon my past experiences daily. As a chef, I use my refined pallet and creative skills to develop new hemp food products, recipes, and “Cooking with Hemp” videos for Hippie Butter Hemp Seed Products.

When I was a sound engineer, in addition to doing thousands of concerts all over the world, I was the head “adult in charge” for live sound at President Obama’s 2009 Inauguration, which still holds the record for the largest North American outdoor event with over 2 million people in attendance. My quick-thinking problem-solving skills, my keen sense of observation, my dedication to planning and implementation, my ability to self motivate, and my social skills all equip me to do what I’m doing now. And of course, my years of having to eat bad catered food, act as my motivation and inspiration to do something great.

Tell me about the point in the time you realized the coming of the ‘green rush’?

I was in Canada and saw Hulled Hemp Seeds in every convenience store I ran into. I giggled, bought a package, and was blown away at how good they tasted. That’s when I realized how great hemp seed food products are and that I needed to get as many as possible to share with my friends and family. Since that day, I’ve had nothing but Hemp on my mind.

What are you doing to impact the industry?

Education! Education! Education! Hemp History & Hemp Education! The industrial hemp plant is so mind-blowingly good that most people don’t believe it at first. That’s why we answer our customer service line 24/7 – to answer questions and help people feel comfortable ordering our products.

We also follow the advice of our dear friend and mentor, Jeff Hutner, who is everything from an entrepreneur, author, and thought leader. Hippie Butter embraces Jeff’s “Evolutionary Business” philosophy, which he so eloquently defines as:

‘…the new socially responsible business philosophy… of re-examining basic assumptions about mission, vision, and values and distributing ethical, moral, and spiritual dimensions throughout the business culture to support this new way of being and operating. It is the reintegration of spirit and matter, of business and compassion, of head and heart, of conscious management and the feminine archetype in business and of a sense of love and play along with the mandate of making a profit so that these activities can thrive.”

– Jeff Hutner, The Birth of Evolutionary Business

Describe your work ethic to me in one word.

Integrity… Hemptegrity

What does a typical work day look like for you in your business?

We’re Hippie-Buttering practically 24/7 around here. Early mornings start with a pot of hemp seed coffee as we yawn, stretch, feed the chickens, donkeys, dogs, cats, fish, and tackle overnight emails. We drink hemp seed protein powder smoothies while we connect with more than 350,000 folks through social media – FaceBook, Twitter, Google+, Instagram, Pinterest, and Linkedin. Then it’s on to writing personal notes to each customer, filling orders, and updating inventory until it’s time for lunch and meditation. For the rest of the day and even into the night, we work on our website, write blogs, answer phone calls, take orders, create advertising content, plan events, and develop hemp recipes with lots of breaks for walking and playing with our dogs on our 5 acres of bucolic pasture land. No wonder we’re so happy!

Early mornings start with a pot of hemp seed coffee as we yawn, stretch, feed the chickens, donkeys, dogs, cats, fish, and tackle overnight emails. We drink hemp seed protein powder smoothies while we connect with more than 350,000 folks through social media…

How do you find inspiration in this industry? What have you found that has inspired you?

Jack Herer and his monumental book, The Emperor Wears No Clothes, are our everyday inspiration as well as the personal relationships we’ve made with our Hippie Butter customers. We believe that people are inherently good and this belief system is proven every day in our dealings with our friends, customers, and industry contacts.

Tell me about an esteemed achievement of yours.

We’re the first hemp-only company to offer hemp seed food products, skin/body/hair-care products, and CBD products on an interactive website featuring “Cooking with Hemp” videos, hemp history, and education.

How would you advise someone who wants to join the industry?

Educate yourself and be open-minded, adaptable, and steadfast.

What’s your newest knowledge about the hemp industry?

R&D is ramping up for American-grown industrial hemp for food, fuel, fiber and medicine.

If we are sitting across from each other a year from now, how will our conversation about the ‘green rush’ be going?

We’ll be talking excitedly about all the new states growing hemp and about all the new jobs that are coming from the green rush. Each new, green harvesting state, will be better off due to green rush income, jobs, and tax money that will then fund state programs and end up helping everyone.

Photo credit (main image): Namely Marly

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Ruben Cross: Kushy Punch

Like many, he wasn’t easily convinced of the medicinal benefits of cannabis… at first. Then, after making the step to educate himself on all things cannabinoids, CBD, and THC, he has now developed a supremely effective line of products for patients suffering from various conditions. Ruben Cross is an extraordinarily driven individual who’s vision is simply to make the world a better place by developing products that will help people live healthier lives – and he’s certainly making a large impact with Kushy Punch.

What is the story behind your involvement with the cannabis industry?

You know, it all started back when I was visiting friends in San Francisco and them telling me about what they were doing in the business. At that time, I was preoccupied developing dating sites, online personals, and e-commerce businesses and although this opportunity piqued my interest, it seemed like it was still a little too early for me to join. My lawyer was completely against it and my dad thought I was going to become a drug dealer, so I let the idea go.

Fast forward three years later, my dad and my brother came to me with a change of mind, “Hey, maybe we should get into the cannabis business.” At that point, I was still fully involved with the development of dating sites, but offered to pitch in where I had the time. For about 6 years, I watched them from the outside before finally joining them myself. They managed the shops and I did the marketing for them, did a lot of consulting for them regarding what they could and couldn’t do, and I helped them expand to seven different shops all across California, all the way to Colorado.

Then came the turning point when I sold my dating sites, deciding that I wanted to do something that really made me feel good about myself, something that would give me a way to give back to the community. Even though dating sites were great and I went to a lot of weddings because people were meeting their partners on the sites, I felt like this was the future, especially with everything I was reading about pertaining to the cannabinoids, CBD and THC, and what it’s doing for people’s health. I knew I had to get into it. I felt like it was my true calling is to be able to help people. So, we got started developing a couple of products, vended them to a couple of different places, and ultimately realized that we needed to go into this with a strong brand: Kushy Punch.

Even though dating sites were great and I went to a lot of weddings because people were meeting their partners on the sites, I felt like this was the future, especially with everything I was reading about pertaining to the cannabinoids, CBD and THC, and what it’s doing for people’s health. I knew I had to get into it. I felt like it was my true calling is to be able to help people.

What were you doing before?

Due to the Non-Disclosure Agreement I signed when I sold my dating websites, I’m unable to discuss that part of my career in particular, but I can tell you that we did marketing with my other company for numerous fortune 500 companies, like Burger King, so that’s an expertise of mine. That’s what my degree is in and that’s what my background is in. In developing dating sites, I built the social network for them from ground up; I’ve built all our sites from the ground up while working with a team of programmers in India, Ukraine, and Romania. My team was spread out across the world, but it’s very different in comparison to what I’m doing in this industry.

It’s not just me on my laptop being able to work from anywhere in the world; what I’m doing now with Kushy Punch requires cultivation, manufacturing, and distribution, which is something you cannot do remotely. It’s a whole new ball game, so it’s been a learning curve for me.

What other industry might you compare the ‘green rush’ to and why?

In some aspects, you can compare it to the dot com era [the boom] back in 1998. Just like then, everyone wants to get into the business, but a lot of people don’t know what it takes to be in the business. While the investors are very green, they don’t know what to expect. A lot of the old hippies that people used to criticize are now the ones running it all. The only difference is the factor of creativity: In the dot com, you had to create something brand new and come up with a new service, but in the cannabis industry, that’s not the case – this has been a medicine of the people for thousands of years. It’s really just being released from prohibition.

I can also compare it to the alcohol industry. During prohibition, the bootleggers were the ones supplying the alcohol and some of those bootleggers became the Johnnie Walker‘s, the leaders of the legal industry. I feel like it’s definitely similar to both of those. I don’t know how it worked during the alcohol period when prohibition ended; if investors started jumping into it or not, but I know that in the dot com era, I see the same thing happening with the investors pouring in. Just know this, we’re still not out of the red zone; something like this happened back in the ’70s where all but ten states legalized it and it was then that the feds came down. It’s still a battle and I like being part of that battle; I like being in the gray area where you have the ability to really make a difference. It takes courage knowing that they can come and shut down your lab and put you in jail for it. It takes someone like us to be able to risk that to make the change we want to see. It takes someone who is fearless because if everyone was scared, there would be no progress.

It’s still a battle and I like being part of that battle; I like being in the gray area where you have the ability to really make a difference. It takes courage knowing that they can come and shut down your lab and put you in jail for it. It takes someone like us to be able to risk that to make the change we want to see.

Right now, where are you guiding your passion and energy towards?

A new medicine. We’re doing a lot of research on our own, trying to figure out what works and what doesn’t. We have numerous customers who have epileptic kids who we are helping out right now and we are trying to figure out the best combination of cannabinoids to help their different illnesses. As you know, my dad and my brother run the cannabis shops, so we’re able to work with a lot of patients very closely and develop products that work for them.

We have so many testimonials of our medication working for them, but we can’t post any of them because of the restrictions set by the FDA. It’s a battle! We want to steer away as much as we can off of the hard, hard THC where it’s just for recreational purposes and focus more on the medicinal application.

It was actually just recently that I came across a couple of MMA fighters that had tried our product and were big fans of it. We realized that our CBD and our high THC products were replacing the Vicodin, Xanax, and various painkillers that they’d been taking after the fights. So, we started sponsoring MMA fighters and that’s been wonderful for us. A lot of athletes become addicted to painkillers and our products are helping them get off of those. We’re doing something great! I haven’t seen a single negative thing come from what we’re doing.

It was actually just recently that I came across a couple of MMA fighters that had tried our product and were big fans of it. We realized that our CBD and our high THC products were replacing the Vicodin, Xanax, and various painkillers that they’d been taking after the fights.

Who is a person that you consider as a role model? Maybe someone who has been a mentor to you? Why and how did this person impact your life?

Tony Robbins was a big one for me growing up. When I was 18 years old, I went to the Fire Walk and it completely transformed my way of thinking. He taught me how you could use the mind to get what you want in this reality that we live in. Aside from him, Steve Jobs was another great mentor for me. I’ve read a lot of his books and followed a lot of the things that he did. Because of him, I pay attention to every detail of the business from how we design our labs, to how we package the product, to how we advertise it in order to make sure that everything is done in the simplest and easiest way possible.

Then, there are also the gurus in India that I constantly go and visit that have helped me snap out of the mind and learn how to start using the mind as a tool. Then, in Brazil, there is the Man-John of God that I constantly go see. There’s a lot of help that I get in what I do. It’s never all on my own, you know? A lot of it comes from outside sources.

What inspires you the most about this space?

Just the fact that we can help people: That’s really what it comes down to, that we’re doing something good. You’re not feeling bad at the end of the day thinking that you screwed someone over, but instead sleeping well, knowing that you’re healing people, helping people, and changing the world. We get calls from people living in all parts of the world asking for help. People are beginning to become aware and it just feels good to be riding the waves.

I didn’t initially understand the medicinal uses of cannabis, I only understood the recreational part of it. It was my brother who persistently urged me to get involved and to look at the benefits and finally, after doing my own research, I came to understand it. He was really the catapulting force that pushed me to get into my current line of work with Kushy Punch.

I didn’t initially understand the medicinal uses of cannabis, I only understood the recreational part of it. It was my brother who persistently urged me to get involved and to look at the benefits and finally, after doing my own research, I came to understand it.

Tell me about an esteemed achievement of yours.

I think it was the fact that I was able to semi-retire my parents when they were only 38 years old. My brother and I started a business when I was 19 years old and by the time we were in our early 20s, we were able to retire our parents. Even though they refused to retire completely, they still work here and there, it felt good to accomplish that. We grew up in a household that was living paycheck to paycheck, like most of the people, and it was hard living in poverty. So, being able to jump from poverty into being in the top 5% percent of earners in the population was really an esteemed achievement of mine.

Where do your great ideas come from?

Gosh? I honestly really don’t know, but I know that my ideas are not mine to generate. They’re just out there floating around, I just have to tune into them. If we need a solution, a marketing idea, or a new idea, I’ll just start up my mind and focus on thinking about it. By morning, it’s usually formulated in my head. I know it’s not me doing it, it’s just coming to me. As long as you’re focused on something, you’re focused on a solution. As long as you’re focused on a solution and not constantly thinking, “Oh, my Gosh! What am I going to do? What am I doing to do?,” then you’ll discover the solution. It’s just about asking the right questions to get the right answers. There is a divine grace that flows in your life, but just know that there is still a lot of work that you need to do to capture it. You need to focus on what you want and be in your mind until it solidifies and turns into matter.

What are you doing to ensure you continue to grow and develop as a leader in this space?

On myself, I’m constantly working on improving. I’m constantly searching for ways to connect with the higher power through yoga and exercise. I’m also an advocate for finding the best ways to do things in order to remain productive during the day – by using tools and apps. However, the number one way I grow as a leader is by surrounding myself with people that are better than me. Most of my staff members have college degrees and/or Master’s. Most of the people I work with are much smarter than I am and that’s one of the keys to growing: Surrounding yourself with the right people.

However, the number one way I grow as a leader is by surrounding myself with people that are better than me.

The work of being an entrepreneur is comparable to movie production back in the day. You have to find the talent; your job is to be able to find people that are better than you and that can do the job that’s necessary at hand. We have to come up with the ideas and think, “Okay, if we do this, this, and this, then we can make this happen, but in order to do that, I need this person.” There’s no way you can do it all on your own. I can’t grow Kushy Punch without a great team so my role is to find the right people. I put the right people in the right room together and give them guidance and a little push, and then just watch the magic happen.

What is important to you – mission, vision, or core values? Why?

Mission, I feel like goes hand in hand with vision. Unless you have the vision, you don’t have the mission. Core values play a part, but you need to have the roadmap of knowing where to go, your business’ direction.

I’ve lived a life where for about five years I did absolutely nothing. I watched the mind just turn around and start attacking itself to a point where I was like, “Oh, my Gosh. I have this issue and that issue.” The number one thing you need to do is establish a direction for your life and your business. If you want to make an impact in the world, then you need to start now! We’re only here for a short while and you want to make the best of your time while you can. If it means that you can make a shift in the way people take their medicine and the way their hope evolves, then you could be a big part of that. I think that’s a worthy mission to have.

The number one thing you need to do is establish a direction for your life and your business. If you want to make an impact in the world, then you need to start now! We’re only here for a short while and you want to make the best of your time while you can.

If we are sitting across from each other a year from now, how will our conversation about the ‘green rush’ be going?

A year from now? So many things change and they are changing fast. We know this because we’ve been in this industry for a long time. I’ve seen my brother and my dad struggle for ten years. What I’d hope to see a year from now is major growth. I want to see Kushy Punch in multiple states, I want to see a lot more states accepting cannabis on a medicinal level, and I hope to see a lot more people being open to it. I’d like for our industry to be placed in a positive light and have what we’re doing be even more respected than it already is.

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Darcy Bomford: True Leaf

He’s dedicated to integrity, staying true to himself, and bettering the quality of life. As a veteran of the pet food industry, he’s well seasoned in the field and has harnessed what he’s learned in that endeavor with what he sees as incredible nutritional value in hemp and bringing that to our pets. Darcy Bomford, founder and CEO of True Leaf, is forging ahead with his mission to bring better wellness to our dogs, cats, and other furry animals and is playing a positive role on the direction our industry is taking.

What was the deciding factor for you to join this particular industry?

Well, I exited my last company with a one year non-compete in late 2012 and at that time, I recognized the opportunity of changing regulations in this brand new industry that was forming around hemp, recreational, and medicinal marijuana in both Canada and the United States. Colorado, Washington, and the Canadian Federal Government all announced new legal regulatory platforms all around the same time in late 2012. Canada’s program was for medicinal marijuana and was called, Marijuana for Medical Purposes Regulation (MMPR). So, since I had a background in manufacturing and marketing and had a one year non-compete with my previous company, I decided that my skills would be a good asset to this new industry. I had a good look at both countries, but based on the residency guidelines in the United States, I knew I wouldn’t be able to act quickly there, so I decided to open a company in Canada and take a closer look at the new regulations they approved for medical marijuana. I was one of the early applicants for Canada’s new system.

What were you doing before the green rush?

Well, that’s quite a simple answer. I founded a pet food and treat company and spent 25 years building the brand for it. It’s called Darford International and we manufactured natural pet treats. We had 3 plants in North America and marketed our products throughout North America and Asia.

What are you doing to impact the industry?

We are focusing on hemp for pets and forging ahead with the development of functional treats with hemp in the conjunction with veterinary-approved cannabis-based medications for pets. As we know, hemp is non-psychoactive and is really a fantastic ingredient: It’s the highest plant-based source for fatty acids, like Omega 3, 6, and 9 and it’s gluten-free and high in fiber and protein. It’s a great ingredient for functional pet treats. In conjunction with this and hopefully with our approval in Canada, we want to contract the research and development of cannabis-based veterinary-approved drugs for pets. Though we know it will take a few years, we see a great opportunity there!

As we know, hemp is non-psychoactive and is really a fantastic ingredient: It’s the highest plant-based source for fatty acids, like Omega 3, 6, and 9 and it’s gluten-free and high in fiber and protein. It’s a great ingredient for functional pet treats.

Describe your work ethic to me in one word.

Passionate. I love to put a team together and create something out of nothing!

Tell me about a time in your career that didn’t go as planned and what you did about that? How did you handle it?

Well, looking at my experience with the last company, I lost it to an aggressive group of investors. They ultimately ended up taking over the company and I exited. I was offered a position to stay on, but I didn’t. I was the CEO at the time and so I have to take responsibility for what happened, but it was still a bitter pill to swallow. But anyways, I put it behind me and continued to do what I’ve always done, which is work hard and never give up! I started my new company, took my previous team from Darford International and brought them into True Leaf, and together we’ve brought in even more people and we now have a fantastic team to focus on our success here with what we’re doing.

What book have you read that you’ve been inspired by? Any particular read we should put on our list?

Yes, there’s a couple that come to mind. One is, Good to Great which tells us that getting people ‘on the bus’ is really the key to a great company. That book has some particularly great insights on some really successful companies and what they did to get there. Another good one is called, Art of the Start and it’s a great book for anyone looking to get into a start-up or even anyone looking into getting into a new industry. I recommend you take the author’s advice and read the last chapter first, it really puts everything into perspective.

One is, Good to Great which tells us that getting people ‘on the bus’ is really the key to a great company. That book has some particularly great insights on some really successful companies and what they did to get there.

What’s the best advice you’ve ever gotten?

Keep smiling, never give up, and trust your gut!

How would you advise someone who wants to join the industry?

I think it comes down to being really humble and remembering to treat people the way that you’d like to be treated. That’s what everything in life comes down to, really, but it is also applicable to this fast growing industry. There’s lots of opportunity. Be the person you are and be real!

What is a skill or trait that you think is necessary to make an impact in this industry?

Like I said previously, being able to trust your instinct and not believe everything you hear. I’ve met a lot of fantastic, down-to-earth people in this industry, but I’ve also met some people that are in this for the wrong reason. So, just know that this industry is just like any other in that there aren’t any short-cuts, and it’s important to have a solid plan and to do things right.

What are your thoughts on activists who don’t agree with mega-corporations approaching the hemp and cannabis industry?

I don’t believe we’ll be able to create barriers that don’t allow for mega-corporations to enter the space; that’s just the natural progression of things. There will be many companies competing head to head and it will be the innovative ones with the right team that are successful. More than likely, I think that the mega-corporations will buy-out the successful ones and enter the industry that way. That’s certainly what I saw in the pet industry – They kinda just sit on the sidelines and watch who’s grabbing the market share and then they buy them up. There’s always going to be space for smaller companies, so I don’t think the moms and pops have to worry.

If we are sitting across from each other a year from now, how will our conversation about the ‘green rush’ be going?

A year from now it will still be growing in leaps and bounds. I definitely think that the edibles market will see the highest growth, but I also see a lot of regulatory pressure coming into play. It’s like death from taxes, regulation and control are inevitable, and I think that the companies with a good team and the resources to handle regulatory issues and be able to scale their growth, will ultimately be the successful ones!

The post Darcy Bomford: Forging Ahead with Hemp Treats for Pets appeared first on .

Stuart Titus: Medical Marijuana, Inc. (OTC:MJNA)

He has an undeniable enrapturing quality about him and it’s his kind of commitment to learning, expanding, and succeeding that is inspiring the industry as a whole. Yesterday, he became the newly appointed President and CEO of Medical Marijuana Inc. and we wouldn’t have been able to envision a better fit. He’s a grand thinker, an astounding listener, and he’s harnessed experience from every sector in business to be the leader he is today. Stuart Titus has been a pioneer in this space for years upon years, and now he’s situated behind the reigns to catapult this industry to the next level. And his greatest achievement? His best round in golf. Take it from the man himself and find out what it takes to follow in his footsteps.

What is the story behind your involvement with the cannabis industry?

When I first came out to California in 2004, I was amazed to see the number of successful marijuana businesses in operation and see dispensaries that were actually legal. Coming from the East Coast, this was a real eye opener for me and when I found out that there was a public company looking for investment, I immediately led myself to explore the opportunity in what I believed to be the next great business of the future. So, in March of 2009, I purchased my restricted shares from a company executive for Medical Marijuana, Inc. and became the #7 investor. We then went ahead and looked at several business opportunities and I went and explored the field by attending a few of the science and medical conferences that were going on at the time.

I was particularly fascinated with Dr. Donald Abrams, from UCSF, who was the head of the oncology research department there. His story was truly remarkable! It was after I heard him speak that I realized that there were tremendous medical benefits in the marijuana plant. Long story short, a new group came in during March 2011 and purchased Medical Marijuana Inc. and I was further introduced to industrial hemp and the beneficial cannabinoids that could be derived from it. So, I then came to see that there was not only the medicinal benefits in marijuana, but there were also, more potentially legal benefits in industrial hemp and its extracts.

It was after I heard him speak that I realized that there were tremendous medical benefits in the marijuana plant.

Unfortunately, during that time, I contracted a terrible illness playing golf called Lyme disease, a very crippling neurological disorder. In less than a week, I was practically at a state of complete physical shutdown and was nearly wheelchair bound. This went along for quite awhile and I tried everything conceivably possible. Having been in the medical field, I tried traditional medical treatment, integrative medicine treatment, pain management modalities, and nothing seemed to work until I came to try CBD-based products with which I had great success. So, with hemp-based CBD oil, I had a significant improvement and made it to recovery despite my age.

Long story short, I helped start and finance some of the companies that are in the space today, being the #7 investor in medical marijuana. I’ve helped start CannaVest (OTC:CANV) by lending funds, along with a lot of other really great companies. It’s been a great journey and there’s no greater honor than to be the President and CEO of Medical Marijuana Inc., the real ‘grand-daddy’ of publicly traded companies in this space.

What were you doing before?

Well, I’ve had a lengthy career… If you were sitting with me, you’d notice my abundance of gray hair. When I got out of college, I tried a little stint on the PGA golf circuit, but after that I decided to try something different and went to Wall Street for 11 years and worked as a bonds trader and underwriter. So, I definitely have good extensive background in that. I also worked as an institutional trader for Credit Suisse First Boston, a very well-respected investment firm. After those 11 years, I decided to switch gears and explore my fascination with the human body and its performance in physical therapy and wound up getting my PhD in British Physiotherapeutics and opened my own practice in the Carolinas. In 2004, I semi-retired and came out to California and started to explore some other alternative medical procedures and continued part-time with my physiotherapy and eventually got into venture capital starting in 2005 for a few years and worked with a few start-up companies. That’s really how I was introduced to marijuana in the first place.

What other industry might you compare the ‘green rush’ to and why?

Well, I think that the typical comparison takes us back to the time of prohibition on our alcohol industry. The beer, wine, and spirits industry is currently tremendous. I think if we look at where this industry is today and rewind that to where it was under prohibition, you’d be able to see the possible opportunity to purchase companies like Seagram’s and Jim Beam by investing in marijuana now. I’d say that there are definitely many interesting parallels between those two industries.

Others often liken how the cannabis industry today is like the gambling industry – Back when casinos where quasi-legal and there was some internet gambling going on, the Indian tribes ended up legalizing gambling and bringing Las Vegas to the rest of the country! I believe there to be some very interesting parallels in that, too. I could even continue on to mention the automobile industry and how despite it being around for so long and dominated by the big auto and big oil companies. Tesla came in and brought this new kind of technology that is changing everything about our economy and the way we do business, much like industrial hemp has the power to do.

Others often liken how the cannabis industry today is like the gambling industry – Back when casinos where quasi-legal and there was some internet gambling going on, the Indian tribes ended up legalizing gambling and bringing Las Vegas to the rest of the country!

Right now, where are you guiding your passion and energy towards?

Well, I’ve had great experience in bettering my health by taking advantage of the wellness properties of cannabinoids, as well as its associated flavonoids, terpenoids, and other ingredients that we’re not yet fully aware of. So, I certainly have a great passion for all of those! I’m also very excited about the rising of industrial hemp and the restart of this crop, the US Agriculture community, and the innovations in the healthcare industry where some are looking at cannabis potentially being a missing dietary ingredient. Dr. Robert Melamede has gone as far as saying that there is such a thing as Cannabinoid Deficiency Syndrome. So, these are definitely all things I am very passionate about. We certainly owe a lot to this plant and it’s just so hard to believe that this plant, this naturally growing plant, is still considered a controlled substance. To bring this forward and make it more readily available for people who care to experiment with it, is a really great thing. I am very passionate about being in this industry and I’m putting a lot of energy towards moving forth.

Who is a person that you consider as a role model? Maybe someone who has been a mentor to you? Why and how did this person impact your life?

Looking at the field we are in, I’d look at who I mentioned above previously, Dr. Donald Abrams, who recommends medical cannabis to a number of his cancer patients, particularly after they’ve gone through chemotherapy and radiation. He seems to think there are as many as 5 benefits that can be derived from the implementation of medical cannabis as these patients’ realm of treatment of which he’d usually have to write 5 different prescriptions for and have to be conscious of side effects and drug interactions. He believes medications can be alleviated with medical cannabis.

Dr. McAllister of California Pacific Medical Center has done some interesting work on CBD on metastatic breast cancer cells. There is a non-profit organization called, Patients Out of Time (POT), who host a lot of the medical symposiums in the industry. Al Byrne, the co-founder, COO, and Secretary-Treasurer of POT has been a great role model. His wife, Marylynn Mathre, Executive Chairman of the American Cannabis Nurses Association, so they are certainly both pioneers in our field. Also, someone to be admired of the past with his interesting innovations would be Nikolai Tesla who is an amazing individual and whose career I admire greatly.

Aside from those, I wouldn’t be able to omit mentioning Dr. Geoffrey Guy, who founded the London-based company, GW Pharmaceuticals. They’ve done some ground-breaking work on medical cannabis and have a wonderful oral spray that’s been approved in several European countries, as well as Canada. On his staff, there is Dr. John McPartland and Dr. Ethan Russo, who coined the term ‘Entourage Effect’ which essentially means that using a synthetic CBD and administering that to the patient is far inferior to administering the plant in its entire form; with all the cannabinoids, flavanoids, terpenoids, nutrients, vitamins, and minerals. They say that the full plant form extract can offer much more beneficial effects than that of the synthetic stripped-down product.

And lastly, being the President and CEO of a company, I would like to mention a contemporary of mine and a gentleman I admire who grew up playing golf in Rhode Island. His name is Jimmy Dunne and we started on Wall Street together at about the same time and he went onward to start a firm called Sandler O’Neill. Jimmy absolutely loves golf and I love everything about him. Unfortunately, his firm was on the 104th floor of the World Trade Center the day 9/11 came along and he lost everyone. He was actually out playing golf being that it was a beautiful September day and I can’t imagine the trauma he had to face that every one of his employees, every colleague of his, lost their lives that day. How he managed to survive that situation and how he managed to come back and get the firm to what it is today… my gosh – I’m sitting here with goosebumps! I have amazing admiration for him. Just the other day I saw him on TV because he apparently shot 69 at Pebble Beach and that’s pretty impressive! I’m going to have to up my game a little bit to try and compete.

What inspires you the most about this space?

This industry, this endeavor we’re involved in, is utterly in its infancy stage. The thing that’s so intriguing is that we are bringing back a natural plant into our society. This plant is one that’s been well-known long ago for its medical benefits and one that we’d partake in naturally by human instinct. By bringing this plant back, we can transform our society to being more sustainable and renewable, all while fulfilling a basic, logical need for a dietary necessity. I’ve seen so much unbelievable passion arise from people on both sides of the aisle. It’s just incredible! There’s just this crazy force field of energy; you either love it, or you hate it. I’ve never seen people divided over something so natural, but it’s probably due in part to the brainwashing we’ve all undergone for years. The fact is, that once you do the research and once you pass a certain point, there’s just no turning back. I’m just very excited to be a pioneer in this new industry and hopefully this will be a great benefit to many humans. I can’t imagine anything more fulfilling than what we strive to do every day here at MJNA, General Hemp, and all the other companies I’ve been involved in.

Tell me about an esteemed achievement of yours.

Well, within this space, I’ve been the founder of many great companies, but I’m most proud of my involvement with General Hemp, which I always consider to be my ‘favorite pet’. General Hemp’s parent company would perhaps be the CannaVest (OTC:CANV) and so getting that established and being the principle investor back in 2012 was a great feat. A couple of ‘cousins’ I’m particularly fond of would be Kannalife Sciences with their CEO being Dean Petkanas; I’ve been very honored to be on their board of directors. And certainly, Axiom Biotechnologies, Kannaway, and Cannalink are all up-and-coming companies I am proud of. Of course, MJNA is the ‘grand-daddy’ of them all and it’s been my most esteemed achievement to be part of this space as a whole.

Outside of the space, I was very proud of eventually rising to the position of Vice President at Credit Suisse First Boston. Of course, I’m proud of my PhD degree, but honestly, looking back on everything, I think that one of my greatest accomplishments was my best round of golf, which was a 64, and my best round in competition which was 65, and although I didn’t quite reach the PGA tour, I am still pretty proud of the career I’ve had.

Where do your great ideas come from?

Well, I believe great ideas come from a great environment. If you start working with like-minded people in a good, positive atmosphere, great things happen. Often, some good ideas come from dreams or on the golf course, or while you’re engaged in other spiritually uplifting activities. I’d say I’m a strong believer in what Dr. Candace Pert has described in her book, The Molecules of Emotion. She was actually the doctor who discovered the opiate receptor in the human brain and yet she was able to articulate and relate her incredible work back to normal human experience. She wrote, if you’re happy all the time, you’re brain will start to produce beneficial neurotransmitters, which will then run our bodies in a very healthy and efficient manner. However, if one remains sad and continually depressed all the time, then harmful neurotransmitters will govern us and cause adverse health consequences in our bodies. So, never underestimate positive emotions and a positive environment on your health, well-being, and creativity.

If you start working with like-minded people in a good, positive atmosphere, great things happen.

There’s a very famous blood microscopic analysis healthcare specialist who once said, “The real factors affecting us, positively or negatively, are diet, chemicals, radiation, and emotion. And probably emotions rank at 50% of the entire equation.” I also would say, in addition to this, I tend to be a very good listener – I was created with two ears and one mouth in that proportion. I always try to be effective in my interaction with others, but I certainly spend time to try and gain knowledge on areas that interest me.

What are you doing to ensure you continue to grow and develop as a leader in this space?

First and foremost, I take CBD and hemp oil daily. I surround myself with young folks and hopefully will lead them by example. I try and do some outside extracurricular activities to de-stress. I love to play golf, it’s a great diversion and keeps me young. I do a lot of electro-physiotherapy, I work on myself a little bit, I love to get acupuncture, I work out at the gym, hike with friends… I’m not doing too much of it nowadays, but I would love to get back into doing yoga and Pilates again, too. I practice what is called intermittent fasting and I love to read Dr. Mercola. I love interaction with knowledgeable professionals in their given sector and hopefully, by continuing my thirst for knowledge, I will remain young and continue to be an effective leader.

What is important to you – mission, vision, or core values? Why?

I’d say all are important, but to me, if I had to choose a hierarchy, I’d say vision. Vision is the fuel from which the mission and core values derive. Vision is the horizon and when you love what you do, it’s really not work at all! As far as my mission, I’d say it’s bringing cannabis out of the garage, the backroom, and the warehouse.  Bringing cannabis to the drug store to legitimize this amazingly beneficial plant. I have a great personal vision to witness, in my lifetime, the rescheduling of this plant to exonerate it and hopefully begin to rewrite history books to include the proven medicinal benefits that we’re certainly seeing throughout the world these days. If you ask me about core values, I try to be honest, forthright, do the best I can, live with integrity, and remain focused and committed on achievement.

Vision is the fuel from which the mission and core values derive. Vision is the horizon and when you love what you do, it’s really not work at all!

If we are sitting across from each other a year from now, how will our conversation about the ‘green rush’ be going?

Looking at this industry a year from now, I’d say we’ll likely be getting a lot more press and attention than we’re even already getting now! Hemp itself is a hot topic. Medical Marijuana is an unbelievably hot topic and it’s getting a lot of media coverage. Hopefully, by this time next year, we’ll have planted the largest springtime crop of hemp in America, perhaps the largest crop since the Hemp for Victory campaign during WWII. I’m very excited about the Green Rush and taking part in that.

Within a year, we could definitely be seeing some other very dramatic changes. There is all kinds of cannabis legislation going on across the country. In Florida, 58% of the voters voted for medical cannabis and it didn’t pass, but the legislation this year is looking to go ahead and pass that. There are so many other states that are looking to legalize for recreational purposes as well. It’s not a question of if this plant is going to become federally legal… The real question is: How soon? I think that’s what we’re looking at right now. Certainly, a year from now, we could have a tremendously different outlook than we have today.

The post Stuart Titus: A True Pioneer in the Cannabis Industry appeared first on .

Chris Boucher: CannaVest (OTC:CANV)

He had a set goal to kickstart the hemp industry in the United States and since then has been making waves in the world of hemp for quite some time now. With his presence in the industry dating back to 1990, he is considered a pioneer in the Hemp market and is exceedingly excited for what the future has to offer. It isn’t often we come across an individual that harbors the capacity to combine his heart and soul with his work ethic, but he does it so eloquently. Our interview with Chris Boucher, Vice President of Product Development at CannaVest (OTC:CANV), is nothing short of integral in understanding and seeing the plant in a whole new light.

What was the deciding factor for you to join this particular industry?

I’d have to go back to 1990 when I met a gentleman named Jack Herer, who happens to be the author of the book The Emperor Wears No Clothes. I walked into one of his stores and I was selling some clothing that I had been making and he asked me if I wanted to sign a petition to legalize hemp. I asked him what hemp was and eight hours later, I left his store and my life has never been the same since.

What were you doing before?

I was in the surf and skate active apparel business selling backpacks, wallets, and clothing that was made out of organic cotton.

Tell me about the point in the time you realized the coming of the ‘green rush’?

I think the green rush didn’t really open up until Colorado became legalized about three years ago; I think that was the opening of the cash flow.

I think the green rush didn’t really open up until Colorado became legalized about three years ago; I think that was the opening of the cash flow.

How have you bridged being an activist and working for a corporation in the legal cannabis industry?

I think for any corporation to be successful in any industry like ours, especially since it pertains to cannabis, it needs core foundational people from the culture. You have to stay true to your roots just like these billion dollar companies in the surf and skate industry. The guys that run these massive companies are surfers at their core – They surf everyday, but also manage to run billion dollar corporations. I like that crossover and I see it here in the cannabis industry as well. The companies that are coming into this space on a strictly corporate level don’t have the culture or the core roots and it makes it difficult for them to connect with the current clientele. Until this thing really takes off and becomes available in our pharmacies and health food stores, our industry will still need to be one with the culture of cannabis and hemp; without that link, I don’t believe corporations can be successful.

Right now, where are you guiding your passion and energy towards?

I’m guiding it towards the American hemp industry and seeking to really ‘kickstart’ the American agricultural hemp program in places like Kentucky, Colorado, and California. Creating the jobs here in America and building the infrastructure will be the foundation of success in our company and in other companies as well. That’s where my energy is geared towards right now.

Describe your work ethic to me in one word.

Heart and soul. Those are two words that are hard to separate. My work ethic comes from my heart, but my heart is connected to my soul. To me, they aren’t separate, they’re the same, and they work together as a single drive.

Tell me about a time in your career that didn’t go as planned and what you did about that? How did you handle it?

In 1994, I was growing industrial hemp at the USDA research center in California. I was on federal property and I had a permit to grow industrial hemp cannabis, but at the end of the project, the DEA came in and they basically said that the THC levels were above the regulated percentage. I was ready to go to prison, but I had permits so it was all empty threats. My plan was to grow hemp across America and begin to grow the entire industry, so I decided to write a legislation for industrial hemp. I hired a lobbyist to help me write the California Industrial Hemp Legislation, which was the first written legislation legalizing industrial hemp in the states. We gave the outline of the paperwork to Colorado for their hemp bill in 1995. Although California’s hemp bill didn’t get picked up by legislation that year, Colorado’s did. That unfortunate mix-up with the DEA essentially brought me to write that legislation and it, in turn, energized legislature for legal hemp here in the United States.

What book have you read that you’ve been inspired by? Any particular read we should put on our list?

One of my favorite books that has inspired me is The Food of the Gods by Terrance McKenna. This book really sent me back to the dawning of humans and their relationship to the earth and their relationship to the surrounding community. I think The Food of the Gods was instrumental in opening up new levels in my mind.

Tell me about an esteemed achievement of yours.

Growing hemp at the USDA research center in California.

What’s the best advice you’ve ever gotten?

Listen. Shut up and listen.

What is the most important thing for us to know now about the legal marijuana industry?

I think that the most important thing to know right now is that this is going to be the biggest paradigm shift in our society and culture that we’ve ever seen in the last five generations. There’s been nothing like this since the prohibition of alcohol and that was 80 years ago. I think knowing this and coming to accept it is a real eye-opener in seeing where this is going.

I think that the most important thing to know right now is that this is going to be the biggest paradigm shift in our society and culture that we’ve ever seen in the last five generations.

If we are sitting across from each other a year from now, how will our conversation about the ‘green rush’ be going?

Even better than it is now. Whether or not our legislation takes root and removes cannabis from being a Schedule I drug, our conversation will be completely different. I think that is going to be the big shift that opens the doors to a level of cash flow and investment beyond what we even foresee today!

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Mara Gordon: Aunt Zelda’s, Inc.

She is hard at work venturing into uncharted territory and she’s doing so to bring a better realm of treatment to the healthcare community. She’s developing protocols, seeking expertise from seasoned professionals, and building her business from a solid foundation that patients suffering from all levels of disease can depend upon. Her secret ingredient? Medical Cannabis. Mara Gordon, founder of Aunt Zelda’s, is shedding light on the new way to treat disease with alternative medicine and as a patient herself who has swapped 23 of her 26 pharmaceuticals for cannabis… she’s living proof that she’s developing a lasting solution.

What was the deciding factor for you to join this particular industry?

I initially joined the industry as a patient seeking a solution that would help me get off of the various pharmaceuticals I was on and help me manage my pain. When I began my search for regimens that implemented medical cannabis, what I found was sub-standard; it was clear that I was on my own for finding medicine. As a process engineer, my natural inclination is to analyze the medicine and figure out what’s going to be best for me, so that I can have consistency and predictability. I had been on 26 different pharmaceuticals at that point and I now have been able to eliminate 23 of those with cannabis. The thing to note is that the majority of the existing marketplace is focused on the recreational crowd, and we are more interested in those who may have experimented with cannabis in high school or college, but have no clue where to start with it therapeutically to treat their medical issues.

I had been on 26 different pharmaceuticals at that point and I now have been able to eliminate 23 of those with cannabis.

What were you doing before the ‘green rush’?

In my previous incarnation as a process engineer, I worked for Fortune500 companies around the world. Most recently, I worked ​f​or Safeway​ Inc​. I headed up the process engineering and​ methodology sector in the IT department. I stopped working there back in 2004 and focused on my health. Then, in 2008, my husband and I sold our second home in Colorado and took a 2-year road trip. We talked to people, learned from people, and offered our services to people in areas both in the United States and Canada. When my husband’s back pain became so bad that was going to have to resort to being in a wheelchair, we had to return to California so that he could have surgery. The problem with that was that he was a sober alcoholic and wasn’t willing to take the opiates. His journey was what first initiated his search for alternative medicine.

​What are you doing to impact the industry?

We are really revolutionizing the way serious disorders are being addressed with medical cannabis. We are leading the way in establishing protocols for diseases and laying out customized treatments that go as far as strain selection and looking at cannabinoid and terpene profiles to deciding which one works best for that person’s specific medical condition. We do a very in-depth patient intake that helps us interface with patient’s own doctors and medical teams where appropriate, and connect with people in more of a holistic way rather than simply addressing individual symptoms. We also have a medical director who is board-certified in Cardiology, Lipidology, Internal Medicine, and is a Nutritionist and Homeopath. He is also available for consult for patients. We speak at conferences all over the world educating on the correct uses for medical cannabis, and we’re in the process of developing data-tracking technologies that will have self-learning algorithms to make our findings become universally-available treatment systems.

We are really revolutionizing the way serious disorders are being addressed with medical cannabis.

Describe your work ethic to us in one word.

Tenacious.

Tell me about a time in your career that didn’t go as planned and what you did about that? How did you handle it?

Let’s go back to my time at Safeway when I was the head of the department, had moved up here to Northern California, and was initially told that I was going to be given two projects to roll out the new methodology that would be used by the company worldwide. Now, anytime that you’re changing something of that magnitude, you need to start small and get the kinks worked out before you roll out company wide. Well, within a couple of weeks we had expanded from having two projects to having 25 and within a month, we were being expected to be rolling out the new methodology on over 100 projects simultaneously. Obviously, that was a recipe for failure. So, I went outside the company and called on all the experts I knew in the field and had either worked with, knew, or read their books, and invited them to come in as consultants to act as mentors for the different development teams. The results: We were able to successfully roll out a new methodology and it still stands, to this day, as the largest single rollout for any company.

What book have you read that you’ve been inspired by? Any particular read we should put on our list?

The first book that I would list is The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho. When I read that book back in 1993, it changed my life. I put my house on the market back in Dallas, TX, shut down my business, and moved to California. The second book I would say is a must-read is Shaman Healer Sage by Alberto Villoldo. Interestingly, my Internist first recommended it to me.

What’s the best advice you’ve ever gotten?

The best advice I have been given is this: You do not need to know how to do everything as long as you surround yourself with people who do.

How would you advise someone who wants to join the industry?

I would tell them that the industry is so vast; food supply, industrial, medicine… just pick a market and keep focused on that market! It’s too easy to get sidetracked trying to keep up with the latest opportunity in this industry. So, pick your market within that and stick with it.

When we first got into this business back in late 2010, early 2011, we had people coming out of the woodwork telling us that we should do this, or we could do that. Most of those people aren’t around anymore because they were so busy chasing the newest opportunity for making that first million, that they couldn’t stay focused on any particular thing long enough to execute. One day it was LED lights and the next day was vaporizer cartridges. Aunt Zelda’s has been the turtle instead of the hare. We have been methodically refining the medicine, refining the protocol, refining our business, so that we could ensure a solid foundation to build upon. That’s a huge difference between us and other entrepreneurs out there. Know the business you’re in and be in that business. Know what you do and do what you know!

Know the business you’re in and be in that business. Know what you do and do what you know!

What is a skill or trait that you think is necessary to make an impact in this industry?

Out-of-the-box thinking and being adaptable is key! Also, know that you’re math and science skills will be put to the test daily. In this medical space, there is no room for multi-level marketing ventures; this is for serious business people who are looking to figure out a way to revolutionize medicine, how we think about medicine, and how we look at health and wellness. In order to do that, you have to be that combination of left and right-brained– Creative, but technical.

What is the most important thing for us to know now about the legal marijuana industry?

When I look at this question and ask myself what is the thing to know now about the legal cannabis industry, I look at that with blinders on as someone who is strictly looking at the medical aspect of cannabis. I would consider the most important thing to know now about our industry is that mainstream doctors are beginning to see the light and are accepting cannabis as an integral part of their patients’ treatment plans. And as long as we’re able to continue the conversation with them about cannabis as medicine without getting undercut by the hemp products out there, or by people trying to sell a single solution, then I think that cannabis will continue growing into a part of sophisticated medicine. It’s happening more and more now and I think that’s very exciting!

This question is too huge! What else do you need to know? Well, do you have a few hours? A few days?

If we are sitting across from each other a year from now, how will our conversation about the ‘green rush’ be going?

I think I’ll be saying, ‘Wow! What a great year!’ I think that we’re going to look back a year from now and we’re going to see that the cream has risen to the top or is in the process of rising to the top. I think we will see strong alliances being made between the key, high-quality players, and that more and more will be moving towards the mainstream market.

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Stuart Tomc: CannaVest (OTC:CANV)

He’s spent the majority of his career in the Natural Products Industry and has been a witness to the waves of trends, consumer-awareness, and the changing tide of how to beat the aging process. It was a moment of clarity that brought him to discover CBD and recognize its incredible healing medicinal benefits. Stuart Tomc, Vice President of Human Nutrition at CannaVest (OTC:CANV), is now one of the crusaders who is bringing education, awareness, and factual integrity to our culture and exposing the benefits of cannabidiol.

What was the deciding factor for you to join this particular industry?

The very first time I consumed agricultural hemp-derived CBD cannabidiol, I knew it was time for me to join the cannabis revolution!

What were you doing before?

I was the Global Educator for a company called Nordic Naturals and for nearly 10 years, I traveled the globe educating doctors, pharmacists, clinicians, and food store employees about the benefits of Omega-3 fatty acids. Prior to that, I worked for a company called North American Herb and Spice, which was a pioneer company in the field of spice extracts. Sometimes refer to myself as the “Oil man” because I initially worked with Oregano oil, then Fish oil, and now Hemp oil!

Tell me about the point in the time you realized the coming of the ‘green rush’?

Well, as a former cannabis consumer, and having known of the potential medical applications and benefits of CBD and THC, I knew the ‘green rush’ was coming about 20 years ago. Having a background in natural medicine and working in the natural products field, I knew that one day, both of these worlds would collide. As public perception and public policy changes, cannabis and cannabis extracts will come out of the shadows and out of the clandestine operators into the more early-adopter and eventually mainstream markets.

It was about 10 years ago when I first saw the medical literature surfacing, but it’s really been the last couple of years that we started seeing the reports on Charlotte’s Web and medical literature suggesting the role of CBD, THC, and some of the other phytocannabinoids as immune modulators, neuroprotectants, and the role they could play in potentially modulating redox to protect cells when need be and to eliminate cells that need to be eliminated.

It was sort of a confluence, watching the social tide change, watching younger people that work in health food stores, the millennials, understand that cannabis had tremendous healing powers that they weren’t afraid of. So, although I can’t really pinpoint an exact moment, I know it started about 20 years ago with my personal interest, 10 years ago with the medical literature, and 2 years ago when I started seeing younger employees in health food stores becoming very progressive thinkers and open to the healing benefits of cannabis.

It was sort of a confluence, watching the social tide change, watching younger people that work in health food stores, the millennials, understand that cannabis had tremendous healing powers that they weren’t afraid of.

Right now, where are you guiding your passion and energy towards?

I’m guiding my passion and energy towards educating people about the tremendous healing, medicinal, and nutritional implications of cannabis, agricultural hemp, and CBD in particular. The main focus of my energy right now is to help people understand the very complex and nuanced potential mechanisms of action of how these remarkable compounds may work in the human body.

One of our main foci and one of my personal foci is to help people prevent people from saying stupid shit. Every time I read an article about cannabis that’s online or about hemp extracts, they are riddled with oversimplifications and generalizations. So, I’m putting all of my energy and all of my focus on the rigor to articulate the science and, more importantly, not to overstate the science. My observation has been that there are really two groups that are involved in the discourse around cannabis, around CBD, and around THC. One group suffers from extreme bias– they happen to believe that cannabis is the greatest cure for every ailment known to man. The other group of people believe that there’s no medical benefit at all and this is still the demonic devil weed. I believe that somewhere in between lies the truth.

I always look for paradoxes and that’s where I try to ask the next intelligent question. I like to live my life the way a summary is at the end of a well-written scientific paper that suggesting that further research is necessary and points clear direction as to where we should point our attention.

Describe your work ethic to me in one word.

Tenacious.

Tell me about a time in your career that didn’t go as planned and what you did about that? How did you handle it?

Well, I remember that very very very clearly! Without mentioning where I was working, I was involved in the messaging and education for an ‘Enterprise’ and I became acutely aware that the more technologically savvy were less interested in slogans, advantages, benefits, and marketing sales pitches. I watched a paradigm shift that happened with the emergence of Adbusters that culminated a lot of the social protests against the over-commercialization and consumerism that has left us as a society dissatisfied and unhappy. As the main conduit to our customers, and our customers being young and tech-savvy, I went back to my superiors and told them that things have changed. The smarter, younger people don’t want to hear, ‘Hey! We have the #1-selling pizza!’ They are much more interested in evidence, in science, and in facts. At the time, we were being told that our average consumer had a very low level of intellect, weren’t smart, and didn’t read, so we had to ‘dumb’ everything down. In my interactions with younger people, I saw this to not only be untrue and an oversimplification, but it was 100% wrong.

The smarter, younger people don’t want to hear, ‘Hey! We have the #1-selling pizza!’ They are much more interested in evidence, in science, and in facts.

So, I was faced with a situation in which I was right and the people I was working for were wrong. So, what I did was make a decision to take this knowledge I had gained and instead of trying to go to battle with anybody or trying to prove anybody wrong myself, I just decided to be open to an opportunity where I could share factually accurate and relevant information that was free of commercialization and brand hype. What I did was to allow this opportunity to help me challenge myself and reflect on the times in my life when I was inflexible and unwilling to change and accept the fact that when starting a social movement, when starting a revolution, people are always going to be scared and feel threatened by the new technology like those back in the day who’d say, ‘That damn, evil, printing press. What good would that have for our society?’

I used this challenge to reflect and temper myself from hot to cold, and sharpen the sword, so to speak. I remember it as a personal challenge to grow myself and I learned that my personal responsibility was to seek to understand, rather than to be understood and if my mission is to ease the suffering of others, then that has to start on a personal level. By consuming the hemp-derived CBD, I was able to ease the suffering inside of myself and spark my passion to start the agricultural hemp revolution or at least participate in it! The confluence of those things happened at the most appropriate time for my own personal development.

I remember it as a personal challenge to grow myself and I learned that my personal responsibility was to seek to understand, rather than to be understood and if my mission is to ease the suffering of others, that has to start on a personal level.

What book have you read that you’ve been inspired by? Any particular read we should put on our list?

Yes, the book that has changed me the most is called Obliquity by John Kay, which is about how our goals are best achieved indirectly. The other book that really inspired me was Cultural Jam by Kalle Lasn. And although I read Cultural Jam before Obliquity, it was Obliquity that made me understand that what consumers today, whether they’re consumers in the cannabis space or not, desperately seek and want more than anything is factually accurate reference-able data. I made the observation that people love to buy and they hate to be sold and the days of ‘Plop! Plop! Fizz! Fizz!’ Oh What a Relief It Is! are dead, thank goodness.

I’m more interested in a more direct conversation. I believe it works better than some broad conventional national marketing campaign that relies on part of pop stars, pro-athletes, or other large names.

And, for good measure, a third book that just hit me that everyone should read is The Biology of Belief by Bruce Lipton. I had spent 25 years trying to beat the clock. I was interested in the idea of anti-aging until I realized that the only thing that was anti-aging was death. I had spent years in the natural product industry trying to control, fix, and damage all of these external variables that people were married to – “If I just eat this one thing. If I just take this one pill. If only I was paleo. If only I was vegan. If only I took more probiotics.” And I watched people around me, try every different formula and they invariably hit the same brick wall. When I read The Biology of Belief, Bruce helped me understand that 95% of our health outcomes are directly or indirectly influenced by our subconscious. Only 5% of our health outcomes is influenced by our exoteric behavior meaning that if you don’t unblock the negative, self-defeating feedback loops in your subconscious and find unconditional love, you can drink all the Kombucha you want, but you’re still going to be rotten.

When I read The Biology of Belief, Bruce helped me understand that 95% of our health outcomes are directly or indirectly influenced by our subconscious. Only 5% of our health outcomes is influenced by our exoteric behavior meaning that if you don’t unblock the negative, self-defeating feedback loops in your subconscious and find unconditional love, you can drink all the Kombucha you want, but you’re still going to be rotten.

Tell me about an esteemed achievement of yours.

This is one I’m SO proud of – there was a blood spot test, called the Omega-3 Blood Spot Test, that measures the level of Omega-3 levels in the tested individual and I had spent 10 years in this crusade to correct this Omega-3 deficiency (which I still believe in) and unlike some of the people who were more occupied with whose brand was better, I wanted to test my own levels. So, I did and the results came back that I had a balance of Omega-3’s to Omega-6’s in my body. My achievement is this: I took this test to my employer and, with help, was able to convince them that the best way to sell more fish oil was to give the test away to every single person we were teaching and bill the company I was working for. I effectively became a Robin Hood and was able to give away tens and tens of thousands of dollars worth of evidence, so that people could make the decision themselves that they should be taking Omega-3 supplements because they actually had an evidentiary report that they were deficient. I consider that my greatest achievement to my personal mission statement to ease the suffering of others.

What’s the best advice you’ve ever gotten?

The best advice I’ve ever gotten is to be able to say these three words: I was wrong. I find that the inability to say these three words, these three most difficult words for anyone to utter, prevents people from being liberated and free of their self-hatred and ego.

What is the most important thing for us to know now about the legal cannabis industry?

If I was to look down to one most important thing for us to know about the legal cannabis industry is this: Just because something is legal, doesn’t mean that it’s right for everyone. I believe there to be a fine line between what is our personal decision and what is federally legal. There’s the spirit of the law and the letter of the law.

In respect to cannabis, I don’t want people believing that simply because it’s legal, it’s great for everyone in any quantity. I have an 11 year-old son and he’s living with a CBD crusader. He sees the vaporizers, he sees people using CBD instead of alcohol in a social environment, and he’s curious; he wants to know when he can try it. I have to be the one to sit down and tell him that while his brain is still developing, some evidence shows that it’s not a good idea. Just because it’s legal, doesn’t mean it’s a free-for-all. Remember that.

I have an 11 year-old son and he’s living with a CBD crusader; He sees the vaporizers, he sees people using CBD instead of alcohol in a social environment, and he’s curious; He wants to know when he can try it. I have to be the one to sit down and tell him that while his brain is still developing, some evidence shows that it’s not a good idea.

If we are sitting across from each other a year from now, how will our conversation about the ‘green rush’ be going?

If we’re talking one year from now, agricultural hemp-derived CBD cannabidiol will be available in most, if not all, the main health food stores and chains and will be the bridge that is available to people who are not interested in experimenting with medical marijuana. I also believe that within the year, we are going to see huge social movement that’s going to come out of the space in more people seeking the high-CBD strains or extracts for their medical benefits. I see people being more interested in CBD, rather than THC and I believe that to be the next wave we’ll be seeing in our industry.

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Jeff Rogers: Kannaway

Education is powerful and in our particular field of interest, it is the pinnacle of our future as a respected industry. Jeff Rogers, CEO of Kannaway, is a model of this adage; he was a professional that was offered the leading role in a company and turned it down because of its association with hemp. That was, until, he did his own research and now he is one of the most convicted, passionate leaders for the cause. He believes in hemp, he believes in CBD, and he believes that both should be brought back to the kitchen table alongside that delicious slice of apple pie!

What was the deciding factor for you to join this particular industry?

Well actually, the cannabis industry was something I’d never thought I’d be involved in until about 2 years ago when a couple friends of mine gave me a call. They found a company they wanted me to come on board with and take the position of CEO. When I asked them what we’d be selling, they asked me what I knew about hemp. My response? “I was born on Saturday and I was in church by Sunday. I’m not your guy.” My understanding of hemp at that time was that it was something from the ‘Just Say No!’ generation. I believed marijuana and hemp to be the same, so my friends told me they understood and asked me if I would go out and do my own research on hemp, the history of hemp, and CBD.

So, that’s what I did and I honestly thought I was only going to give it 20 minutes of my time and my answer would still be NO. Twenty minutes turned into 6 hours and I didn’t come back with a ‘no.’ I came back and told them that we had a moral obligation to tell people about this and about CBD and how hemp went from being as American as apple pie to being associated with marijuana and being a drug. At that point I saw that we really had something here. We would be a category creator.

I came back and told them that we had a moral obligation to tell people about this and about CBD and tell them how hemp went from being as American as apple pie to being associated with marijuana and being a drug.

What skills from your previous experiences helped you in what you are doing now?

I’ve owned or been on the executive team for 3 large network marketing companies and have been very successful in that arena for about 27 years now.

Tell me about the point in the time you realized the coming of the ‘green rush’?

Initially, when we started Kannaway, we started out by talking to different industry leaders within the network marketing industry and we invited a few of them to fly out to San Diego. At that point, I’ll be honest, I wasn’t 100% sure about how they would take it because about 85% of the network marketing industry is very conservative evangelical. Would they think the way I had thought originally? How are they going to receive it? Are they going to look at what has happened and come to the same realization that I came to? When I saw this group of people come to the same conclusion that I came to, I knew right then that there was a ‘green rush’ upon us. This was it! This was going to be the next Category Creator in our industry, the next forced trend, which is something that is going to come about whether or not we got involved. This was going to be fun!

What are you doing to impact the industry?

I honestly feel that, at this point in time in our own growth and in the evolution of the ‘green rush’, Kannaway’s biggest role is in the education process. We will be reaching out to America, Puerto Rico, and Guam and educating them on what hemp really is, the history of hemp and what a vital role it plays in our world. So, I think that at this time in our industry’s growth, Kannaway’s largest impact will be from an educational standpoint.

Describe your work ethic to me in one word.

Relentless.

What does a typical work day look like for you in your business?

From a time perspective… Around the clock. Our entire team works quite a bit right now. It’s a full day, that’s for sure!

How do you find inspiration in this industry? What have you found that has inspired you?

I would say it was in my original research on hemp when I realized that our founding fathers; George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, and the like were all hemp farmers and the vital role that hemp played in our country’s beginnings; even in the War of 1812, which was fought over the hemp trade routes. This is something that we were never told about! In fact, we were told just the opposite. So, at that point, I realized we needed to do what we could for the revitalization of hemp in our country.

So, at that point, I realized we needed to do what we could for the revitalization of hemp in our country.

Tell me about an esteemed achievement of yours.

You know what, I’ve been married for 30 years to the love of my life and it’s definitely not something you see much of these days. We have 3 wonderful children and soon to be 4 grand children. That’s the thing I am most proud of in my life. We have an obligation to bring our children up to be adults and to be good people and all 3 of my children are amazing and are now raising amazing children of their own! Even though I’ve been more than successful in my career, I believe my family to be my most esteemed achievement. It’s much more of an accomplishment than just chasing the dollar.

How would you advise someone who wants to join the industry?

What I tell everyone to do is to go out and do their own research and to read up on the history of hemp and CBD, especially the history of hemp in America. I’ve found that if they follow the same path that I did, they will come to the same realization that I came to and will then have that burning passion in them as well. And know that if you’re doing something just for the money, you’re capped to a certain drive; you will no longer chase it! If your convictions are deeper, then you’re not going to let anything get in your way to accomplish that or share that with people. Whatever your ‘Why?’ becomes out of your research is going to be what drives your endeavors. That’s what I tell people– It has to be about more than the money.

What’s your newest knowledge about the marijuana industry?

I would probably say it’s probably the number of states that have passed pro-CBD laws. There are 25 states across the country, plus 11 other states that are CBD-only. That means that 36 states have already realized the truth. The wave is happening! It’s something that’s already happening and that goes back to my comment on this being a forced trend. That’s the power of the market that we’re in!

There are 25 states across the country, plus 11 other states that are CBD-only. That means that 36 states have already realized the truth. The wave is happening!

If we are sitting across from each other a year from now, how will our conversation about the ‘green rush’ be going?

I think our conversation will be about the number of countries that Kannaway has now opened up and about how Kannaway is now taking this message of the ‘green rush’ and the hemp revolution to the rest of the world.

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Dean Petkanas: Kannalife Sciences, Inc.

He’s a man with more background than you could possibly fathom. His expertise spans across numerous fields and he perceives his achievements by the individual strides he takes every day. Kannalife Sciences is doing great things in the cannabis space and is advancing medicine in powerful ways, but it’s this one particular gentleman who’s behind making it all happen. That is who we are taking the time to get to know a little better. He’s the energy, the force, and the unwavering drive that is building the respect for the cannabis plant in the scientific community! Meet Dean Petkanas.

What was the deciding factor for you to join this particular industry?

My business partner, Thomas Kikis, approached me in late 2009 asking for my assistance in helping him get into the industry. I was very reluctant on various fronts, but he persisted over the next several months to approach me despite the fact that I had told him that I just did not want to be involved in the industry. On his third attempt to capture my attention, I said that if I was to get involved and work on a business plan with him, then I wanted to focus on the medicinal side of cannabis and be in non-violation of the Controlled Substance Act. My involvement was also contingent on Thomas reviewing a paper I wrote about the Gonzales vs. Oregon case. In that case, I looked at the Supreme Court’s decision-making process across several panels and cases, one being a case in Oregon on the Death and Dignity Act, another case in Washington on the Death and Dignity Act, and the Diane Monson case in California which was for penalties of care and patients’ personal care for themselves in growing medicinal marijuana.

I asked him to review those papers, so he could get a better understanding on where my mindset stood. It took him quite a bit of time to convince me and then sometime in February 2010, I began the process of researching areas of the industry that I thought were suitable for the development of pharmaceutical-grade medicines made from cannabinoids or synthetic cannabinoids, which simply mimic the effects of the actual plant. I came back to Thomas sometime in mid to late April and told him that I thought I had the basis for a business plan for pharmaceutical medicine in the industry. That’s when we really started drilling down on each segment of the company’s business – The first being pharmaceutical sciences, the second being establishing quality practices and controlled reassurance of medical marijuana in raw form, extracted form, semi-purified forms, etc. and third was to develop a topical skincare line and we’ve engaged in getting those three sectors up and running!

How is Martin Scorsese’s The Wolf of Wall Street affecting the reputation of your company?

It’s not. I feel like it’s often sited to grab eyeballs so the journalist publishing the article gets more traction in the media space.

What skills from your previous experiences helped you in what you are doing now?

In every area I’ve practiced in; whether that be investment banking, operational work at a pharmaceutical company, and being in the lab with organic chemists and learning from them about plant-based medicine in the development of drugs like Taxol (Paclitaxel), an anti-cancer drug, and Niprisan, a drug used to treat Sickle Cell disease, gave me the body of knowledge I needed to view cannabis in a different light, a very different light than anyone currently in the industry was looking at it. So, where we turned our focus towards for Kannalife Sciences was based on the experiences and knowledge I had in those previous careers. It gave me the foundation I needed to move forward with this industry.

It gave me the foundation I needed to move forward with this industry.

Tell me about the point in the time you realized the coming of the ‘green rush’?

I would say sometime in the late 80s. I had a background in constitutional law, I self-studied finance as a banker, I’d dabbled in economics, and I had a love for medicine. These multiple disciplines swirled around from time to time and they, in a way, aligned at a few points in time. What I looked at when I came to conclude that it was only a matter of time that the ‘green rush’ would occur, was the parallels marijuana prohibition had with what had happened with alcohol. Now, that was a congressional amendment; The 18th Amendment prohibited alcohol and the 21st Amendment repealed it. That was a period that spanned 12 years in this country and it gave way to mob control, violence, and all sorts of illicit businesses. The bottom line is that although this prohibition was enforced by a body of legislature written by Congress, I didn’t believe it to have that same ‘tone’ per say, or permanence that constitutional law had. In other words, I knew the prohibition on cannabis was only temporary, I just didn’t know at the time that it would take another 20-some odd years for it to finally break ground. We’re going on 44 years now!

From a constitutional perspective, you could see it many different ways. When you’re hearing all these people speak out on the prohibition on cannabis, what you’re seeing is sovereign empowerment. You’re hearing people say ‘I want this!’ The government shouldn’t be in the business of telling us our business and that’s essentially where these state laws come from; the people, the citizens.

I knew the prohibition on cannabis was only temporary, I just didn’t know at the time that it would take another 20-some odd years for it to finally break ground.

What are you doing to impact the industry?

We set our goals to help people and more specifically, helping people who are suffering from the two illnesses that we chose underneath our license, Hepatic Encephalopathy (HE) and Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE), which is the disease that’s being linked to concussions and leading to suicides in athletes (See story: Former NFL Player’s Game Plan to Tackle Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy). If we can bring forth therapeutic medicines to the marketplace to suit the needs of those who are suffering from one or both of those diseases, we are satisfying our goal to help people and are making an impact.

Our success in developing these medicines also plays a role in educating those who still believe that cannabis is not medicinal. America is supposed to be ahead of the curve; We are supposed to be the epitome of innovation, but countries like Israel and Brazil are the ones who are really taking that lead from us in terms of development in these areas and we’ve fallen woefully behind in respecting cannabinoid-based therapeutics. We need to educate our marketplace and why that is important is because that is what will open doors for our industry; We will be able to weigh into Congress, we will be able to attract more professionals to the field of research and development of cannabis, and one day, we will be able to create cures! There is this stigma on cannabis that it’s the devil’s plant, that it’s poison, but by bringing forth evidence from a scientific perspective, we can bridge the gap of what people think about cannabis and what it really is.

Describe your work ethic to me in one word.

Relentless.

What does a typical work day look like for you in your business?

We’re a small, tight, lean organization. Tom and I are each handling multiple disciplines right now; We are in the middle of five or six different projects at any given time; I don’t clock in and punch out, it doesn’t work that way. I could be up as early as 5am EST talking to a business partner in Japan, I could up as late as 2am in the morning talking to a business partner in Europe. There is no clock variable that applies to work performance in the company and everyone in Kannalife Sciences has this same work ethic.

How do you find inspiration in this industry? What have you found that has inspired you?

Others who are like-minded in the space like our first round financiers, Medical Marijuana, Inc. (OTC:MJNA) and guys like Mike Llamas who works harder than anybody I’ve ever met in my life and who has inspired me to continue to pick up the fight to bring medicine into the market. Their support and the support of everyone else at Hemp Meds who are all as equally dedicated to bringing forth cannabis medicine to a community that so desperately needs it, is inspiring! Building the bridge of knowledge for our industry is going to open up a lot of doors and that’s inspiring. And of course, those who are in the inner circle of Kannalife Sciences; our scientific team, our board of advisors, the families that are out there doing their job lobbying to legislature are all the kind of people who share our vision and inspire me.

Tell me about an esteemed achievement of yours.

An esteemed achievement to me is every day I walk a straight line. Every day, I give glory to God for giving me the opportunity to be in the position that I am in and everything in between. I’ve been the co-inventor to patents, I’ve been involved in taking an anti-cancer drug company public, and the one that I like to note is when I took some college kid deep with a 95mph fast ball! I think it’s a day to day thing: Every day that you wake up to move one step further to fulfilling God’s purpose in your life to approve the lives of others is an esteemed achievement to me.

I’ll tell you one more thing that’s very important to understanding this day to day perspective on achievement. Years ago, when I was in a transitional period in my life, I was on a ‘homeric odyssey’ for 12 years and had lost everything; I was face down, had lost my home and my marriage, and I thank God that she is still my best friend. At that time, I offered to teach at my church; they had some transitional students that they didn’t want to send to public school, so I setup a syllabus and curriculum for constitutional law and economics, a very foreign subject, but something I believed would be give high school students some sort of college mentality. That was years ago, but I learned that 2 of those students that I taught had continued on to pursue law school. When you have that kind of an impact, you feel validated in knowing that those small daily movements and achievements really make a difference. At that present moment, you don’t know what’s going to come from it, but it’s what happens later that is the major impact!

Every day that you wake up to move one step further to fulfilling God’s purpose in your life to approve the lives of others is an esteemed achievement to me.

How would you advise someone who wants to join the industry?

First, I think that you should find the area that you want to focus on and know that there so many to choose from! This industry gives life to many different elements: Retail, wholesale, agriculture, technology, research, quantitative, pharmaceutical, media… I would say to that curious entrepreneur that they need to find what their talent is that will allow them to do what they love to do every day and apply it to this industry and make sure that it’s commercially viable.

If we are sitting across from each other a year from now, how will our conversation about the ‘green rush’ be going?

Now, that’s an interesting question because you’re asking me to look into a crystal ball. If we’re sitting across from each other, that probably means that is it’s a restaurant table and we might be drinking either vodka or tequila, maybe toasting to our mutual successes and looking ahead to how this country is going to embrace a new social dynamic as it did when it repealed prohibition in 1933. What I’m saying is, that it’s safe to say that within the year, marijuana will be removed as a Schedule I controlled-substance and be subject to the same regulation and control on distribution that alcohol has in the marketplace. I originally chose March 24, 2016 two years ago and I’ll stick to that date. It’s either going to be the Supreme Court or it’s going to be Congress. To further note and back up to when we were talking about the paper I wrote on Gonzales vs. Oregon, it’s clear that there’s going to be a juggling act between the branches of government. It’s just a matter of who gets there first, who makes the first move.

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