All photography provided by Jared Chambers

I almost lost my mother to opioids. Now opioids will lose their life to me.

MY STORY…

My mother was born without cartilage support in her lower spine. In order to alleviate the pain endured, she resorted to her doctor’s recommended resource, prescription pain killers. Years later, I watched her through an emergency room window after an opioid overdose, unknowing if she’d still be with me the next day. What I did know is if she was, I would do all in my power to see that she never had to rely on opioids again.

At the age of eighteen, I began volunteering at a private physical therapy clinic, learning the nuances of rehabilitation. After time with the company, I worked with many patients who found the workouts prescribed to be too difficult to complete due to the pain they were in.

I realized, PAIN IS A CRISIS, and the pharmaceutical industry is capitalizing on it at the expense of our loved ones.

I wanted to address this issue through natural alternatives

I researched natural alternative medicine in Oregon and that is when I found C A N N A B I S.

Through the privileges of the Oregon Medical Marijuana Program, I was granted legal access to cannabis, and soon after, began sharing this medicine with my mother and patients. Within 60 days my mother had cut her prescription pain killers in half. After 6 months, she was opioid free.

Within a year after cannabis, she had regained her strength, and obtained a job for the first time in nearly TWENTY years.

Could Cannabis be the answer to the Opioid epidemic?

I decided to take my commitment to natural rehabilitation to the next level and moved to Corvallis, Oregon to pursue a degree in Agricultural Business Management at Oregon State University. While there I maintained a position as an operations manager and in store accountant at Fred Meyer.

I completed my senior thesis study by creating an Economic Feasibility Study on becoming a cannabis grower in Oregon, becoming the first student to receive credits by growing and researching cannabis.

Applying my knowledge in retail, cannabis growing, processing, and utilizing it as a medicine, I was able to raise funding and secure Benton County’s very first Oregon Medical Cannabis Retailers license, and go on to become the 14th in the state.

THE DEVELOPMENT OF CANNABIS AND BUSINESS….

Over the years I have attended numerous premier networking events including the Oregon Marijuana Business conference (OMBC), The International Cannabis Business Conference (ICBC), MJBIZCON, and The International Retail Design conference.

Utilizing connections made through these events and personal experiences, I have been able to navigate the extremely difficult and ever changing Cannabis industry.

I have spoke at several events and city council meetings, assisting adjacent cities to overturn their cannabis laws and ensure fair access for patients in both Lebanon and Albany, Oregon.

I have spoke at Oregon State University guiding their Entrepreneurship program on the fast paced and growing Cannabis Industry.

I have been part of the Oregon Cannabis Retailers Association since 2015, staying on the forefront of cannabis legislation, and participating in lobbying efforts on a state and federal level to progress our industry forward.

I have traveled to Israel learning the advancements in medical cannabis innovations from the worlds leading researchers, Dedi Meiri and Raphael Mechoulam.

Using cannabis, I have guided programs with patients undergoing cancer treatments, in which their recovery time to remission reduced by nearly 50%.

So how have I managed to survive as a “mom and pop” retailer to become a nationally recognized cannabis brand, facilitating over 200,000 positive experiences?

-I live, breath and sleep helping others reach their fullest potential

-I am obsessed with what Cannabis can do to enhance the human experience

-I work with leading industry professionals on a state, national and global scale to stay on top of the innovations in medical cannabis and the growth/trends of a global market.

-I have created a strategic plan to navigate 280 E (A federal tax code that prohibits those selling a schedule 1 drug from taking normal business deductions.)

-I have a committed following of community support.

-Most importantly, I have a nationally recognized team of educated and compassionate individuals who are just as passionate about cannabis as I am.

I have defined happiness in what I can do for others. I am extremely grateful for the opportunities that have come with the progression of the cannabis industry and look forward to sharing more positive experiences with you.

-Brock Binder - Founder & CEO - High Quality Life Companies.