I’ve always been driven to start a business that helps people feel better. And I’ve always believed in the healing power of hemp and cannabis. But I went to school for finance instead–Ah the power of parental guilt. 

Despite my wall street trajectory, I never stopped dreaming of veering off into hemp. I wanted to learn more about the business side of cannabis, but the industry didn’t exist in New York in 2017. In fact, CBD was federally illegal despite the growing interest. So I found a higher education course at a university in Maryland and drove back and forth from New York each week. My professor thought I was crazy. And he was right. But I was on a mission.

After the course ended, I started Medical Mike’s almost immediately. There was no time to waste. I saw the CBD market becoming saturated with fake products selling at crazy high prices. I wanted Medical Mike’s to be a source for people to access premium quality CBD they could afford.  

I was inspired in part by what I witnessed in my personal life. My Saint Bernard Torre was a big pup, so she suffered from arthritis at an early age. My vet recommended anti-inflammatory drugs, but they weren’t effective and they left Torre with stomach pains and ulcer risks. It just wasn’t worth it. So I decided to try CBD and I couldn't believe the difference. Torre started sleeping through the night again and she wasn’t in pain. 

Of course, CBD is not FDA approved to treat any conditions other than certain forms of epilepsy. 

Luckily the Farm Bill passed in 2018, which made it legal to source and sell CBD in the US. But it still wasn’t easy. I struggled to find reliable hemp suppliers whose practices matched up with my standards. In fact, my first supplier manufactured a batch of CBD rollers that didn’t dispense. I remember sitting on the floor manually poking holes in each one. Medical Mike’s was off to a rough start. But as more consumers began demanding CBD, more suppliers emerged.

Today, we only work with top-tier partners, along with small, sustainable and organic hemp farms in New York. We are thrilled about the quality of our full spectrum CBD, CBG oil and CBN products. Our team is growing fast, and so is our line of natural oils and salves. 

Next up? Full spectrum CBD pet products and more extracts featuring potent blends of minor cannabinoids–always bottled in New York and available for anyone who needs them nationwide.