Last year, Georgia joined the growing number of states to approve some form of medical marijuana. In Georgia, the legal form of use for medical marijuana is in the form of low-THC oil, which has 5 percent or less of the compound that produces a high or oils rich in what are called cannabidiol (CBD). CBD, is a cannabis compound that has significant medical benefits, but does not make people feel “high” and can actually counteract the high of THC.
It has been medically proven that CBD oil can help a variety of conditions that include autism, epilepsy, chronic inflammation, anxiety, insomnia and much more. But to get the actual legal CBD medication in powerful oil form combined with a certified expert on the product can be difficult in Georgia. One of the reasons for this difficulty is the lack of entrepreneurs who have taken the time for education, certification and investment, especially people of color. Breaking the mold in Georgia is Demetria Shaw, CEO, and co-founder of HerbalNomics Inc., a nonprofit located in the heart of downtown Atlanta that is part of the legal medical marijuana industry in the state.
Shaw spoke with rolling out about how she got into the legal medical marijuana industry in Georgia and how her office helps the suffering.
Please describe how you made a decision to be involved with legal medical cannabis?
I saw a need for CBD as a medicine here in Georgia so I decided to go for it. And here we are three years later.
What are the names of your business ventures?
The Heal Green Organics Marketplace is the official e-commerce site for alternative healing products brought to you by HerbalNomics, Inc. HerbalNomics Inc., is a nonprofit organization created exclusively for educational and scientific purposes, as it pertains to alternative medical treatments. Our goal is to provide treatment options to underserved persons with end-stage severe illnesses and educate the general public on the use of herbal medicine. I am the co-founder/CEO of the nonprofit and the CEO of Heal Green Organics.
What is the mission of your nonprofit, HerbalNomics Inc.?
HerbalNomics Inc is a nonprofit 501C3 and our mission promotes community wellness and enhanced quality of life through cutting-edge research on the effectiveness of alternative treatments for end-stage, severe illnesses. HerbalNomics Inc. conducts biomedical and behavioral clinical trials research and offers community referrals to medical and holistic providers that treat debilitating illnesses.
Where did you receive your training and certification?
CTU: Cannabis Training University
What did you learn to do?
I’ve learned how to cultivate, make cannabis extractions and how to become a “budtender”.
Why did you decide to open a HerbalNomics Inc.?
One reason I decided to go the Nonprofit route is that there’s a great need to really educate the public on the overall health benefits of CBD.
If a person wants to open a legal marijuana dispensary like yours in Georgia, what type of investment will they have to make in time and capital?
We have been in business since 2015 and it’s been extremely costly and very time consuming so I’m going to take a wild guess and say at least 250K. I’m only estimating here because, in this great state, we live in you never know.
As a Black woman, do you think this is a field that more women of color should be involved in? Why?
Yes. This field is dominated by men. I encourage women of color to definitely get in this field at every aspect on every level
What are some medical conditions that CBD is effective in treating?
There are quite a few. Debilitating illnesses including cancer, HIV/AIDS, multiple sclerosis, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), epileptic seizure disorders, crohn’s disease, mitochondrial disease, Parkinson’s disease, sickle cell tisease, Alzheimer’s disease, autism, epidermolysis bullosa, peripheral neuropathy and Tourette’s syndrome.
Are you working on any projects or trials that patients can become involved with?
Yes, right now we’re conducting an online survey. It’s very quick and easy. We need 1000 people to take the survey so we can turn the stats in to the state as part of a study. Learn more about it by going to www.herbalnomicsinc.org.
How can a potential patient reach you?
I can be reached at [email protected]
What would you like to say to our readers in closing?
In closing, I want to thank you for taking the time to conduct this interview with me and to the readers please go to both sites if you are a qualifying patient with questions or even if you just have questions, in general, we have downloadable PDF files available. Please visit: www.herbalnomicsinc.org and www.healgreenorganics.com
