Canna Employee Spotlight ►
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Kylie ’ s Special-Needs Child Motivated Her to Leave the Industry
discovered ( shortly after the plan was put in place ) that not only did he have a bilateral complete cleft lip and pallet , but he also had Amniotic Band Syndrome ( ABS ) that was affecting his hands , feet , and one leg .
After a long labor and life-threatening cesarean section , Scott turned to cannabis to help not only with the physical changes her body was going through but also the stress of being a young mother with a child who needed her to be her best possible self at all times .
Scott began working in the cannabis industry in November 2020 ( the company name has been withheld as she no longer works for them ) when the Missouri medical cannabis scene was still very much in an industry-wide trial-and-error phase , mainly consisting of crews that might have had garden or greenhouse experience but likely not professional cannabis experience .
“ At first , I believe there were only 10 , maybe 15 of us working ,” Scott reminisced . “ Who knew the company would grow as large as it is now ? Back in those days , even the CEO of the company was on the floor with their hands in the dirt .”
Many changes occurred over her two-anda-half years in the industry — at work , earning promotions and adapting to the everevolving responsibilities assigned to her and the room of talented cultivation specialists she led ; on her laptop , as Scott began attending Oaksterdam University ’ s online program for commercial cannabis horticulture as a way to help her learn the most as quickly as possible ; and at home , as Jaxson welcomed in a little sister , Indica ( now four-years-old ).
But through it all , Scott never lost sight of what is most important — her children .
“ My child ’ s medical needs are what eventually led me to leave the garden ,” Scott said . “ It
46 December 2023 wasn ’ t my lack of passion or drive , but my child needed me . With him just finishing up his kindergarten year and seeing many cleft team meetings and the surgeries ahead of him , it was time for me to take a step back from work and pull my focus to him and his needs .”
Jaxson and Indica , Kylie ’ s children and the pride of her world . ( Photo contributed .)
Scott knows that the next few months will require all her focus , but she ’ s prepared and ready to do what it takes for her beloved boy .
It would be easy to feel bad for Scott , as nobody deserves to work extremely hard for something , get it , and essentially be forced into giving it back . But in place of sympathy for herself , she has been planning her return to the industry — even before she actually left it .
“ I 100 % know I will return to the industry . I started the hunt for a new position , but I have also been trusting that God will lead me to the right place at the right time ,” Scott said .
Kylie ( above ) loved working with plants at her former job . Her degree in commercial cannabis horticulture makes her a great candidate for any Missouri cultivation business .
“ I want to be doing something in the industry that is truly making a difference in the lives of those consuming this God-given plant .”
Scott has proven herself to be one of the most committed and driven people we have covered in these pages thus far , and we can ’ t wait to have her back in the industry soon !
Happy Holidays from your friends at The EVOLUTION Magazine ! May your winter be green and happy !
If you are interested in contributing to Scott ’ s GoFundMe to help cover the costs of Jaxson ’ s medical bills , you can do so at www . GoFundMe . com / f / jaxsons-cleft-lip-care . All donations are greatly appreciated and will help a wonderful mother , child , and worthy cause !
Rocco Scarcello is a production floater for Elevate Missouri . He is a former college baseball player , graduating from Missouri Valley College in 2017 before getting into newspaper and radio news / sports broadcasting in north central Missouri , youth baseball tournament coordination in Kansas City , and eventually into the medical marijuana field . He is also a studio artist currently releasing music and working on his first album .