When did you first try cannabis personally and how long were you cultivating cannabis before you tried it ?
I was about 23 years old when I first tried it . I was growing it for about a year and a half or so before actually trying it myself .
Why did you wait so long to give it a try , and what made you eventually try it ?
Well , being raised with Ojibwe beliefs , I was taught not to use medicine if I did not need it . And I did not need cannabis before , then I hit a bit of a rough patch and heard it helped with anxiety , so I gave it a try , and it did help .
What does your current cannabis usage regimen look like , how often do you use it , for what purposes , and what is your favorite strain to smoke ?
I am a patient and do use it to help me sleep . So , pretty often throughout the week , because if I have a lot going on it helps to calm my mind so I can get a good night of rest . My favorite is Wedding Cake , grown by Kabunky ( our company brand ). It puts my mind at ease , and I feel good , literally happier with just everything . It ’ s fascinating what these wonderful plants can really do for us .
What are the biggest lessons you learned from your first grow at Nevada Made Marijuana ?
It is hard to put it all together ; there are so many things I learned . It expanded my knowledge of pesticides , nutrients , and water quality , especially . Also , my knowledge of state regulations and protocols is probably the most important thing . The most important thing I got from this was my connections ; I now know actual geniuses ! And I had fantastic , brilliant coworkers that helped me in my career even today .
How did you apply those lessons in your current grow with Missouri Made Marijuana ?
I carry all those lessons with me in everything I do . I try my hardest to reflect on things I saw that did not work and / or how they could be better . I use my experiences and connections in all the decisions I need to make for my career .
What separates your cultivation / flower from other cultivators in Missouri ?
The entire Kabunky team prides itself on the passion they have for this plant . We view what we do as a service to our community , and with that , we surround our methods with love from start to finish . A lot of commercial facilities only see dollar signs ; how much product can they put out regardless of quality . Kabunky values both . And we see every challenge as an opportunity , so we embrace the challenge of merging boutique quality with commercial output .
Who has been the biggest influence in your cultivation journey , and why ?
That is a loaded question ! Because there have been so many people . Randy Black Sr , Tony Gentile , and Ken Twiddy have been the most helpful in my actual career . Teaching me so many things and giving me so many opportunities to grow personally and professionally .
However , the ones who drive me to be the best every day , the reason I do what I do , would be my mother and my great-grandmother . They both taught me the value of hard work , not giving up , beginning my passion for plants , and believing in my capabilities . Without any of that , I would never have begun this journey in the first place .
What is your favorite memory where you are the mentor to someone who is just beginning their cultivation journey ?
My favorite moments that create my favorite memories are when I teach new members of our team the science of plants . I often say that plants can be smarter than people sometimes ! And when I get an odd look from someone after I say that , I teach them about plant cells , hormones , energy molecules , and that plants have secondary metabolic pathways . At the end of my long speech and several drawings of doodles for image support , I get the look of wonder and excitement . As if they discovered a whole new world . They will say , “ WOW !” I never knew they were so cool ! Almost magical ! And that exact appreciation for something we generally as a population do not think about , is the start of everything we do and are trying to accomplish together . Nothing beats the moments of learning something new .
What advice do you have for anyone who is about to start their cultivation journey or thinking about getting into it ?
Start with passion . Any job you do in this industry is anything but easy . Especially if you are in the cultivation or manufacturing side of things . You will face challenges every day , physically and mentally . Passion is what will drive you forward . Remain humble to keep you grounded and an open book . Because things change , and we need an open mind to learn all that we can . Listen to those around you , and take it in . Use good judgment about what you need to move forward . And understand this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to change the course of everything bigger than yourself .
Are there any final thoughts you would like our readers to know about you , your team , or Missouri Made Marijuana ?
Well , I think I ’ ve filled the pages enough ! I can talk all day if you let me . But I will end with this — we have the opportunity here in this industry to bring change . A change that many before us have sacrificed for so long . Something that could change the world as we know it , one small step at a time . Many before us fought for that belief . There is more to it than profit . And our company , luckily , is one that is actually growing for a “ patient ’ s ” better life .
Clayton Stallings is the Director of Sales & Marketing for The EVOLUTION Magazine