The industry is expanding rapidly and we have to admit, with all that is out there, it’s easy to get a little lost and turned around. What is CBD? What can it do for me? Is it still considered marijuana? Can I get high from it? What exactly is hemp? These questions can leave your head spinning, but for Marjan Mendelsohn, founder of Hemp for Fitness, they became questions she needed answers to when her father was diagnosed with Stage IV brain cancer. Her head was not only spinning, her entire world was spinning, but she took a stand, did her research, and now is here, healthy father by her side, to educate us all on what hemp can do to better your health!

What was the deciding factor for you to join this particular industry?

The industry is often considered as only concerning medical marijuana, but there are definitely more facets to the industry than just that. For example, one that is often overlooked is the wonder of the hemp plant and all of its countless uses. To many, hemp is not just medical marijuana; it’s a natural plant that has been recognized for years for its powerful benefits, including, but not limited to, the 80+ cannabinoids you can find within it, that act on cannabinoid receptors of the human brain. One of these cannabinoids is, of course, is cannabidiol (CBD), which is commonly referred to as cannabis sativa or hemp seed oil.

I decided to step into the CBD industry when my father was diagnosed with Stage IV brain cancer. They discovered a tumor, known as Glioblastoma, and educated us about its deadly nature and how it was more difficult to treat in older patients, which was the case with my father. I began researching. I worked persistently with mainstream medical practitioners and researched alternative medicinal options for my father’s treatment. What I discovered was that my father could benefit from these alternative remedies and the results couldn’t be more positive than they have been! My father had surgery in November of 2012, and two years later, well beyond similar case averages, is still doing amazingly well and is symptom free.

I discovered was that my father could benefit from these alternative remedies and the results couldn’t be more positive than they have been!

What were you doing before the green rush?

I have held several positions in a diverse collection of industries, including retail operations and several positions in the medical field. I founded PM LOGIC.ORG, LLC, a consulting company to medical practitioners and medical practices and I have been deeply involved in patient care at various levels for the past 10 years.

What are you doing to impact the industry?

My calling, at this point in my career, is to help people. I believe that the hemp plant and its derivatives contain many beneficial constituents that deliver relief from countless ailments that traditional medicine cannot address. As the ‘green rush’ progresses, so will an understanding that sound, scientific, CBD-based products are natural by products of the hemp plant that can and will aid a great number of people who suffer from conditions ranging anywhere from seizures, to cancer, to anxiety. Cannabidiol can help everyone whether it be children, adults, or elders and this is true despite the fact that the FDA has not formally confirmed such conclusions.

Describe your work ethic to us in one word.

Unrelenting.

Tell us about a time in your career that didn’t go as planned and what you did about that? How did you handle it?

One way to ingest high-quality CBD is via a vaporizer. Hemp for Fitness, LLC believes this to be one of the best ways to deliver CBD to the cannabinoid receptors of the human brain. Unfortunately, big business has exploited this method in attempting to commercialize it by self-serving marketing means. It got to the point that there were no quality vaporizers on the market fit for my company. So, I designed my own vaporizer, had it manufactured, and now make it available to my customers in a writing pen with benefits or PWB™.

What book have you read that you’ve been inspired by? Any particular read we should put on our list?

I read a great deal. No particular book has inspired me in this industry, besides those that teach the message of God. Whoever your God is, I believe in doing the right thing for all humanity.

What’s the best advice you’ve ever gotten?

Always confront your biggest fears.

How would you advise someone who wants to join the industry?

Make sure you fully understand the area of the industry you wish to enter. There are many aspects (traditional dispensaries) that are riddled with legal issues. Make sure you get competent legal advice.

What is a skill or trait that you think is necessary to make an impact in this industry?

Perseverance.

What is the most important thing for us to know now about the legal marijuana industry?

My ‘industry’ is an offshoot of the medical marijuana industry. Regardless of whether medical marijuana, CBD, or other products that derive from the miraculous hemp plant, the point is to educate more people about this broad industry and how it can serve all mankind. My company is a long term project and has cost me more than I want to admit, but I will not sell out. I am committed to the greater good and believe that our Earth has a limited ability to sustain our living population unless we learn how to work with renewable resources. Hemp is one of those resources and is a plant that can create many products, all of which have characteristics that support my beliefs. Hemp cultivation is in the future of our country’s farming culture. Ultimately, I support the need to allow farmers in the United States to grow hemp, so that healthy products can be generated for the people of the world from work in the United States.

Hemp cultivation is in the future of our country’s farming culture.

If we are sitting across from each other a year from now, how will our conversation about the ‘green rush’ be going?

I believe we will all be talking more about the benefits of the hemp plant and its extracts, particularly, CBD, CBG, CBC. We will be talking about how the scientific research community is continuing to identify many great benefits and documenting the proven results of using this powerful plant.