Today we’d like to introduce you to Julie Doran.
Hi Julie, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today.
I was raised on a small farm in central Ohio. Since 2012, I’ve been dedicated to keeping cannabis an organic crop for our consumption. I started manufacturing organic fertilizer for cannabis in 2014. Meigs Fertilizer is manufactured in central Ohio and can be found throughout Ohio at several Indoor Garden shops. I also farm 5 acres of hemp and manufacture CBD products. I grow all the hemp used in my products, Ohio Friends and Family CBD Products.
I enjoy educating people on the benefits of cannabis, how to cultivate it, what its uses and possibilities are, or answer any questions they might have. I’ve spoke at several state and national shows speaking on the subject of cannabis. You can find me at the statehouse educating legislators on the benefits and uses of cannabis or hosting summits to educate farmers on how to cultivate a new crop. Being in the industry, I love connecting the dots for businesses, growers, patients, and legislators. I’ve submerged myself in the industry because of the way the cannabis plant can change a life.
You could say I’m passionate about the cannabis industry. Doing a lot of different things in the industry, my focus is always to keep cannabis a clean medicinal option for anyone who wishes to use it.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
It has been anything but a smooth road. First, the legality of cannabis is still so controversial. It’s hard to find a bank if you have anything to do with the industry. Banks that do have accounts come with hefty monthly fees. There is no government programs or business loans in the industry. It’s still widely a cash business. Growing cannabis is a whole different story. It is not an easy plant to grow and requires a lot of time and attention. It’s a challenge growing commercially from weather, growing conditions, and strict regulation and oversite.
I hate the fact that the ‘grassroots’ people in the industry get notched out as soon as legalization comes in by corporate cannabis companies. Ohio’s medical marijuana program is almost 85% owned and operated by out-of-state (multi-state) companies. Now that Ohio has adult-use cannabis, those out-of-state corporations are first in line to get a recreational license. That is where they can and are keeping a strict hold on who can and can’t enter the legal market.
I believe this plant can and does change lives. I get calls from patients and caregivers almost every day on how my products help them in so many ways. The public needs major education on the subject of cannabis all around; it’s been so criminalized it’s hard for some people to have a ‘normal’ conversation around the subject.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about Meigs Fertilizer and Ohio Friends & Family CBD Products?
I manufacture a few different products and services, so it’s all streamlined into ohiofriendsandfamily.com. There, you’ll find my Meigs Fertilizer line as well as Ohio Friends and Family CBD Products and consulting services. I started with the fertilizer in 2014. My main goal was to keep this medicinal plant clean, organic, and healthy. Naturally, in the industry, I started my own CBD line and now farm all the hemp that I use in my CBD products. There is still so many questions around the subject of cannabis; I help educate everywhere I go. I constantly get questions because people are genuinely interested and want to know but don’t know where to go. I’ve managed to meet a lot of the industry leaders and some not-so-good players. I’ve learned (sometimes the hard way) who you can or can’t trust. There are a lot of fly-by-night companies in the industry, and this is who you don’t want to do business with. I’ve started a consulting service to help navigate or educate people on anything on the subject of cannabis and what’s going on in Ohio.
Alright, so to wrap up, is there anything else you’d like to share with us?
I have been speaking at events for the past 8 years and educating legislators for the past 5. Now, I host events to help connect people and businesses within the cannabis industry. It’s hard to network at a lot of events, but you find your people and help spread the truth in hopes to get support and the information needed by so many.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.ohiofriendsandfamily.com
