08/24/2026
"In 2010, my brother Jeff and I left the East Coast, where cannabis remained illegal and people continued to lose their freedom over the plant. Coming West showed us the enormous cultural divide surrounding cannabis. In California, we encountered communities that had understood and accepted its healing potential for generations, even while authorities elsewhere continued treating consumers and patients like criminals. That experience changed the direction of my life and helped me recognize cannabis as far more than something people used recreationally. It could offer relief, restore dignity, and give people another option.
We formed Beard Bros Pharms in 2013, and advocacy has been part of our foundation ever since. More than a decade later, we continue fighting for veterans’ access, supporting the release of people incarcerated for nonviolent cannabis offenses, and educating people about cannabis as a possible alternative to more harmful substances.
Today, that responsibility extends to my work as CEO of Freedom Grow, where we support people still incarcerated for nonviolent cannabis offenses and the families carrying that burden alongside them. I cannot celebrate the opportunities created by legalization while ignoring those who remain behind bars because of the same plant. Today, nearly every part of my life is connected to cannabis, from education and advocacy to building products that have helped people find relief from pain, reduce their reliance on alcohol and other substances, and manage the unwanted effects of conventional medications.
That is why Realm of Caring’s belief that quality of life matters resonates so deeply with me. Cannabis changed the course of my life, and I will continue working to ensure others have the information, support, and freedom to explore what it may mean for theirs."
For 13+ years, RoC has heard thousands of patient and caregiver stories in search of answers. Through education, research, and compassionate care, those voices keep shaping a safer future for cannabinoid therapy.
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