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24 n e w h a v e n B I Z | S e p t e m b e r / O c t o b e r 2 0 2 0 | n e w h a v e n b i z . c o m I N N O VA T O R S & E N T R E P R E N E U R S By Jean Falbo-Sosnovich Smith-Bolden cultivates medical marijuana success story K ebra Smith-Bolden understood the healing benefits of medical marijuana long before it was legalized in Connecticut, thanks, in part, to her Grandma Hattie. "My grandmother, Hattie Turner, would mention to me that a joint and a bath would help her move a bit easier," Smith-Bolden said. "I witnessed firsthand the power of cannabis as medicine aer an aneurysm drastically altered my grandmother's personality, mobility and cognitive abilities." Fortunately, medical marijuana was legal at that point (it became law in 2012), and Smith-Bolden had the foresight to integrate it into her grandmother's recovery. "e positive response was almost immediate, and within a month I saw a dramatic improve- ment in my grandmother's con- dition, … she was more engaged, began walking again and [was] speaking more clearly," she said. Smith-Bolden, a registered nurse with more than 20 years in the healthcare field, was so impressed with how her grandmother bounced back that she enrolled in the Northeastern Institute of Cannabis in Massachusetts to expand her knowledge of the plant's history, and gain a better understanding of the medicine and science behind it. "As a Black woman living in the state of Connecticut, who grew up on the front lines of the war on drugs, I felt it was my responsibility to share this education with my community," she said. And share that education is exactly what Smith-Bolden did. In 2017, she opened CannaHealth, an alternative and holistic health service, which provides medical marijuana certifications to patients along with cannabis education and workshops. Smith-Bolden, 43, was the first Black woman to own and operate a cannabis business in Connecticut, and has been trailblazing her way to success. CannaHealth educates patients about medical cannabis and certifies them for the state program. ere are more than 30 qualifying conditions in which people can be prescribed medical marijuana, including cancer, glau- coma, Parkinson's disease, multiple sclerosis, epilepsy, Crohn's disease and post-traumatic stress disorder. Within one year of opening her flagship practice in downtown New Haven, CannaHealth exploded, prompting Smith-Bolden to open five more clinics in Danbury, Hartford, Middletown, Milford and Stamford. e mother of four children — including 19-year-old triplets — and grandmother of two, always knew her mission was to help people. "I believe that God placed me on this path to educate, inform, provide resources and access that will contribute to the healing of my community," Smith-Bolden said. "My passion for my community is also why I started my business. Growing up in the height of the war on drugs, which was really a war on people, I witnessed the devastating effects racially motivated legislation and over- policing had on my community. My business represents a small bit of social justice for my community." Known as the "Marijuana Guru in CT," Smith-Bolden is a member of Women Grow, Cannabis Consultants of CT and is director of the New England Region of Minorities for Medical Marijuana. She lectures around the country on the benefits of medical marijuana and is a strong and vocal presence in the state legislature on all things cannabis. A wide range of people have placed their faith and ability to be healed in Smith-Bolden's hands, with her oldest patient a 94-year- old woman. "She had broken her hip and was deathly afraid of opioids," Smith-Bolden said."She suffered in pain until she could no longer bear it, and decided to try medical cannabis. rough our guidance and administration she was able to gain relief. We do certify patients who are under 18 and have one of 10 qualifying conditions that include cerebral palsy and severe epilepsy." Smith-Bolden is proud to have certified thousands of patients to be part of the state program, and is excited about expanding even further up and down the East coast. "We are affording patients access to pharmaceutical grade, plant- based medicine as an alternative to opioids," she said. "We are educating inner city residents about the urban form of PTSD, so that they understand the effects that years of over-policing, disproportionate arrests and convictions and systemic racism have resulted in trauma." n Kebra Smith-Bolden's growing cannabis business works to aid others seeking treatment.

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