Posted by Roxane Cole

After suffering severe injuries in a motor vehicle accident in 1990, both Catherine and her husband Glenn fell victims to modern medicines’ pharmaceutical trap. She and her husband began their journey with medical cannabis in 2002 to help Glenn eliminate about 9 different drugs he had been prescribed over the years for his injuries. Glenn became an official patient in 2009 under the care of Dr. Sulak. Catherine became his caregiver. Seeing the amazing results that cannabis provided him and their ability to produce such a great medicine, together in 2010 they started HomeGrown HealthCare, Apothecary and Learning Center now located in Winthrop, Maine. As caregivers, they are dedicated to sharing their knowledge with folks suffering from a variety of ailments, including Chronic Pain, Cancer, PTSD and Addiction Recovery. They have been featured in the documentary The Science vs The Stigma in 2011 and on the Kimball & Keyser Report (A Caregivers Path) 7/31/13, Weediquette / S2 EP6 (Reefer Rehab) 9/23/16, TODAY’s “Undercovered” series (Can marijuana help wean addicts off heroin and other opiates?) 5/18/17, and most recently in Season 2 of The Sacred Plant (Healing Secrets Examined) 7/18.

In 2011 Catherine joined the board of Medical Marijuana Caregivers of Maine (MMCM) Trade Association as the Director of Education and in 2015, she became the President of the Board, helping to shape legislation and communication with the overseeing State Departments and Municipalities. She volunteers many hours in the community and at the State House testifying for the medical cannabis program. With the help of many others, they created the largest East Coast Medical Industry Trade Show that has run for the last 7 years. She also sits on the Board of Advisers for New England Cannabis Network (NECANN). Catherine has been educating others with classes and workshops through a variety of industry shows, town hall meetings, fairs and the University of Maine at Augusta (Klahr Center) with MMCM and now at their Learning Center in Winthrop Maine. Enabling people to learn the laws, patient/caregiver rights, business rules, cultivation and preparation of cannabis for better health and natural wellness. Catherine most recently was instrumental in the crafting and recent passing of LD 1539 and LD 238. These two bills will help improve Maine’s Medical Cannabis program, creating a new legitimacy for the businesses within the program.