By Morris Beegle
Welcome to the Let’s Talk Hemp industry profile – Shine on You – where I get to feature folks involved in the industry and who are doing important and interesting work from various corners and crevices of the hemp space. This week I have Laura Beohner, President and Co-founder of The Healing Rose Company and has been involved in various non-profit and sustainability initiatives.
Let’s get to know Laura a bit better and why she loves hemp!
Laura Beohner is the President & Co-Founder of The Healing Rose, which was founded in 2016 after Laura’s dislocated kneecap injury helped her to discover the power of topicals that are infused with a synergy of cannabinoids, herbs, and essential oils. Laura received her bachelor’s in business administration, with a focus on entrepreneurship and marketing, from Northeastern University. Additionally, Laura is on the Board of Directors for Elevate Northeast and is on the Board of Directors for Northeast Sustainable Hemp Association (NOSHA). She spends her free time volunteering in her community as a youth girls basketball and softball coach.
1 – When and why did you get into the hemp/cannabis industry?
I first fell in love with the cannabis plant when I was 18-years-old. At the time it was a medicine that helped me out immensely and it completely changed my life. In 2013, I found out that cannabis was going to be legalized in Massachusetts and it would be sold not just as a medical product, but as a recreational product as well. At that point, I realized that my dream of being a cannabis entrepreneur would soon become my reality. Being a cannabis entrepreneur gave me the opportunity to have a job while also living the life that I really wanted. My goals have always been to help people, build a business, and run my own company.
Cannabis/Hemp is such an important plant, as it has helped me completely change my life in a positive way. The plant helps to make my life so much better as it’s what I have used for my own health and wellness. Having the opportunity to work in the hemp and cannabis industries is a dream come true for me.
2 – You are involved in non-profit work, can you tell us about the organization/organizations that you work with and what you do with them?
I helped co-found the Massachusetts Hemp Coalition in 2019 and have been the Director since its founding. This coalition works with legislators, the Massachusetts Department of Agriculture (MDAR), and the Massachusetts-based Cannabis Control Commission (CCC), among others. We advocate for people who work in the hemp industry, keep MDAR and the CCC informed about problems or roadblocks with industry regulations, and do our best to create a profitable and productive hemp industry in Massachusetts.
I help with the coalition-based call-to-action events, handle social media campaigns, and keep farmers, processors, and consumers up-to-date on any hemp-related news.
I am also on the board of NOSHA, Northeast Sustainable Hemp Association, and Elevate Northeast, a non-profit that works to create education and diversity in the cannabis and hemp industries.
3 – What are your favorite products and/or attributes of the hemp/cannabis plant?
The easy answer is to say everything as I love all aspects of the cannabis plant and its incredible number of uses and benefits. It is my life’s passion to do work that is associated with this plant. It’s why I created my business and I love waking up every day to go into the office. If I had to pick what attributes I like most as a medical patient, I would have to say that it’s the ability to heal my body and my mind. It is my first choice of medicine and a better alternative for me than traditional pharmaceuticals and over-the-counter medications that I used to take like Advil or Tylenol. Now I can reach for my own salves, body oils, and tinctures for my general aches and pains from being an athlete and playing multiple sports throughout my life.
As for the actual plant, I love the terpenes and exploring the never-ending combinations of them that occur in different genetics. Tasting the plant and understanding that the terpenes create such a different effect enhances my consumption experience.
4 – Do you have any current or upcoming projects you’re working on that you would like to let folks know about?
We are going to be doing a big launch on suppositories in the coming months that we are extremely excited about and we are going to be relaunching our line of hemp extract, as well as providing some new offerings including an expansive line of products for the face.
5 – What legacy would you like to leave for the next generation from your work?
As a new mom of two girls, I have thought a lot lately about how to make things better for the next generation. I want to help make this world a kinder, more empathic place. I want to help educate people on the power of plants and their ability to heal themselves from within. I am always looking for alternative medicine rather than the standard pharmaceutical medicines that are available. It is important to look at the Earth and see what she provides us. The beauty in the world that surrounds us isn’t simply there for us to marvel at – the plants, including herbs, flowers, and other edible plants – are there to help us nourish, replenish, and heal our bodies. I hope to help others realize that and also educate themselves on how to find what their own body needs.
It is important to ask yourself how you can help make the world a better place in your own little way. I am committed to mentoring the next generation, teaching them to help others, and have an impact on the world by living every day to its fullest.
6 – What is your favorite hobby and who are your top 3 favorite bands/musical artists of all time?
There is no question that my favorite hobby is coaching girls’ youth sports. I have been coaching girls basketball for the last seven years and softball for the last two years. I have been able to coach girls at my former high school for the last three years and it has been an amazing experience for me. I love having the opportunity to be a role model to young women. Sports have been such a huge part of my life all throughout my young adulthood. I want to be the coach for the girls that I always wanted when I played sports when I was younger.
Atmosphere is my number-one favorite band of all time. They are a Midwest hip hop group that I absolutely love. My second favorite band is Led Zeppelin and the iconic Beatles are my third favorite band of all time.
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About Morris Beegle
Cannabis/hemp advocate and entrepreneur Morris Beegle is Co-founder and President of the WAFBA (We Are For Better Alternatives) family of brands. He is also the producer of NoCo Hemp Expo and Southern Hemp Expo as well as publisher of Let’s Talk Hemp. For additional information on what Morris is up to, visit his website at www.morrisbeegle.com and if you would like to get in touch, drop a message to morris@morrisbeegle.com.
