Kebra Smith-Bolden: Seeking Social Justice Through Public Health
Kebra Smith-Bolden
I always wanted to work in the healthcare industry. Even as a little girl, I was the kid who had the doctor's bag and stethoscope and played “hospital” with all my stuffed animals. In the early 1990s, I went to college for pre-med and became a biology major. My grandfather was diagnosed with terminal lung cancer not long after, and I moved back home to Connecticut in 1997 to help take care of him. Near the end of his life in 2002, he had hospice nurses. After leaving school, I lost some motivation to be a healthcare professional, but their knowledge, kindness, thoughtfulness, and patience reignited my passion. Through observing my grandpa’s hospice nurses, I knew I wanted to be a person who could care for people in their hardest times. That is when I decided to become a nurse.
“My grandmother, Hattie Turner, ignited my interest in the cannabis industry. Long before its legalization, my grandmother mentioned to me that she needed a joint and a bath to move a bit easier.”
My grandmother, Hattie Turner, ignited my interest in the cannabis industry. Long before its legalization, my grandmother mentioned to me that she needed a joint and a bath to move a bit easier. At the age of 88, she had an aneurysm and was more withdrawn and spoke less often. After medical marijuana became available, I shared some with her, which resulted in a massive improvement in her speech and personal engagement. After witnessing first hand the positive effects of cannabis, I wanted to provide more access to medical marijuana to my community.
After 20 years in the healthcare industry, I founded CannaHealth in 2017, a company that certifies people for medical cannabis use in the state of Connecticut. As a black woman living in the state of Connecticut, who grew up on the front lines of the war on drugs, I believe it is my duty to do the work that we do at CannaHealth. CannaHealth also represents a small bit of social justice for my community. More than anything else I hope it allows me to be an example to others for opportunities that exist in this industry and others like it.
“As a black woman living in the state of Connecticut, who grew up on the front lines of the war on drugs, I believe it is my duty to do the work that we do at CannaHealth.”
The biggest challenge I faced when creating CannaHealth was just knowing how to run a business. I had a great idea and a great opportunity to engage in an emerging industry, but had very little practical knowledge on how to run a business of its scale, magnitude and potential for national reach. I had to learn by making mistakes. I could not afford to pay for business coaching, so I had to research and familiarize myself with the laws and regulations, and find organizations and mentors that would help me. I connected with organizations like Women Grow, MCBA, and American Cannabis Nurses Association to understand and influence the industry.
One of the most prevalent diagnoses that we see at CannaHealth is PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder). Trauma is traditionally thought of as stemming from a concrete event, but it is often a series of events that can be difficult to register as trauma until reflecting back. Starting in the 1980s, urban cities became ground zero for the war on drugs, or as I like to call it, a war on black people, and has resulted in unimaginable traumas for those affected. From the trauma of poverty to over-policing and police brutality to violence to hunger - the list goes on - my patients are often multiple trauma victims unique to poverty and urban centers. A silver lining is, many patients have had success reintegrating into society post incarceration. In 2018, I had one patient in particular who had been released after spending 30 years in prison. He needed to reunite with his children and family, but was under state supervision and felt socially inept and extremely anxious. Within days of his release he came into CannaHealth; he was evaluated, diagnosed with PTSD (due to his incarceration), began medicating with cannabis and entered into therapy. He is now gainfully employed, mentors the youth in his community and has begun the processing of healing himself and his family.
As a clinician in the field of medical cannabis, it is my duty to help people understand that their choices, decisions and responses to life (whether good or bad) are all related to those traumas. These people aren’t “potheads” or addicts, they are traumatized people attempting to self medicate. From there, I am then able to help them learn how to properly manage their symptoms of PTSD with cannabis by educating patients on strains, terpenes, and how cannabis works in the body via the endocannabinoid system. By providing access to safe plant-based medicine, education, and referrals to group or individual therapy, we are able to have a role in transitioning our patients from trauma victims to healed people.
One of the patients I think most of was a Veteran who had been diagnosed with PTSD after serving in Desert Storm. She was in treatment at the VA and was heavily medicated with a myriad of drugs including mood stabilizers, antidepressants, and anxiolytics. She was receiving over a thousand pills a month in the mail from the VA. Her least favorite medication was Xanax. Once she was certified and received her card for medical marijuana use, she brought in 450 tablets of Xanax to be destroyed. Her use of cannabis helped with her anxiety, depression and acted as mood stabilization as well.
“Mental health includes our emotional, psychological, and overall well-being. Cannabis interacts with the brain and body in an effort to create balance by stimulating the endocannabinoid system (ECS), or replenishing the system when it’s cannabinoid deficient.”
Mental health includes our emotional, psychological, and overall well-being. Cannabis interacts with the brain and body in an effort to create balance by stimulating the endocannabinoid system (ECS), or replenishing the system when it’s cannabinoid deficient. Depending on the strain, terpenes, and cannabinoid profile, cannabis can be extremely effective in decreasing symptoms of mental illness (ex. depression, anxiety, social withdrawal). Under the care of a physician and with a general knowledge of cannabis and the ECS, we have seen many patients that have successfully decreased if not completely eliminate their dependence on pharmaceutical drugs.
“To all of my fellow healthcare workers, I am praying for you. I want you to know that we are all in this together and we are making a difference every day as we continue to get up and go to work despite our fears...Know that you are appreciated and make us all so very proud!”
We are in an unprecedented time in our nation's history with the COVID-19 pandemic. To all of my fellow healthcare workers, I am praying for you. I want you to know that we are all in this together and we are making a difference every day as we continue to get up and go to work despite our fears. Take every precaution because if we can’t protect ourselves and our families, we can’t care for others. Know that you are appreciated and make us all so very proud!
About Kebra Smith-Bolden
Kebra Smith–Bolden was born and raised in New Haven, Connecticut. She is the proud mother of one adult daughter, Taylor (Kenta), triplets Hallie, Tariq and Hallena and the grandmother of Jax and Joey Kebra is a Registered Nurse who has always had a passion for work in the field of health. Her career journey spans over 22 years which began as a young CNA to LPN specializing in the area of Homecare with a passion for community to an exceedingly skillful RN who has always held the highest standard of care for her patients. Referred to as the “Marijuana Guru in CT” by Hot 93 7’s Nancy Barrow, Kebra has taken the Cannabis Industry in Connecticut by force, as much as she is one to be reckoned with. Kebra received her Certification in Cannabis Studies from the Northeastern Institute of Cannabis (NIC) in Natick, MA and has expertise in Cannabis from seed to sale and Medical Marijuana as a Healthcare Provider. She is a member of the Connecticut Coalition to Regulate Marijuana and organization that advocates for development within the industry, provides opportunities for diversified marketing, promotes safe and sensible regulations to protect the environment, safeguards public health and safety, and prevents youth marijuana use. In addition, Kebra is a member of The Minority Cannabis Business Association, whose mission is to create equal access and economic empowerment for Cannabis Businesses, their patients, and the communities most affected by the war on drugs. Finally, Kebra is the CEO of both Cannabis Consultants of Connecticut and CannaHealth, A Division of The Healing Choice, LLC.