MORIAH BARNHART
CEO & CO-FOUNDER, CANNAMOMS | DAHLIA’S BOTANICALS, FOUNDER| FOUNDING CHAIR, WOMEN GROW TAMPA BAY | FOUNDER, GROW BOX
“You are the leader of your team. Educate and empower yourself.”
THE MAINSTREAM CANNAMOM – Moriah Barnhart has been giving her daughter CBD to treat a brain tumor since 2013. She knew from the beginning that there were far too many children suffering because their parents did not know that cannabis might be a way to help. She explained that it was her own child’s diagnosis that made her see that there were so many other parents out there dealing with the same thing.
Moriah founded CannaMoms in 2014, the first and only organization that caters to helping children who need cannabis as a medicine. According to Moriah, CannaMoms began as a community and support system that transformed to informal lobbying. Moriah explained her motives behind founding CannaMoms, “I saw needs I had in my journey and all I could think about were the children. I wanted to make sure that no other parent would have to watch their children suffer because they didn’t know [cannabis could help].”
She also goes on to explain how she has used CannaMoms as a non-offensive way to bridge the gap between the cannabis industry and the mainstream. CannaMoms is a 501(c)(3) (pending), which has a board consisting of attorneys, physicians, politically connected and highly credentialed individuals. She knew that if CannaMoms was not set up correctly, they would never penetrate the minds of the mainstream individuals they are trying to reach.
She described how she had to carve out her own place in the industry since there was nowhere that parents really fit in. She began working with Women Grow, which has become a resource by networking with other woman who have helped them in their quest to break the stigma of cannabis as a medicine for children. Moriah believes that in the early stages of the industry women were disregarded until some of the women based organizations began popping up. “There is something empowering about empowering other women,” said Moriah.
Lastly, Moriah had some wise words for parents interested in cannabis as a medicine for their children, “Educate and empower yourself. We are taught to not question authority, but this is the first time in history where parent’s feelings and rights are coming before science. Trust yourself in that you know what’s best for your child.”
For more information about Moriah and CannaMoms go to:
CannaMoms.com
IG: @CannaMoms_Official
Twitter: @CannaBabies
Facebook: /CannaMoms