Sometimes the answer you’ve been searching for is growing right out of the ground. That’s how it was for Aspen. After years of being medicated for ADHD, she found relief in something completely different: cannabis. What started as personal healing turned into something much bigger. Today, Aspen is the 27-year-old CEO of one of the leading cannabis telehealth companies in the country. Her story isn’t just about weed. It’s about trusting your gut, rewriting the rules, and finding purpose in a place most people overlook.
Meet Aspen: Sunshine, Simplicity, and a Bigger Mission
Aspen lives in Safety Harbor, a quiet town near Tampa, Florida. She’s a mom, she loves being outdoors, and she believes in keeping life simple, meaning more fresh air, less screen time. But her story hasn’t always been so calm.
She was diagnosed with ADHD when she was eight. By her teens, she was on a rotation of Adderall, Vyvanse, and Concerta. These meds came with side effects that she was expected to just manage. By 18, she was heading to college with a handful of prescriptions and a feeling that something wasn’t quite right.
Trying Cannabis, Finding Clarity
College was the first time Aspen tried cannabis. She wasn’t expecting anything more than a high, but what she found was something better: clarity. She didn’t feel foggy. She felt focused. And slowly, she realized she didn’t need her ADHD meds anymore.
The side effects she thought were just part of life, mood swings, trouble sleeping, constant tension, started to fade. To her, cannabis was more than a recreational experiment; it was the start of a new path.
That moment changed everything. She got curious. She started digging into holistic health and nutrition, even planned to become a dietitian. But her focus kept coming back to cannabis and how many people might be suffering without knowing there’s another option.
From Student to Advocate
Aspen joined NORML, a national group that works to reform marijuana laws. Within six months, she was leading her local chapter. She organized events, brought in guest speakers, and built a network of people passionate about safe and legal access to cannabis.
Through that work, she landed a role helping open dispensaries in Kansas City. She wrote SOPs, helped launch operations, and soaked up as much knowledge as she could. It was real-world experience that helped shape her future and gave her a vision for what was possible.
The Move to Telehealth and Building Elevate Holistics
After graduation, Aspen wanted something new. Missouri winters were cold and uninspiring, so she packed up and headed to Florida in search of sunshine and purpose. That’s when she found a job taking support calls at a small cannabis-focused telehealth company: Elevate Holistics.
She started at the ground level, helping patients fill out forms and answering phones. She learned how cannabis laws worked in different states, what patients were struggling with, and where the gaps were in access and education.
Over time, she moved into operations, then finance. When the CEO stepped down, Aspen was the natural choice to step in. She didn’t just maintain the company. She grew it. Under her leadership, Elevate Holistics expanded by over 20% in one year.
What Elevate Holistics Does (and Why It Matters)
Elevate Holistics connects patients with licensed doctors to get medical marijuana cards. It’s all done through secure telehealth appointments. The company currently operates in 18 states, and no two are the same.
Each state has its own qualifying conditions, rules, forms, and fees. Some require in-person visits. Others allow everything online. In Arkansas, for example, your first visit has to be in person, but renewals can be done remotely.
Aspen’s team helps patients navigate all of that. They simplify the process, answer questions, and make sure everything stays legal and HIPAA-compliant. Their only focus is cannabis, which keeps things clear, consistent, and supportive for patients who are often overwhelmed or unsure.
Why You Might Still Need a Medical Marijuana Card
Even if your state has legalized recreational use, a medical card can still make a big difference. Here’s why:
- Lower taxes. In states like Arizona, you could save up to 18% by going medical.
- Higher limits. Medical patients often have access to more product per visit.
- Legal protection. Having a card shows you’re using cannabis for health reasons, not just for fun.
- Product access. Some strains and formulations are only available to medical users.
It’s not just about legality. It’s about control, consistency, and options especially if you’re using cannabis to manage real symptoms.
When Cannabis Really Helps: Stories That Stick
One of Aspen’s favorite stories involves a grandmother with Alzheimer’s. Every night, she would get confused and agitated, which is a symptom known as “sundowning.” Her family gave her a cannabis tincture under her tongue. Within 30 minutes, she was calm, focused, and back on her iPad. She never even knew it was cannabis. It just worked.
Another caller had been taking opioids for over 10 years after a motorcycle accident. He switched to cannabis during a medically supervised detox. It helped him manage pain, reduce inflammation, and regain parts of his life he thought were gone, regular sleep, appetite, and even a little peace of mind.
These are the stories that keep Aspen going.
How the Industry Is Shifting (Again)
When Aspen first entered the cannabis space, the focus was education. People wanted to understand how it worked. Then came the rush of recreational legalization. States opened the floodgates, and the market quickly became about convenience and price.
But recently, things have started to shift back. Patients are asking deeper questions again. They want to know about cannabinoids, terpenes, and how to get the most benefit from what they’re using. The medical conversation is back, and it’s gaining traction.
CBD, THC, and the Other Players
Cannabis works because of cannabinoids. These are chemical compounds that interact with your body’s endocannabinoid system.
Here are the main ones to know:
- CBD is non-psychoactive. It helps with anxiety, inflammation, and sleep, without making you feel high.
- THC is the one that gets you high. It also helps with pain, appetite, and deeper relaxation.
- CBG, CBN, THCA and others have unique effects. Some are energizing. Some promote sleep. Some ease inflammation.
You’ll also see labels like full-spectrum and broad-spectrum. Full-spectrum contains a small amount of THC (less than 0.3%) along with other cannabinoids, which enhances what’s called the “entourage effect.” Everything works better together. Broad-spectrum removes the THC, which is helpful if you’re drug tested.
If you’re using full-spectrum CBD, even trace amounts of THC could show up on a drug test. Always read your labels.
What About Mushrooms?
Cannabis isn’t the only plant medicine getting attention. Psychedelics like psilocybin are being studied and used for trauma, PTSD, and depression. Aspen’s a believer in their potential, especially when the experience is guided and legal.
She’s heard powerful stories from veterans who went on retreats in Colorado and came back with real breakthroughs. She describes the experience as intense and emotional, but also meaningful. For people stuck in cycles of pain or trauma, it can offer a new perspective they didn’t know they needed.
Advice for Anyone Just Getting Started
Aspen didn’t wait for someone to give her a title or approval. She jumped in, learned everything she could, and figured it out as she went. Her motto?
Done is better than perfect.
If you’re thinking about trying cannabis for the first time, starting your own business, or switching gears in life, her advice is simple: start now. You don’t need to know everything. Just take the next step. That alone sets you apart from most people.
Thinking About Cannabis for Your Own Health?
Aspen’s story isn’t rare. More and more people are turning to cannabis to help with things like anxiety, chronic pain, sleep, and mood disorders. But doing it legally, safely, and with real support matters.
Elevate Holistics makes that part easy. Whether it’s your first card or time to renew, their team helps you through the whole process, from the doctor visit to state paperwork. It’s all online, and it only takes a few minutes to get started.
If cannabis could help you feel better, live easier, or just sleep through the night, don’t wait.
You deserve to feel good. Let’s start there. Get your medical marijuana card with Elevate Holistics.
