Organically Transparent With Flower of Life

by Rayne Graham

There is no question at just how popular medical cannabis is in Oklahoma, I mean there are more than 2,200 dispensaries alone. To put that into perspective, there are more medical marijuana dispensaries in this state than there are Mcdonalds and Starbucks combined. With so many brick and mortars, there are even more growers putting flower on those shelves. With that being said, few are as transparent and organic as Flower of Life.

Elizabeth and Jeff Richardson, a mother son duo from Oklahoma, have been in business together since 2006. Flower of Life is their first Cannabis business, but it doesn’t make them any less passionate about what they are doing. Elizabeth’s father slipped away due to Alzheimer’s so she became passionate about the benefits that cannabis has as a means of preventing or slowing it. Her son Jeff believes in reducing exposure to harmful chemicals to live a long and healthy life. Together, they have founded a brand that reflects both of their beliefs and passions in a loving way to the cannabis community of Oklahoma.

I had the opportunity to speak with Breanne Richardson, Jeff’s wife and head of marketing, to talk more about what makesFlower of Life so special and unique. Cultivating and processing 100% pesticide free cannabis using biodynamic farming methods is a motto this brand lives by. So, today we are going to break down exactly what that means and why you should care a little more in the making of your medicine.

Let’s start with the pesticide free part, shall we? First, it is important to know exactly what a pesticide is don’t you think? According to OMMA a pesticide is:

” Pesticide” means (A) any substance or mixture of substances intended for preventing, destroying, repelling, or mitigating any pest, or (B) any substance or mixture of substances intended for use as a plant regulator, defoliant or desiccant.” 5

With that definition it doesn’t seem so bad does it? Not even close. In a 2004 review co-authored by the National Cancer Institute* it concluded that “epidemiological evidence clearly suggests that at current exposures pesticides adversely affect human health.” Endocrine and hormone function are also known to be disrupted by some pesticides according to a research review by the EPA and published in a toxicology handbook*.

So, we can see why ingesting pesticide free cannabis is important, but what if I told you that out of those 100s of pesticides Oklahoma only tests for 13? To put this into perspective, California tests for over 65 and Canada tests for over 100 different compounds. Therefore, when Organic Flower of Life says they are Pesticide free, it is a BIG DEAL. They maintain a clean facility and incorporate beneficial insects such as predatory mites and rove beetles to combat unwanted pests instead.

Next, let’s dissect the biodynamic farming part for a minute, shall we? Living soil is used in the making of all Flower of Life flower. Living soil is the community of organisms working together to break down organic matter in soil which, in turn, provides valuable nutrients to the cannabis plant. To obtain this, they custom blend their soil in house using only OMRI certified amendments such as black owl bio char, mineral rich rock dust, worm castings, and Maine lobster compost. Then, the soil is wheel hauled one wheel-barrow at a time into the beds to allow for it to “cook” which could take several weeks. The cooking process helps promote the growth of healthy bacteria and fungus. Which sounds gross but honestly do you know what goes on in your stomach? Google it.

Other farming practices of theirs include low energy consumption and zero chemical waste run off. Because no pesticides or nutrients are being used, duh! The whole point of Flower of Life is their transparency and deduction to the patients and that is the reason for such organic practices. Breanne put it into the perfect words as to why the family thought this was much needed in the community, “With every other product on the market you have a choice of what you put in or on your body. Cannabis should be that way too”

Speaking of transparency, on each package of their product you will find a QR code that links to a full-page lab report of what you purchased. And of course, speaking about their products, here are some you need to check out.

• • Bruce Banner
  • Penny Wise 1:1
  • Cured Flower Rosin (clean and solventless)

It is important to note that all of their flower is slow dried, hand trimmed, and long cured. Which means you are in for a tasty and aromatic medical experience. It is also prepackaged at their facility to ensure the cleanest product possible. If that hasn’t gotten you wanting to hop on their website (www.organicfloweroflife.com) to see where the nearest dispensary to you that carries their products is, maybe their philosophy will.

“We believe the path to wellness begins with what we put into our body.”