Kevin Vontesmar receives free RSO treatment from Debbie’s & Mohave
I met my favorite MMJ patient, Kevin Vontesmar, at the Joy Bus Diner for breakfast one morning recently. My buddy Dante Gue has been telling me about Kevin for months and wanting us to meet. Kevin was diagnosed just over a year ago with a rare form of cancer called High Grade Chondrosarcoma. Kevin is diagnosed with stage 3/3 which is the most advanced form. Some cancers have 3 stages and some have four stages but his is known as one of the most aggressive cancers.
Kevin with his two kids
Kevin with his two kids
Initially, Kevin was sponsored with a 60 day trial of Rick Simpson Oil from Cresco labs in October of 2019. His cancer is very aggressive and this sixty gram regimen was just enough to get his body primed for further treatment. His cancer was continuing to grow and he finished the 60 gram treatment in 75 days. After the initial RSO dose, Kevin began to seek a discounted price for his cannabis medicine. Just 2 grams a day would cost at least $50 anywhere on the market. He did not expect another donation from Cresco Labs but just wanted the best possible price so he could supply himself because he needs it in bulk and cannot afford the $30-$50 a gram for quality medicine.
This is where Debbie’s Dispensary and Mohave Cannabis stepped in and Debbie said, “I got you covered from now until forever.” That means if Kevin lives another six months or ten years that his cannabis medicine will be 100% covered by Debbie’s Dispensary and Mohave Cannabis Co.
Kevin delivering meals with the Joy Bus Diner
Kevin currently takes two grams of RSO per day and is having far more positive days than before. He still puts on a brave face as he goes through these changes so don’t let his positivity fool you. His body is suffering and the cancer treatments have changed his eating habits and taste buds. It’s hard to get the nutrition his body needs when he feels terrible and can’t even walk. Rick Simpson Oil has made it possible for him to eat regularly and to maintain energy during the day. The flower and dabs that he consumes brings his smile and appetite back. He doesn’t expend nearly as much energy fighting the pain as before, which is so important for recovery and quality of life.
Kevin is scanned every three months for evaluations of his tumors. He currently has nodes in his lungs measuring 4mm. This is a significant tumor but the good news is that it has not grown or spread at all since his last evaluation. His report is STABLE and we are speaking more good news into his life for his next visit.
Kevin with his two kids | photo by Cassie Robles
Welcome to Mohave Cannabis Co.
“Established Before it Was Legal”
Mohave has three growing operations between Arizona and California. They have grown like any family business – one step at a time. The first facility paid for the second facility called Boundary Cone in Bullhead City and then the third facility in Needles, California. The flower was originally sold in their Mohave Green and Debbie’s Dispensary. Now, this facility produces about 60-80 pounds of cannabis each week and most of it is shipped up and sold at dispensaries in the Phoenix area.
They have about 30 full time employees at the Boundary Cone location that are divided into ever growing departments. The floor manager Curtis has been here since day one and continues to expand with the company. When we arrived during the week of Christmas they had the entire facility decorated for the Holidays. The trim room was Santa’s workshop with workers dressed as elves while hand trimming pounds of Vanilla Frost. The front lobby had pre roll joints hanging from the ceiling and a fully decorated tree surrounded by wrapping paper and bows and even a full train set choo chooing around the track. This was for their annual contest where each facility competes to be the best decorated during the Holidays.
The amount of time put into these decorations shows the dedication that goes into growing your cannabis medicine. Mohave cannabis works for you, they work for medical patients and the tired moms who need pain relief. Decorating the office shows how much they care about each other and how much pride they have in their work. This is the exact environment where you want your cannabis flower to come from.
“Wes has taught me everything I know about the plant, from conception to harvest.”Kim Hernandez, Director of Operations
Mohave Cannabis CEO, Curtis Devine, met us at a cozy diner packed with people eating chicken fried steak with potatoes, grits and gravy. Seven chicken fried steaks later, his team and I were all laughing about how they met in high school baseball tryouts and now they manage three facilities with 60,000 sq. ft. of indoor cultivation and over 150 employees.
How did you get started in the cannabis industry?
Curtis Devine: Allegedly, I met some guys in San Diego and we…I’m joking. I started in the “Legal Marijuana” industry here in Arizona when it first began in 2012. I applied for a license and got it. Mohave Green was our first dispensary and license in 2012. We started with the Courtney Place site and we started with about 1,200 sq.ft. We grew that to the 60,000 sq. ft. of indoor cultivation we have today. It’s been a wild ride in seven years.
What is your background in?
Curtis Devine: I’m a hustler. Some people say entrepreneurs but I just love to make things work. You can’t teach it, I just grew up motivated.
Wes Brodbeck | photo by Toney Buatti
What was it like when you started the grow?
Wes Brodbeck: We were getting the first patient cards and caregiver cards and we were growing in a luxury gated neighborhood. We were so paranoid, just waiting for the cops to come kick the doors down. Medical Marijuana was brand new legal. I would come in the morning to tend the plants and the whole residential block would stink. I would drive in and go all the way down the street and all the way back before I park to make sure there were no suspicious vehicles or activity.
Imagine going from being a restaurant manager to being in charge of all these plants in a garage. It was a shock for all of us to be doing it legally. We would work in the dark and trim in the dark because we literally thought a raid could happen at any minute. Then we would smoke and be sure the feds will be here any minute, “Oh no, the Feds are coming. The feds are definitely coming!”
The first year we didn’t know what was going to happen. We didn’t know if the feds were going to bust the doors down or how the local authorities would react. It was so weird and now we don’t even think twice about it now.
Mitchell Gleason | photo by Toney Buatti
When did you sell your first legal pounds?
Mitchell Gleason: It was in 2013. We brought about 10lbs. Down with us and drove through every dispensary in the Phoenix area until someone bought some weed. Harvest bought some and Green Halo in Tucson bought some. Curtis can sell ice to eskimos, so that part was easy.
You guys work together but you also grew up together?
Mitchell Gleason: I had just moved here and we had Senior League Baseball tryouts. Curt was already on the team so the coach sent him down to pick the new guys. I tried out and he picked me and that was the beginning of our friendship. I still can’t believe the coach just sent him to pick the rest of the kids for the team.
Curtis Devine: This all started with our core group of friends and family. Everyone who works here has a family connection or childhood connection. Now we have over 150 employees and I still get to hang with my brothers and see these guys regularly. I don’t get to see all the employees regularly but to continue growing this company with my brothers is invaluable.
“Our quality control comes down from the top. If I’m not smoking it then I don’t want you to either.”Mitchell Gleason, Director Of Cultivation AZ
Tell us about Mohave Reserve and new genetics for 2020?
Mitchell Gleason: We just started a new testing program for genetics. We are only going to run varieties for so long. We are not going to run stuff for years and years. We have a couple Kush Cake and Kush Mint phenos with amazing results. The Skittle Mints pheno we found has terpene percentages off the charts, higher than we have ever seen. It’s a good experience when you smoke it. I don’t like anything that is heavy headed or puts you on the couch. We have some MOD Grapes that has been looking really good with great terpene and THC numbers.
Curing buds | photo by Toney Buatti
What is your favorite strain that you grow?
Mitchell Gleason: For me it’s not the highest THC numbers. It’s how I feel and the experience afterwards. I don’t need any help sleeping or sitting around. I look for something that gets you off the couch and cruising around. I still like the Valley OG and the Kush strains we have right now. The Cream Pie Kush is really solid right now.
Where can people go to find Mohave strains in the Phoenix area?
Mitchell Gleason: We are currently supplying Territory Chandler, Territory Mesa, Uncle Herbs, Sticky Saguaro, Prime Leaf, Earth’s Healing, MUV, Nirvana and many more.
“If you are the smartest person in the room, you might be in the wrong room.” Kim Hernandez, Director of Operations
Community Action
The Mohave Cannabis operation is all about family and extending a loving hand throughout the community. One year ago, Mitchell Gleason called me and he said, “I saw you guys at the Errl Cup and I don’t know what you are doing down there but we see you supporting the MMJ community and we want in!”
We decided to host a pro am golf event called the Cannabis Cactus Open. Tyler Christensen called me from California and said we want in and we are coming to win the Cannabis Cactus Open! I was thinking okay dude, just bring some good weed with you! These classy degens show up the day before with an SUV full of Mohave swag like frisbees, water guns, t shirts and then jars of the finest cannabis I had seen in Arizona at the time. They went out the next morning and won the golf tournament as advertised and flew the trophy home on a private plane. That’s how our partnership was born!
Mohave Cannabis has been a cornerstone of our publication and throughout the MMJ community. Mohave Cannabis is a proud sponsor of Cannabis Cactus Magazine because they support cannabis education and advocacy in the community. They made it clear to me that they buy advertising primarily to support our community. Selling weed is secondary.
Mitchell Gleason: It’s more than a paycheck for all of us, trust me on that. It’s become part of our lives. The paycheck is why we are here to take care of our family but we want to be great! WE want this thing [legalization] to really happen and we want to be part of it. What really keeps us here till 7pm and on weekends on call is that we want to be great!
“I would rather have a bad day here than a good day anywhere else! We are family like brothers and sisters and we fight with each other and for each other.” Kim Hernandez, Director of Operations
Producers in our state like Mohave Cannabis are independently owned brands competing against a flood of corporate money and yet they still put patients first. They put their city first. They put their state first and they consider each of you family. Thank you to the entire Mohave Cannabis Co. family and a very special thank you to Randy, Mitchell, Ammie, Curtis, Wes, Jay, Kim, Cody and Tyler for working so closely with us in the community. These folks are pure class from seed to sale.
Toney Buatti @eatumupphoto
Toney Buatti @eatumupphoto
Toney Buatti @eatumupphoto
Toney Buatti @eatumupphoto
Toney Buatti @eatumupphoto
Toney Buatti @eatumupphoto
Toney Buatti @eatumupphoto
Toney Buatti @eatumupphoto
Toney Buatti @eatumupphoto
Toney Buatti @eatumupphoto
Toney Buatti @eatumupphoto
Toney Buatti @eatumupphoto
Toney Buatti @eatumupphoto
Toney Buatti @eatumupphoto
Toney Buatti @eatumupphoto
Toney Buatti @eatumupphoto
Toney Buatti @eatumupphoto
Toney Buatti @eatumupphoto
Toney Buatti @eatumupphoto
Toney Buatti @eatumupphoto
Michael Cassini is the founder and editor in chief of The Cannabis Cactus Magazine. He focuses on community relationships with a goal to maintain a culture of love, peace and knowledge in the cannabis industry.
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