Pricilla Vilchis, CEO of Premium Produce, is taking a lead in the cannabis industry, she is one of the few people that hold two medical licenses in Las Vegas, Nevada and soon in California. Twenty-seven percent of executives in the cannabis industry are women and she’s part of the growing demographic that is coming to the aid of patients that are able to use medical marijuana instead of opioids that have been proven quite dangerous.
Vilchis became an entrepreneur in her early 20’s as a consultant for medical practices where she saw first hand the growing opioid epidemic. One of the main reasons for starting up Premium Produce was influenced by her experience working in healthcare and seeing the improper use of opioids, often resulting in overdoses in patients. “Our goal, our mission is to get opioids replaced with marijuana,” she says. Vilchis expresses that people can’t overdose on medicinal marijuana, which is something that many don’t know. Researchers found that since 2011, the number of opiate-related deaths in the US has decreased by 33% after certain states began legalizing marijuana.
The company is one of 66 medical marijuana establishments in Nevada that was able to attain two licenses from Nevada Department of Health and Human Services. Vilchis was the first minority female to ever be awarded these licenses. Premium Produce was 1 of 500 companies that applied that was granted these licenses. The business is looking to begin cultivating medical cannabis in Linwood, California pretty soon.
At Premium Produce, they pride themselves in being woman-owned and allowing safe access to medical cannabis. Their mission is to steer attention towards an “overwhelmed and costly healthcare system” and support and envision a world where medical cannabis is welcomed in the healthcare system as a viable medicine.
Like most Latinas, Vilchis holds very close ties with her family and even asked her parent’s permission to begin this journey. “I’ll never forget; I had an in-person conference in my parent’s household. Basically, I just asked permission and explained to them what I wanted to do so that they knew exactly my reason. They were a little hesitant because of the industry and they weren’t properly educated with all the good that marijuana has brought to people. It was also a learning experience for them. I think by the end of our conversation they were fans.”
She took this as a learning experience and recommends educating those who have opinions solely based on stereotypes. Tell them the facts: it is not possible to overdose on marijuana, people use medical cannabis to replace an unhealthy addiction, and show solid proof through articles and photos on how medical cannabis has helped people with pain, addictions and more.
Vilchis states that if taken right, medical cannabis, specifically cannabidiol (CBD) can be used on people and children as young as 2-years-old. She explains the specific differences between CBD and THC compounds. THC is the psychoactive ingredient in marijuana that causes a “high.” THC also induces sleepiness and can also promote anxiety in some people. CBD allows for the pain and anxiety relieving, antipsychotic effects without the high and drowsiness.
Ultimately, if anyone is struggling with ailments and diseases that induce pain, seizures, mental disorders, etc. Vilchis encourages patients to talk to their doctors into looking into medical marijuana as a viable option for treatment.