Montel Williams
As an Emmy Award-winning TV personality who became a medical marijuana patient after being diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis in 1999, Montel Williams became one of the first high-profile advocates to cast a spotlight on the absurdity of cannabis prohibition.
Since then, he has lobbied elected officials as an advocate for cannabis policy reform in nearly every state and frequently headlines major cannabis conferences as a keynote speaker. As founder of Lenitiv Scientific, he is researching and developing new cannabis therapy formulas for multiple sclerosis and other serious medical conditions.
Having spent more than two decades serving in the U.S. Military, first enlisted in the Marine Corp before graduating from the U.S. Naval Academy as a commissioned Navy officer, he is also an ardent advocate for veterans to have unrestricted access to cannabis.
Montel delivered the Keynote address at the first Cannabis Science Conference in Portland Oregon two years ago and is slated to speak at the event again when it makes its East Coast debut in Baltimore next year. He joined us for our 100th Episode Special!
In Montel's Words
- In 2016 I founded Lenitiv Scientific, LLC, and the Lenitiv brand of medical cannabis products, moving from a patient and advocate to a cannabis entrepreneur.
- As the industry sets its sights on adult use, we have to make sure that patients still have access to cannabis that meets their medical needs.
- One of my goals in founding Lenitiv was to be in a position to fund meaningful cannabis research.
- I also plan on continuing to press the U.S. government to remove the administrative barriers it has placed on cannabis research.It’s important to appreciate the irony: On the one hand, the government says more research is needed before changing cannabis policy, while on the other hand it works hard to prevent meaningful cannabis research.
- This year represents a pivotal point in cannabis science.A majority of states now have medical or recreational cannabis programs, and we must remember that patients need access to safe, lab-tested cannabis products.