Bedford Grow, founded in 2014 by Laurel Dineff, had deep hopes for the legalization of medical cannabis. The journey started when Laurel and her brother Lou discovered that their sister Beverly was suffering from Peripheral Neuropathy. This condition results in nerves becoming located outside the brain, damaging the spinal cord. It often results in stabbing pain, weakness, and numbness of the feet and hands.
In 2014, Illinois legalized medical marijuana consumption for those over 21 who receive a doctor’s recommendation for their medical conditions. With their medical marijuana card, this meant they could receive up to 30 grams of flower or five grams of cannabis concentrate to assist them with the conditions of their medical issues.
In 2020, Illinois took the next step to legalize recreational cannabis use by an act of legislation rather than a ballot which had not been done up until that point. It became the 11th state to legalize recreational use, creating the Illinois Cannabis Regulation and Tax Act to produce a tax revenue similar to the taxes on alcohol sales.
Bedford Grow: Early Beginnings
A neurologist at the Mayo Clinic suggested that Beverly try marijuana to help alleviate some of her symptoms. However, at this point, medicinal-grade cannabis was not yet available and Beverly eventually lost her motor functions.
Lou and Laurel saw this as an opportunity to fight for others with conditions like their sister’s. They continued to pursue Illinois’ legalization of cannabis and in 2013 the Compassionate Use of Medical Cannabis Pilot Program Act was passed, which confirmed the benefits of using cannabis for pain, nausea, and symptoms of many other medical conditions.
In 2014, unfortunately, Lou was suffering from cancer but supported Laurel in applying for a license to dispense medical marijuana. In Feb 2015, she was approved to grow and dispense the product.
Although the laws were not in place in enough time to help Beverly and Lou, Laurel made a vow to help those with similar medical conditions to give everyone the care that they choose. This was the foundation on which Bedford Grow was created. Its ultimate goal has been to “give patients suffering from a variety of health issues a viable alternative to prescription medication for safe and effective relief, and to help improve their quality of life.”
Bedford Grow became the first family and woman-owned cannabis company in Illinois as Laurel continues to prove that cannabis can be an alternative to some prescription treatments. She even honors her late siblings by naming strains after them such as Lou’s Legacy and Beverly Road.
Their warehouse facility consists of 80,000 feet of indoor grow space with automated watering and lighting to maintain proper growth. Coco coir soil is utilized to make sure there are no foreign pests or pathogens that can be transferred to the plants, which in return, creates higher yields and increased potency. They are committed to providing a premium cannabis experience whether it be flower, edibles, or concentrates.
In 2024, there are still five states in the country in which cannabis is still completely illegal on every level.
People with debilitating medical conditions should be allowed to choose their own treatment and to deny them the possibility of not utilizing medical marijuana is to deny them a chance to ease their pain, help them get out of bed without being sick, and live their lives once again.
We all want to live our best lives, and for some people that means just having a reasonable quality of life. Supporting companies like Bedford Grow supports not only an independent, woman-owned business, but the future of viewing cannabis as a medicinal resource.
Stay tuned for more updates on Bedford Grow via RespectMyRegion.com.
