Sunburn Cannabis has an exciting origin story. We caught up with master cultivator Mike “Pbud” Nee, a Brand Ambassador for Sunburn Cannabis.
1. Can you tell us about your dispensary’s founding story and what sets it apart from others?
What sets us apart is that we are based here in Florida as a single-state operator with a radical focus on Florida quality. We are the first to the Florida market with rare genetics and products. Sunburn Cannabis was founded in 2022, although the Sunburn story began in 1977.
That was the year that Bill Cobb, the father of our CEO Brady Cobb, put together a crew of North Florida boys to begin smuggling shrimp boatloads of Colombian marijuana into the Florida Panhandle. It was the largest marijuana smuggling operation in U.S. Department of Justice history. The crew smuggled over 1.5 million pounds of Colombian marijuana into the Sunshine State and pocketed $320 million in the process.
To clean the cash, these outlaws obtained the U.S. distribution rights to a well-known French sun care company called “Sun System”. Law enforcement created a satellite office in Panama City Beach specifically to go after this organization of smugglers. The feds dubbed the investigation “OPERATION SUNBURN”.
2. Could you provide an overview of the products and brands offered at your dispensary, highlighting any unique offerings or specialties?
I was in the black market for many years, just waiting for it to be medically legal. I collected genetics over those years, knowing it would be legal on some level. Once it became legal, it was an easy transfer for me. Over the years, strains I have preserved have gotten many people off strong drugs like opioids. Today it helps out so many people for many things. It brings joy to me to help these people out in a small way. Receiving emails from patients on how cannabis has helped improve their lives gives me a smile. We have many products at Sunburn. Something for anyone. Whether you like to smoke a joint or eat a gummy. We have tinctures, lotions, lozenges, flower, old-school hash, and new-school solventless hash. Many different ways to get THC in your body.
3. How do you ensure the quality and consistency of your products? What steps do you take to prioritize patient safety?
It all starts with healthy plants. We make sure the plants get what they need throughout their whole life. No shortcuts! We have a detailed IPM to ensure the health of the plants against pests and disease. All final products go through state testing to ensure quality even more but it all starts with healthy plants.
4. What are some common misconceptions about medical marijuana that you aim to dispel through your work?
Medical marijuana helps people. I think more and more people realize that it is something that helps people. Can you abuse it? Yes, like you can abuse anything. I think the stigma of it being something bad for you is changing, and I’m glad I’m a small part of it.
5. What advice would you offer to patients who are new to medical marijuana and seeking guidance on finding the right products and dosages for their needs?
I’ve had many success stories. The strain I’m associated with is Chemdog. It is an extremely powerful strain, and I received notes from many people that got off opioids with the help of the Chemdog strain.
If you’re addicted to opioids, you need something strong to get off it, or you’re going right back. You need something that replaces that opioid high, and Chemdog does that, and it’s not physically addictive like opioids or heroin. People have told me that Chemdog, a strain we have been preserving for over 30 years, has saved their lives.
I would advise patients to try different products and see what works best. Start with a low dose and go from there. We have lots of options. Talk to your MJ doctor and the folks at our dispensaries. They are a wealth of knowledge on our products and will help you find what works for you. Everyone is different, and products will affect you in different ways.
6. Lastly, how can patients connect with your dispensary to learn more and access your products and services?
The best way is to get on our company email or follow us on Instagram at @sunburncannabis . Lots of info on deals and products!
On behalf of DocMJ, we’d like to thank you, Mike, for helping us learn more about Sunburn Cannabis.
Aaron Bloom, an experienced healthcare attorney, serves as the CEO of DocMJ and Medwell Health and Wellness Centers, where he has overseen the organizations’ mission and growth since 2016. In addition to his leadership roles, Aaron serves on the Board of Directors for Waterfall Bank, bringing his expertise in healthcare, compliance, and strategic growth to the financial services sector.
Aaron’s passion for improving patients’ lives stems from more than 20 years of owning, operating, and representing traditional healthcare organizations. Throughout his career, he has remained committed to finding better ways to relieve suffering and expand access to innovative, patient-centered care. As CEO, Aaron works each day to help patients achieve better health and wellness through the therapeutic benefits of medical cannabis and other evidence-based alternative medicines.