Former Blues defenseman Barret Jackman will soon be known in the St. Louis area for more than just his hockey career. Jackman has gotten together with Brett Hull and Kelly Chase to get into the cannabis industry, opening a dispensary called Hippos with locations in Chesterfield, Columbia and Springfield.
“We've been hiring over the last few weeks in training and making sure we have the bud tenders that are very knowledgeable, very educated,” Jackman told KMOX on Tuesday. “You can go in there and tell them exactly what your ailments are, what you're looking for. And they're really good at recommending, whether you're looking for something to smoke, to eat or drink, they have everything. They're probably the smartest people I've ever talked to and most passionate about helping people.”
Jackman said he’s seen people from all walks of life coming in who are interested in cannabis products, whether it’s elderly cancer patients looking for pain relief, young people looking to relax, or anyone in between. He said that getting rid of the stigma of the drug has encouraged more people to try it.
“A lot of my friends are switching from alcohol to cannabis,” he said. “You know, people I talk to — soccer moms, I've talked to high ups in companies, you know, the stress that comes along with everyday life and stress that comes along with work environments, a lot of people are switching to cannabis to help them sleep instead of taking Ambien.” He added, “They have a better quality of life because of it.”
As for concerns about cannabis products getting into the wrong hands, Jackman said he isn’t very concerned. He chalks it up to parenting styles, and points out that the products at Hippos are safe and tested.
“There's always concern that the younger kids are gonna get it but you know, parenting is gotta be a huge part of it, just like alcohol, it's just like any kind of drug off the street,” he said. “You gotta watch your kids, you gotta be very cautious of what they're doing, but our stuff, you know, cannabis, you're not gonna overdose on it, and it's government regulators tested so you know exactly what's going to be in it.”
Hear more from Barret Jackman on his new dispensary, plus some of his analysis on the Blues this season:
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