Since the first marijuana sales in the Bay State began in 2018, a number of cannabis-related startups have grown their way into the Boston innovation ecosystem. Among these are Ascend Wellness, a marijuana cultivation and processing company, and Trella Technologies, which developed an indoor plant-growing system.
One company, however, is going where few cannabis companies dare to tread: The realm of dairy products. Cloud Creamery is a Framingham-based food startup that is creating cannabis-infused ice cream from locally sourced ingredients. It plans to distribute its flavors to local dispensaries, hospitals, and medical facilities, with the goal of creating an alternate source of wellness for people seeking pain relief from auto-immune diseases and conditions.
David Yusefzadeh, the CEO and founder of Cloud Creamery, was inspired to start the company by his own personal struggles with pain treatments. When he was diagnosed with Crohn’s disease in 2011, Yusefzadeh began various treatments and medications, all of which had various negative side effects on his body and health. Seeking a side-effect-free way to treat his condition, Yusefzadeh decided to try cannabis. But being a former chef and healthy eater in general, he was disappointed with the selection of edibles normally available in dispensaries.
“Everything I was finding was just really poor quality food, there was nothing exciting, nothing thoughtful, nothing I could tell where the ingredients were sourced, it was just very synthetic, artificial coloring, artificial flavoring,” said Yusefzadeh, “It really sunk in that this was my opportunity to create something to help myself, so I tried a few edibles just to try to understand what the effects would be, what it would do for my body, and eventually I just started making my own at home.”
Yusefzadeh chose ice cream as his dish of choice out of a love for both the dessert and the comfort he feels it brings to people.
“It’s really something that nourishes your soul, I think everyone associates it with a treat, with being a kid,” said Yusefzadeh. “I think that for a food to have that positive effect while you’re going through something difficult and for it to be delicious, local, and help you with your rest and balancing your nausea, it’s a win all-around.”
When selecting ingredients, he is dedicated to using one hundred percent natural and sustainably sourced ingredients and works together with local farmers to use excess crops in his ice cream creation. Though most of Cloud Creamery’s flavors will be year-round, Yusefzadeh plans on making seasonal flavors from crops that are available at different times in the year, such as an apple flavor in September and October and a Butternut Squash flavor in October and November.
Two of Cloud Creamery’s summer flavors are Blueberry Sweet Corn and Tomato Sorbet. Blueberry Sweet Corn is a blueberry and sweet corn flavored ice cream mixed with sweet corn kernels, while the Tomato Sorbet is a smoother flavor made from fresh local tomatoes.
Right now, Cloud Creamery is still in its seed funding round, which Yusefzadeh has financed himself. The company is currently in talks with investors, attempting to find an interested party that will fit its image of a sustainable health and wellness cannabis company. So far, Cloud Creamery has only served its ice cream at private events, though it received its permit to sell to dispensaries in early September. It is not planning to sell directly to customers in the future, citing difficulties with acquiring a permit to do so.
This is because Cloud Creamery’s ice cream does not just include CBD. Many flavors also include THC, a valuable ingredient to the company’s product due to the stimulating effect the cannabinoid has on appetite, something often impacted by auto-immune diseases. However, Yusefzadeh wants to clarify that the ice cream won’t necessarily make you feel “totally stoned”.
“It’s not as black or white as being high or not, there are different strengths, there are different strains that have different effects,” said Yusefzadeh, “The reality of being able to microdose, of being able to consume small amounts throughout my day to keep inflammation down for some of my Crohn’s disease, has really improved my life.”
Cloud Creamery undoubtedly has a big stigma to face: Many still don’t believe in the medical benefits of marijuana, and as a result, medical marijuana patients often face disbelief and ostracization. However, the company doesn’t intend to let this stigma get in the way of its progress. Cloud Creamery is currently launching its product line to local dispensaries, which will be the first time the company begins selling B2B. It is working on multiple licensing agreements in different states as well as in Canada.
“We’re really excited to be a part of this movement, it’s challenging to be in the space this early but we’re really excited about being able to do those items,” said Yusefzadeh.
Image courtesy of Cloud Creamery.
This article was originally posted on americaninno.com
