The memory of one of rock ‘n’ roll’s most iconic frontmen lives on today. On August 1—what would have been Jerry Garcia’s 80th birthday—Jerry Garcia Wellness was announced, with a variety of CBD wellness products derived from hemp.
The company is making every effort to ensure that each and every piece of packaging is plastic-free, down to the individual packaging components, and is a licensed partner of Jerry Garcia Music Arts, LLC., directed by Jerry’s daughter Keelin Garcia. . It comes at a time when the industry must face up its plastic problem.
Jerry Garcia Wellness Tinctures.
Photo courtesy of Jerry Garcia Wellness.
Jerry Garcia Wellness recruited Cameron Keluche, founder of KelSie Biotech, to act as head of product development. KelSie Biotech is known in the industry as the developer of some of the most effective CBD products and brands, with patent rights pending for the processes involved in drying bubbles, a sublingual wafer and dry powder inhalable products.
Bobby Brahms is the founder and CEO of Jerry Garcia Wellness. “One of the things I’ve learned through this process, and it’s a multi-year process, is to learn first-hand information from the family,” says Brahms. “So Chris McCutcheon is on our team. And Chris worked for Bob Weir, Jerry Garcia and is a member of Jerry Garcia’s extension. After 25 years, it’s kind of a bummer that he’s the historian and the main narrator But, you know, after working with this band for 25 years, many of which Jerry was in, we just learned a lot about what a strong supporter of cannabis he was.
Brahms scoured and examined all available Grateful Dead iconography and spent a day at one of the largest collectors of original Jerry Garcia art. Beyond music, Jerry was a prolific visual artist and painted up to 4,000 paintings throughout his life. So Brahms was invited to look at the signatures on those paintings. Finally, he settled on a particular signature that meant well-being, happiness, joy, an image that truly represented Jerry.
Jerry Garcia Wellness CEO Bobby Brahms.
Photo courtesy of Bobby Brahms.
“It’s an honor to work on this 100% organic, plastic-free CBD project started by Jerry Garcia Wellness,” said Keelin, president of Jerry Garcia Music Arts, LLC. “We appreciate the dedication the company has taken to ensure every aspect of the project is in line with what Dad believed in and supported. We are excited to honor him on his 80th birthday by sharing this wellness CBD program natural with his fans.”
Keelin’s half-sister Trixie helped spearhead a similar effort, Garcia Hand Picked, though the two efforts are not related. McCutcheon worked with Weir and others for years, including running the music studio he opened a decade ago.
“It’s great that Jerry Garcia Wellness is announcing its debut in the CBD market on what would have been Garcia’s 80th birthday,” added Jerry Garcia Foundation Board Member Chris McCutcheon, a member of the Grateful Dead’s extended family. “The company-wide mission serves as a tribute to Garcia’s fans by breathing new life into his vision.”
Jerry Garcia Wellness CBD Oli Salve.
Photo courtesy of Jerry Garcia Wellness.
CBD is good if and only if it is grown responsibly and processed by people who meet the strict guidelines of the US Department of Agriculture.
“Most of the CBD products you see on the market today are made with hemp seed oil,” Brahms said, referring to the sketchy products you can find at places like gas stations. “And this is a product that costs you $5 for a 50-gallon drum!”
Brahms added that typical off-the-shelf CBD products may contain unwanted additives such as MCT oil. “That’s why we only source USDA-certified hemp CBD.”
“I committed to everything being 100% plastic and petroleum rubber free,” says Brahms. “So it’s taken me quite a while to develop plastic-free packaging, and think about it: look around you. I don’t know where you’re sitting in your office, or where you’re sitting,” but you’re unlikely to avoid plastic entirely in any given environment.
Jerry Garcia Wellness CBD Gummies.
Photo courtesy of Jerry Garcia Wellness.
Since Jerry Garcia Wellness includes hemp-derived products, the company will not be limited by state-sanctioned cannabis regulations. Brahms said his team will develop a line of what’s called Jerry’s Greens, which caters to larger retail outlets, which may want less than the legal CBD limit. “We aim to be in major retailers like CVS, Whole Foods, Walgreens and even Walmart, he says. The company will donate a portion of its profits to charities run by Jerry’s family.