Today we’d like to introduce you to Kayla Fearing
Hi Kayla, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
I’ve always been taught that Cannabis was medicine. That plant and natural medicines were always superior to man made pharmaceauticals. Long time believer, but never used as a teenager, or young adut until I had too. I was raised by a single father who was a small business owner, Veteran, and a Cannabis Ethusiast. I grew up loving sports, science, and the outdoors; This led me to leave high school with 12 Varisty letters, one knee surgery, and a D1 Scholarship offer to the University of Minnesotas Softball Team.
During my second practice, in the first week of October 2008, I slipped on wet grass during warm up “killers,” at 5am- that slip ruined my softball career and put me on the path to opioids. For over a YEAR, I walked on a broken ankle, that was misdiagnosed on that October morning as a “high ankle sprain,” when in reality, there was an entire chip broke off my bone. In January of 2010, I slipped again, on a curb and finally broke my ankle completely- leading to emergency surgey to add a steel plate, and nine screws and/or pins to keep my ankle intact. That hardware came with sides of opioid painkillers.
Within hours of being discharged, I was getting sick from the opioids. My father, seeing me in pain and sick, introduced me to cannabis as medicine, right then and there, with a Volcano Bag of Vaporized Cannabis. It was instant relief. I had my appetite back, I had my emotions back. I felt like I was properly healing. That led me to becoming a cannabis user at 19.
From 19 to 29, I worked in healthcare being a closet stoner- I’d clock out and as soon as I got home, I’d be medicating with cannabis. I traveled to legal states on vacations and befriended folks who were local growers and processors. I got to learn so much about cannabis even when it was “illegal.” Those conversations led me to meeting my partner in the fall of 2019, who was from the Legal State of Michigan.
From Sep 2019 to May 2020 we were a long distance couple- I would travel to Michigan once a month to see my boyfriend, and sample Michigan Cannabis dispensairies. I loved him, and I loved the dispensaries, however I was working my dream career in Physical Therapy at the time, so I wasn’t ready to move away, I was still content working a 9-6pm clinic job, and smoking cannabis at night before bed..
May 26th, 2020 I was unlawfully fired from my healthcare jobafter sharing an opinion on facebook about police brutaility, and the unjust murder of George Floyd. I was told while being terminated that “I was a liability as a healthcare worker for having an opinion on a civil rights matter.” I heart was broken. My car got packed. I moved to Ann Arbor, Michigan the next day.
I ran away to Michigan because Minnesota broke my heart- Michigan welcomed me with love… well, atleast their cannabis industry did.
I worked for a physical therapy clinci for two weeks in Michigan before I quit- I hated the culture of healthcare in Michigan. Felt very “for profit,” an atmosphere I didn’t experience much in Minnesotas clinics. I needed money (and wanted free weed) so I also applied part time at a dispensary called “Skymint.”
Within two weeks, I quit the PT Clinic, and went full time at Skymint. We held a recreational, and medical cannabis license, so we had a lot of different customers walk thru the door; They were all patients, by definition, first. Folks were coming in for Sleep Issues, Anxiety Issues, Pain, ect… all medical issues. Not just “for fun.” Even if they were shopping “recreationally,” 95% of customers were buying cannabis products for a medical issue. I was easily transitioned into a “Consultant,” over a cashier.
I worked for Skyment for nine months before leaving and going to another dispensary which was privately owned, and more active, called “The Greenhouse of Walled Lake.” I loved it. The Greenhouse showed me what the true cannabis culture of Michigan was really like- not the tourism traffic that was Ann Arbor dispensary clientel.
The Greenhouse was in a more conservative, “anti weed” county of Michigan, but about 40 min west of Detroit. We averaged around 1200 visitors a day from 9am to 9pm. We had ages 18 (Med card holders) to 98. It was a beautiful stretch of different patients, and different reasons for visiting and using cannabis that day. I felt like I was working back in a medical clinic setting again.
Consulting with patients, and holding up the line at my register started to become a problem, so my mamagers would suggest I take patients into a side area of the dispensary that only sold CBD products; giving me a more private space, and more time, to teach patients about cannabis products.
In July of 2021, I launched “Healing Fear Consulting,” in Michigan, and Minnesota. I offered patient consulting services to folks looking to learn more about cannabis products. My first few patients in Michigan, were little old ladies I’d get coffee with, talk, and then go shopping at a local dispensary together. I got, “oh! Is this your grandmother?” pretty often at first… then the patients started speaking up- “No- she’s my cannabis healthcare consultant. She helps me shop.” I had found my personal niche in the Cannabis Industry… I was able to combine my love of healthcare, cannabis and socialization into one career.
Minnesota’s first patients were my friends parents on facebook messenger, and other quick electronic messages. It was like the friends parents who had watched me grow up- now, asking me for medical advice so they could be around for my bestfriends kids, their grandkids, for years to come- I felt empowered and was happy to help Minnesotans get the medicines they were looking for.
January of 2022, I relocated to Illinois with my partner for his job. Illinois cannabis was TRASH. It was all corporate, and didn’t support the craft farmer. Very opposite of what I had just experienced in Michigan’s cannabis industry. Even applying for jobs in cannabis was so different than in Michigan- there, my medical knowledge was appreciated. In illinois, it was shunned. This led me to pick up my recruiting for Healing Fear Consulting- I’d attend local healthfairs, and pass out my business card to locals. I got very few responses- but I got some that were very meaningful. I also learned more and more about Cannabinoids during this time. I was self teaching through online articles, and books from the Lake County Library. However, come October of 2022, my partners job was moving him, again, to MAINE, and I felt that if I was going to move to any “northern” state during the winter, it was going to be back to my home state of Minnesota.
I returned to Minnesota the second week of October 2022, just in time to attend the Legacy Cup at Minneapolis Cider Co. (I believe it was the third ever Legacy Cup). It was refreshing to come home and see a packed, wall to wall venue with Cannabis fans, and those interested in learning more. I felt very optimistic, and was excited to become involved with true legalization.
During the winter, in preperation for the 2023 Legislation Session, I attended any community forum I saw advertised on Cannabis Legalization for Minnesota- all, while still consulting with patients via video chats, and now, local coffee chats with my Minnesota patients, I was taking those conversations with patients, and bringing them to local leaders attention. I realized quickly that patients has strong opinions on what they wanted out of cannabis legalization, but, weren’t always sure how to share those thoughts with the people making the laws- I wanted to figure out who made the laws.
I ended up attending every HF 100 Committee as well as almost every SF73 committee in the 2023 Legislation Session. I felt completely out of place around the Capitol, but, “someone had to be there,” I felt for my patients. This led me to meeting lobbyists, stakeholders, brands, growers, more patients and politicians all involved in Minnesotas legalization.
During this entire session, I was reminded over and over that Minesota did not have a Cannabis Caregivers program states like Michigan, or Maine, had. I wanted that for Minnesota and for the patients I worked with through Healing Fear Consulting.
During HF 100 committees I became a fan of Representative Jess Hanson from Burnsville. She was a strong cannabis and patient advocate. I asked Rep. Hanson if she’d carry a Caregiver Bill for me in the 2024 session.
During the legislative break, I worked on meeting patients, and working with craft growers in Minnesota developing what our standards would be for a Minnesota Caregiver Program. I held community meetings, and google doc forms to collect data.
In Febuaray of 2024, our Caregiver Bill, HF3766 was the first cannabis bill of session to leave the revisors office. Over session, we were heard in a few committees and ended up passing by being combined with HF4757. July 1, 2024 Minnesotans who were a Minnesota Medical Patients Caregiver could grow their patients eight homegrow plants, plus, their eight plants, totaling 16 plants total. It was a huge victory for a small step in improving Minnesotas Medical Program.
To celebrate the victory, I co hosted the (now annual) MN Growers Ball, at the historic Wabasha Street Caves. It was a night celebrating anti prohibitionists, and a formal event allowing craft growers and patients to mingle amongst each other.
Now, in 2025 I’ve been working hard in my third, going on fourth year of Healing Fear Consulting, on establishing more patients who are new to cannabis. I’ve been working with new moms, active service members, and nursing homes to try and incorporate cannabis as medicine. Also, as of October 2024, I am an active Pharmacy Technician.
I truly believe that there is a “Cannabinoid for every body,” and everyone can benefit from using cannabinoid products. After years in healthcare, I also believe patients should have the choice of plant and/or more natural medicines to heal.
I’m hoping my one women advocacy for patients, and plant medicine can continue to make a mark on Minnesota, and the Midwest’s Cannabis industry for years to come. I promise I can be your new best friend in HealTHCare.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
It’s not always been easy- It isn’t now! 🙂
Patient Consulting doesn’t pay well, due to no federal legalization- I can’t take health insurance, and every service I offer is unfournately self pay for patients. It’s a double ended sword; I want to help patients, but I’d like to make some profit at one point. For now, the job pays me with experience.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about Healing Fear Consulting?
Healing Fear Consulting is a One Women Patient Consulting business. We specialize in Cannabinoid Education, and Patient Education of Cannabinoid Products derived from Cannabis and Hemp. We offer one on one consultations, video consultations, as well as small group classes. I’m unique in offering resources from multiple midwest states, primarily Minnesota, Michigan and Illinois, a well as knowing the different laws between the midwest for cannabis patients. I could be considered a cannabis patient travel guide to some extent.
Three Proud Moments of Healing Fear Consulting;
– Being selected as one of Michigans Top Budtenders, and attending the First Ever Budtenders Ball, in Detroit MI in 2022.
– Releasing an eBook, “So, you wanna get high?” on Amazon, Winter of 2024.
– Writing, Lobbying, and getting PASSED a Minnesota Cannabis Caregivers Law in the 2024 Session.
– Hosting the First MN Growers Ball, LLC at the Historic Wabasha Street Caves in June of 2024.
What has been the most important lesson you’ve learned along your journey?
Be Genuine- you’re not gong to get rich in Cannabis in the Midwest… YET. Just be yourself, and if your mission statement is being fufilled everyday, then youre running a proper business. The best form of marketing… Doesn’t feel like marketing.
I’ve never been overwhelmed, and I’ve never been underwhelmed while running Healing Fear Consulting, and I really enjoy having a business that’s ran that way.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.healingfearconsulting.com
- Instagram: @healingfearconsult
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HealingFearConsulting
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/healingfearconsulting/
- Twitter: @healingfear420
- Other: https://www.amazon.com/Opioids-Cannabinoids-You-Wanna-High-ebook/dp/B0CRQNVMFM
