Ozark Mountain Green inspired by faith to create pharmaceutical grade products

Ozark Mountain Green is cultivation and infused product manufacturer licensee applicant based out of Shell Knob in Southwest Missouri. Led by Joan Hunt and Heath and Heather Andres, Ozark Mountain Green is a faith-based family operation.

The operation plans to start with a variety of strains and narrow their grow to the strains that grow the best and have the “most medicinal impact for the patients.” They will begin growing, if licensed by the state, with 5-7 unique, proprietary strains.

“We aim to be the premier craft cannabis company in Missouri,” Hunt said.

Heath said their indoor grow will grow to scale, hoping to eventually reach the maximum capacity of up to 30,000 sq. feet of canopy.

“I’m excited to maximize each license that we have,” Heath said. “This is about making this accessible to the patients who need this product.”

Heather said one thing that pharmaceutical companies have done well is producing a clean, quality product, which is why they chose an indoor grow, hoping to increase quality to produce a pharmaceutical-grade product but keep it in its natural form.

“We want to use medicinal herbs, and not just something that smells good,” Heather said. “There are a lot of products out there that can be used in natural ways. We want to utilize everything that God has given us. We have partnered with some incredible individuals who are knowledgeable about medicinal herbs.”

They will grow and flash process products, packaged under the Ozark Mountain Green Brand.

The company looks forward to the impact the operation will have on their small community.

“We want to benefit the community by providing jobs,” Heather said. Shell Knob has a large tourist economy in the summer, but Heather said that during the winter, it’s harder for the area and even restaurants shut down. “We’re really excited to not only impact patients but make a focused local impact. We really love this area, it’s full of really kind people. We feel blessed.”

Ozark Mountain Green has done extensive outreach in their local community, joining the local chamber and gaining the support of the community.

“You would be stunned by how many people have embraced us, supported us – we’ve just been overwhelmed by the support,” Hunt said.

Hunt said their operation is focused on serving patients by providing relief from conditions.

“As children of God, our goal is to help people be a thriving asset to their families and communities,” Hunt said. “We are a faith-based organization.” Hunt references cannabis as one of the healing oils of the Old Testament. “Cannabis has been in the Bible since the very beginning.”

   

Hunt’s son, Heath, said their faith-based goals are to increase research and promote cannabis in the correct context.

“God created the heavens and the earth – and everything in them,” Heath said. “Everything has a purpose and is to be used within its context. It will take a lot of research, a lot of educating, but I believe we’re on the path to that goal.”

Ozark Mountain Green is not the only faith-based cannabis operation in the United States. Hunt points to other operations around the country, including a nun-run cultivation center that has made headlines throughout the last years. Hunt said the nuns pray over the plants that they will be used for healing and as an alternative to harmful medicines and habits.

The operation plans to do a groundbreaking ahead of licensing, currently working to clear the land in preparation for their build-out.

“We’re very excited about moving forward and we’re expecting to receive those licenses,” Hunt said. “We believe that this is a path that we’re supposed to go down.”

“We are really determined and feel very passionately about this,” Heather said. “We understand that there is a possibility that we don’t get a license – we will keep moving forward. We are for the patients.”

At the end of the day, Ozark Mountain Green wants patients to know that when they see their logo, that is a brand they can trust. “There’s a lot of scary things out there,” Heather said. “We want to be a responsible and trusted company.”

The idea of Ozark Mountain Green started with Heath and Heather, who brought in Hunt.

“We went to our first meeting and our first conference and I honestly didn’t know what to expect,” Hunt said. “At the same time, I was pretty excited about it. I was excited about the opportunity. We have the ability to make a difference. I said, ‘Ok, but if we’re going to do this, we’re going to go all the way.’ We were on board.”

“For me, as CEO and owner, Ozark Mountain Green is here to help its patients through medical marijuana,” Hunt said.

They got to work quickly after Amendment 2 passed on crafting their business plan, bringing in their past professional experiences. Hunt previously worked as a national sales manager for a promotional products company out of California, standing on many years in marketing. Heath and Heather have managed and owned their own small businesses.

“While we were performing all of these jobs for others, we saw a need in the community,” Heather said. “We saw first-hand people finding relief through medical marijuana. That’s where it started, from the need.”