When we talk about the hemp industry, it's easy to get lost in the legal battles, state regulations, and corporate giants attempting to seize control. But behind each small hemp business is a human story—a story of passion, healing, and resilience. These stories are the lifeblood of the Missouri hemp industry, and today, we want to tell Jamie and Sean Turner’s story to show just how deeply our members care about what they do and why we must protect our industry from being erased by corporate interests.
Jamie and Sean Turner, owners of Grateful Headz in Dexter, Missouri, took a leap of faith in 2021, diving headfirst into the hemp industry. As Jamie recalls, “The hemp industry kind of found me.” Neither of them planned to enter this space, but an opportunity arose, and they seized it. Sean, seeking a way out of his job as a river barge mate, wanted something closer to home. Together, they opened Grateful Headz during the height of the Delta-8 boom, and even though they were new to the world of hemp, their determination to succeed was unwavering.
For Jamie, hemp became more than just a business; it became her personal path to healing. Suffering from Lyme disease, hypothyroidism, and Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS), she knew the dangers of relying on prescription medications. “I’ve spent my entire life hating drugs and alcohol,” she says, pointing to a family history of addiction that made her wary of pharmaceuticals. Hemp provided the relief she needed without the fear of dependency. Through tinctures, edibles, creams, and smoking, Jamie found a way to manage her pain naturally.
Her healing journey wasn’t just personal—her customers began to benefit as well. Jamie recalls one moving example: “I remember back when I first opened my store, we had an entire family coming in to purchase these little D8 chocolates that they gave to their mom/grandma who was in a nursing home with dementia. She had lost so much weight that it was literally killing her... After taking the chocolate, she ate food again.” Stories like this fuel Jamie and Sean’s commitment to their community, driving them to keep going despite the challenges they face.
At Grateful Headz, Jamie and Sean don’t just sell products—they offer education, empathy, and personalized care. Jamie says it best: “At my hemp dispensary, you can come in and cry, and I’ll listen to you. I’ll educate every person who asks about my products and send them out the door with something that I think will actually help them.” In an industry often driven by profit, Jamie and Sean prioritize the well-being of their customers. It’s this personal touch that sets Missouri’s small hemp businesses apart from corporate marijuana dispensaries, where interactions are often sterile and rushed.
But now, Missouri’s hemp industry is under siege. Multistate marijuana operators, backed by corporate money, are pushing for regulations that could crush small businesses like Grateful Headz. Jamie is candid about the fear they face: “I’m afraid the dispensaries will keep coming for us, and we just don’t have the money they do to fight.”
Despite these challenges, Jamie and Sean remain committed to their mission. “These challenges have honestly just made me stick to my guns and keep me on my toes,” Jamie says. “I practice what I preach. Not many can say the same.” Their resilience is a testament to the strength and dedication of Missouri’s hemp community—a community that cares deeply about the people they serve.
Jamie and Sean Turner’s story is just one of many within the Missouri hemp industry, an industry built on passion, healing, and the desire to make a difference. They aren’t corporate bad actors looking to exploit the system. They are real people, with real stories, helping their communities one customer at a time.
We must protect our industry—an industry made up of people like Jamie and Sean, who believe in the power of natural, hemp-derived relief. “I will do whatever it takes to protect it and tell people my story,” Jamie says. “If I can do it, anyone can.”
As the fight for Missouri’s hemp industry continues, we ask you to stand with us. When you support local hemp businesses, you’re not just buying a product—you’re supporting real people with real passion. Let’s keep the heart of hemp alive.
Stand with Missouri Hemp
It’s no secret that the marijuana industry is spending millions buying regulations that will eliminate the competition from small businesses like Grateful Headz. In fact, marijuana companies have spent over $10 million this year alone to push regulations that threaten the very existence of Missouri’s hemp industry. It’s not just our words—Forbes recently reported on the governor’s acceptance of contributions from the marijuana sector and the subsequent attempt to ban all hemp derivatives.
We need your help to fight back. Join the Missouri Hemp Trade Association (MHTA) and become a member today. Your membership supports our efforts to defend the rights of small hemp businesses and ensure that Missouri residents continue to have access to safe, natural, hemp-derived products.
Consider making a donation to help us protect our industry. Every dollar goes toward fighting for the future of hemp in Missouri, standing up to corporate interests, and making sure that stories like Jamie and Sean’s are not erased. Together, we can keep Missouri’s hemp industry thriving.
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