My CBD Journey......
Dara focused and ready to go!

My CBD Journey......

I have received so much support and interest since I announced my role as Chief Lifestyle & Wellness Officer and investor in the CBD company, CaniBrands (www.canibrands.com). With the influx of questions and congratulations from friends and family, I quickly realized that there is still a cloud of confusion around CBD vs. Cannabis. This confusion and lack of real education is what motivated me to work with CaniBrands as they were the only company I spoke with that actually was interested in providing information to the consumer, not just selling product. 

Cannabidiol or CBD is a legal, non-intoxicating component of the cannabis plant with enormous therapeutic potential. Although CBD is still in the early stages of scientific research and clinical trials, there is increasing evidence that CBD offers a range of options to assist with the relief of stress, anxiety, and inflammation, an underlying cause of muscular discomfort, and joint pain. I personally use CaniBrands CBD products for workout recovery, post-surgery pain management and sleep. CBD is a clean, all natural, plant-based remedy that supports the body’s natural ability to regulate and heal. 

Maybe I should go backward before I move forward. I have always been an advocate for clean, all natural options in sports and I have focused on participating in every aspect of keeping swimming and the Olympics just that, clean. In 2007-08 I participated with USADA and Travis Tygart the executive director of the organization in the most advanced testing program available at the time. That included blood and urine samples. As I knew coming back and breaking records at 40 years old after having my daughter Tessa was going to cause a stir. Odd how that works while the sports world celebrates Jack Nicklaus’ green jacket in his 40s, Nolan Ryan throwing a no hitter in his 40s, etc. But anyway, that is a discussion for another time… 

My commitment to using CBD came very organically to be honest. I have endured a lot of surgeries and post-surgical pain, inflammation and just general aches and pains of being a 50 year old mom who works out a lot. I am opposed to taking pain meds as I am always nervous about becoming fuzzy and the stories about easy addiction scared me. After trying probably many different brands of CBD products, I was told about CaniBrands by a good friend and my former training mentor Andy O’brien (who has since become CaniBrands’ Sport Science Advisor). Andy is a trusted friend and one of the reasons why I won 3 silver medals at the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games as a 41 year old mother.  

This trial of CaniBrands really gave me relief. I was unsure if it was just my body feeling better over time or the products. So I stopped using the products for a week and I realized it was in fact the CaniBrands that were giving me relief. Relief isn’t a cure. It’s a relief. It gave me comfort and confidence I could get on with my day-to-day life feeling good knowing I have a lot to do and couldn’t spend much time focused on why I needed relief just that I achieved it for long stretches with the CaniBrand products. I was amazed at how well it worked for me and immediately wanted to share it with others. Being a woman in my 50s dealing with natural aches and pains of age really began to weigh on me. Finding a plant-based product line like CaniBrands really gave me my confidence back.

This success led to several conversations with the great people at CaniBrands about their mission, their vision and what my goals were moving forward. As I often tell people the 3 pillars of my life are, What do you put in your body, What do you do to your body, and How you recover! CaniBrands was a perfect fit in my healthy active lifestyle. As part of our discussions we talked about me possibly becoming an equity partner. I shared that I had done this several times in the supplement industry only to lose my money and ultimately get burned. So I was very apprehensive. CaniBrands spent so much time providing an overview of how massive the CBD market is and how fast it is growing. How regulations in many states are being discussed to potentially open up opportunities and how many of the largest retailers in the world are now carrying CBD products.  

I started to really get excited. I decided that not only did I want to help educate the world on the power of CBD’s but also how CaniBrands was an early stage company with massive potential and I decided I wanted to become a vested equity partner. It was such an incredible feeling. I love being part of a team. Especially an underdog! The senior management of CaniBrands are so good, so patient and so dedicated to creating a lifestyle brand that has the potential to be the next great CPG company globally.

I am many things, a mom, an Olympian, an author, etc. I am not a stock broker or investment analysis. I can only share my passion and commitment to CaniBrands. I see this as the early stages of an industry that will redefine pain and inflammation management and provide relief to millions of people around the world.  

I hope my story inspires you to take your own journey learning about CBD’s and hopefully CaniBrands (www.canibrands.com) . Feel free to DM me as I can only share my truth and if I don’t have an answer for you, I will definitely get an expert to provide you information that might help you change your life forever or get involved with one of the best companies I have ever worked with!

If my story has impacted you in a way that encourages you to have me come speak with your company or group, pls let me know or for any other business inquiries contact evan@pmgsports.com

 

 

 

 

Margaret Zanel, MBA, ICD.D

Partner, Strategy and Leadership | Board Director | Entrepreneur | Coach |

4y

Continually setting the bar higher than all and being a role model woman, entrepreneur, olympian, leader, and mom!  We are so thrilled to have you on this journey with us! 

Evan Morgenstein

Founder and CEO of The Digital Renegades/The Food Renegades + CelebExperts. Consulted on ground-breaking celebrity + influencer brand deals. Investor: Azuna Fresh.

4y

Love it Dara.  Again leading the way.   To be the first Olympic gold medalist to share their story about how CBDs help you is bold.  But then i expect nothing less from you.   You are amazing!

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