Bud & Mary's operates as a multi-state cannabis company with cultivation, formulation, packaging, and dispensary operations across Iowa, Michigan, Colorado, Missouri, and Illinois. Their products are available in over 700 dispensaries, making them a significant player in the Midwest cannabis market.The company's diverse product portfolio includes four distinct brands: Bud & Mary's premium flower and pre-rolls, Batch Extracts (featuring vapes, cartridges, and concentrates), NUO wellness-focused tinctures and topicals, and TheMyx water-soluble THC powder. Batch vapes have become particularly popular, ranking as the top-selling brand in Colorado for 2020-2021 and trending as Iowa's most popular medical cannabis product.Their cultivation follows Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) compliance with top-tier cultivars and cutting-edge research capabilities. Each product is developed using a pharmaceutical approach to cannabis science, focusing on molecular-level understanding with zero harmful additives and strain-specific formulations. The company maintains direct control over the entire supply chain, ensuring consistent quality from seed to sale while offering both medical and recreational products where legally permitted.
Bud & Mary's cannabis legacy begins with R.W. "Bud" and Mary Nelson, who founded Kemin Industries in a vacant wool barn in Des Moines, Iowa, in 1961. With five children under seven and an entrepreneurial spirit, they built a global ingredient manufacturing company that would later pave the way for their family's entry into cannabis.In 2017, their grandson Lucas Nelson launched MedPharm Iowa, becoming Iowa's first licensed medical marijuana manufacturer and distributor. The company rebranded to Bud & Mary's in 2022 as it expanded beyond Iowa into Colorado, Michigan, and Missouri. Key milestones include earning the first GMP (Good Manufacturing Practices) certification for a U.S. cannabis facility and obtaining a rare DEA Schedule I research license through subsidiary MedPharm Research.This third-generation family business leverages decades of plant science expertise from Kemin Industries, applying pharmaceutical-grade molecular understanding to cannabis cultivation and extraction. Today, Bud & Mary's operates across multiple states with a clear mission: using scientific innovation to create superior cannabis products while honoring their grandparents' legacy of transforming lives through plant-based solutions.
Bud & Mary's mission centers on delivering the best cannabis experience through high-quality, science-driven products. As a multi-generational family company, they prioritize customers' wants and needs while pushing the boundaries of innovation through cannabis research.Their core values revolve around being empathetic, expert, and a source of value for consumers. The company is dedicated to understanding cannabis at a molecular level, with particular focus on how cannabinoids can address neurological diseases like Alzheimer's and dementia through their anti-inflammatory properties.Beyond product excellence, Bud & Mary's actively engages with over 50 social impact partners to enhance community well-being, promote cannabis social equity, and foster positive change in their operating communities. Their overarching philosophy: "Wellness Redefined" – taking a pharmaceutical approach to crafting premium cannabis brands designed for every individual while maintaining their family values and commitment to transforming lives.
What sets Bud & Mary's apart in the crowded cannabis market is their rare combination of scientific rigor and genuine family heritage. Unlike many cannabis companies with unclear ownership structures, this is transparently a third-generation family business with over 60 years of plant science expertise backing every product decision.Their DEA Schedule I research license and GMP certification demonstrate a commitment to pharmaceutical-grade standards that most cannabis companies simply can't match. For deal-seekers on Calm Effect, this translates to consistently reliable products that deliver on their promises. The Batch vape line's dominance in multiple state markets proves their formulations work – these aren't just marketing claims.With presence in over 700 dispensaries across five states, Bud & Mary's offers accessibility and reliability that smaller brands can't provide. Their transparent approach to business, combined with genuine innovation in areas like water-soluble THC powder, makes them a brand we confidently recommend to our Calm Effect community seeking quality and value.