Medical Marijuana Patient Perspectives

Don Wiseman

Over the past year in the Massachusetts cannabis market, I have spearheaded key initiatives, produced elevated content, and led a Brand Ambassador group of 145 members. My experience includes managing social media projects like the “LGBTQIA Industry Interview Series,” the “Women’s History Month Series” (twice), and serving as a judge for the Greenskeeper Cup. I am now the Retail Marketing Manager for Liberty Cannabis, overseeing marketing efforts for their three Massachusetts locations, with a strong focus on inclusion and diversity.

Duncan Markovich (Better Ways LLC)

Duncan is the co-founder and owner of Better Ways LLC, a small business-owned cannabis health and wellness store established in 2019 on Main Street in Branford, CT, his hometown. He holds a BA in International Studies and a minor in Spanish from Western New England University and an MBA in Sustainability from Marylhurst University.

The bedrock for Better Ways has always been focused on educating the community and beyond about many things including the benefits and cautions around cannabis, the utter importance of sourcing, creating a healthy atmosphere for trust and rapport with those already using cannabis for its benefits or for those interested in learning more about it, and the landscape of dynamic cannabis laws, regulations, and licensing effecting the New England area, which ultimately impacts quality and trust in this industry and those seeking effective and safe cannabis.

As a Connecticut Shoreline Chamber of Commerce Member, Better Ways has respectfully earned the titles of First Place for Connecticut’s Best on the Shoreline – Best Alternative Medicine, Hemp / CBD Store in 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, and is awaiting the announcement for 2024’s results this October.

Outside of Branford, Duncan spends time in Hartford, Massachusetts, New York, Rhode Island, Maine, and Washington DC to volunteer, participate, and speak at many cannabis community-sponsored and centric events such as the Boston Freedom Rally, Extravaganja, XpoCanna, NECANN, Croptoberfest and beyond.  The intention has always been to support the event organizers to foster growth for these experiences that support the community and plant safely and educationally.

It was after suffering from a significant surgical complication in 2010 from his 4th open heart surgery and recovering that Duncan began his journey into experiencing the medicinal benefits of plant-based medicine, especially how cannabis helps with post-opiate detox and neuropathy. Through those life-altering experiences and beyond, he began to truly understand and embody the benefits that come with well-sourced and safe cannabis.

Through Better Ways, Duncan hopes to continue to advocate that – through a genuine dedication to the plant and its community, taking heed to all those who fought the good fight before to blaze the very trail we stand on today, being mindful there is a place in this emerging industry for all and to speak out against heinous regulatory capture tactics scourging the cannabis space, educating legislators about the many safe, sensible, responsible, and diplomatic pathways to empower the cannabis community and therefore think more objectively about this plant – these are just some of the litany of responsibilities those of us operating in this industry should truly keep sharply in focus.