NAVY SEAL GROW EXPERT

TURNED BY THOMAS MARSHALL

Home cultivation of recreational and alternate therapy plants is not as easy as adding it to your garden or sunroom. Whether a beginning or skilled horticulturist, the Grow Depot has all the products you’ll need. Lights, nutrients, tents, soil and custom set ups. Their philosophy is “From Seed to Success.”

The home cultivator often needs a lot of consultation too. That’s where former Navy SEAL, Adam Dobbins, a growing expert, and his wife, Cheryl come in.

We’ve learned a lot on this journey to produce the right product for a client’s needs,” explains Dobbins. “We transfer to our customers the knowledge and experience my employees and I have with all the products we carry. That’s what we’re trying to do right now; educate our clientele. As an added service, we will come to your place and look at your conditions and help you in every stage of your grow process.”

Dobbins recounted his early life, mentioning his brief college experience before joining the Navy. During his time as a Navy SEAL, he faced a parachute accident that resulted in a broken back, setting him on a challenging road to recovery. With various ailments from the accident and a recent ACL reconstruction, his story reflects the physical and mental trials that veterans often endure.

“I got out of the military on a medical discharge. I have ailments now that I was first treating with a lot of alcohol and cannabis improperly,” said Dobbins. “I don’t drink anymore. I’ve learned a lot with the usage and am now able to transfer my knowledge over directly to my employees and customers. We are trying to do pain management the right way.”

After his medical discharge, he embraced the world of education and entrepreneurship. Dobbins attended Old Dominion University and Tidewater Community College to earn an AA degree in business, and a BA in political science and spanish.

“After I graduated in 200 , I was working in and out jobs that my body would allow me because of my accident and all my ailments,” said Dobbins.

A pivotal moment in Dobbins’ journey came when a close friend and Navy buddy contracted Lou Gehrig’s disease, also known as ALS. He vividly described how witnessing his friend’s battle with the debilitating illness and its effect on his mental and physical well-being deeply affected him. His friend found relief and comfort in alternative therapy, which had a positive impact on his overall quality of life.

“He asked me to get him some cannabis.” said Dobbins. “I saw how it helped. I mean, he was on Valium, and all this other pharmaceutical stuff. He was dying. But when he was doing cannabis, he was like himself, minus the ailments. Unfortunately, he passed away while I was on deployment.”

Motivated by the need for alternative therapies and fueled by the changing legal landscape, Dobbins knew it was time to venture into the home cultivation industry. His initial plan was to create a one-stop shop for home cultivation, catering to the needs of a wide range of customers while navigating a very complex regulatory environment.

“We are now overstocked compared to other stores in the area in addition to more floor space that we can utilize for classes and events.” explains Dobbins. “We have a vast array of soil, more than even some of the garden centers.

We have a lot of different nutrient lines if you want to be organic, we have organic liquid lines, synthetic lines, we have organic granular lines - fast acting, slow acting - we have soil amendments, and much more.”

The Grow Depot focus is on providing an informative and welcoming experience for customers. Their commitment to education and support for their clients was clear, as they were willing to share their expertise and even allow customers to test their homegrown products.

“We opened on October 9, 2021, we have an event every year on our anniversary supporting different charities like the Navy SEAL foundation,” said Dobbins. “We have live music, games and legal vendors with ra es and more. This year alone, we raised over 3K that also contributed to a local veteran’s son who is battling cancer.”

Dobbins discussed the numerous challenges and complexities of the home cultivation industry. He touched on issues such as federal laws, banking, licensing, and competition from the traditional market. Despite these challenges, he expressed optimism about the industry’s potential for positive change.

Looking forward, the former Navy SEAL highlights the significance of the home cultivation industry for veterans and those in need of alternative therapies. He acknowledged the need for additional research and treatments, especially for posttraumatic stress disorder PTSD and traumatic brain injuries TBI . He emphasizes that his mission was to help veterans and others find relief and improve their quality of life.

Visit Adam and Cheryl Dobbins at their store, The Grow Depot. It is located at 2404 Virginia Beach Blvd., Virginia Beach. For more information on their products, visit the shop’s website at https: growdepot 5 .com or call 5 93 -1504.

Actively working with CPEAR Cannibis Policy Education and Regulation