When Eddie Osefo, husband of “Actual Housewives of Potomac” star Wendy Osefo, smiled at one other castmate throughout an occasion within the present’s seventh season, the second shortly enveloped into scandal when she accused him of flirting.
Accordingly, the opposite wives dubbed him “Completely happy Eddie” as a result of he’s (*checks notes*) typically well mannered and sort to these he’s considerably acquainted with. The scene went viral due to the “nuttiness,” as he put it, of mistaking kindness for wrongdoing.
“I assume a smile actually does go a good distance,” Eddie Osefo instructed theGrio over e-mail.
For Osefo, the smile in query has gone all the best way to the financial institution, because it’s change into the identify of his new hashish model in collaboration with Curio Wellness. Forward of the return of “Actual Housewives of Potomac” for its eighth season on Sunday, Osefo sat down with theGrio to debate his eponymous new model and what it means for a Black man to enter the hashish business in the present day.
Are you able to inform us just a little extra about your background and your historical past with hashish?
I’m an legal professional by career; nonetheless, Eddie Osefo, the individual, is an entrepreneur, a father, a husband, and an on a regular basis skilled who occurs to make use of hashish. I’d characterize myself as a social smoker. The primary time I attempted hashish was in school on the College of Maryland, School Park, at a celebration sophomore 12 months, and I’ve had a relationship with the plant ever since.
What led you to launch your personal model, Completely happy Eddie, with Curio Wellness?
I made a decision to enter the hashish business when Maryland legalized marijuana use for adults in 2022. To enter into an rising business in my dwelling state the place I could make a direct influence was a no brainer. Extra particularly, because of the licensing processes in place on the time, I knew I wanted to do extra than simply hop into this business, so I sought out a longtime and respected accomplice.
I used to be instantly interested in Curio Wellness as a result of they had been a family-oriented enterprise with girls on the helm. With a father and daughter as co-founders, one other daughter because the CRO (chief income officer) and a son as Normal Counsel, I knew Curio had the native and family-focused method to rising enterprise and can be nice companions to launch a brand new model in an business full of rules.
How does it really feel being a Black man with a authorized hashish enterprise in a state with grownup use —particularly understanding how hashish has traditionally led to the over-incarceration of Black and brown individuals?
It feels momentous. I’m breaking limitations for these to see and comply with in an business the place Black hashish entrepreneurs account for lower than 2% of the nation’s [cannabis] companies, whereas Black and brown individuals had been nefariously impacted and disproportionately incarcerated by the “Conflict on Medicine” and hashish demonization.
After the legalization of grownup use in Maryland, and as public attitudes surrounding hashish proceed to alter in our nation, with the launch of Completely happy Eddie and the partnership with Curio, I hope to convey visibility to Black-owned manufacturers, reduce social stigmas round hashish, and normalize grownup consumption.
I additionally plan to make the most of my platform and privilege as a Black man with a authorized hashish enterprise to assist different Black and brown individuals enter this business and highlight efforts and packages looking for to handle injustices in deprived minority communities that had been disproportionately focused for enforcement as a part of the Conflict on Medicine.
What’s included on this collaboration, and what are you most excited for shoppers to strive?
With this partnership, the product line will embody flower and pre-rolls accessible at Curio Wellness-owned Far & Dotter and Pharmkent dispensaries, in addition to choose dispensaries throughout the state of Maryland.
I’m most excited for shoppers to first introduce themselves to the model with the 2 strains at present out there, Energized Eddie and Mellow Eddie. But additionally tune into “Actual Housewives of Potomac” as a result of Curio and I’ve a particular third pressure dropping this season that’s undoubtedly going to be a showstopper.
What’s subsequent for the Completely happy Eddie model?
We’re having fun with the gorgeous journey within the hashish business and have our eyes set on rising the model right here in Maryland and doubtlessly getting into different markets, resembling Missouri.
Kay Wicker is a life-style author for theGrio protecting well being, wellness, journey, magnificence, trend, and the myriad methods Black individuals dwell and luxuriate in their lives. She has beforehand created content material for magazines, newspapers, and digital manufacturers.
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