The Berkshire Eagle – Today in Chesterfield, MA, two brothers are determined to maintain hemp as a staple for health and wellness.

Michael and Brian Lupario, the brothers behind Western MA Hemp, didn’t enter the world of hemp as shrewd businessmen looking to capitalize on a burgeoning market. They grew up in a world in which 50% of Americans develop one or more chronic illnesses, their own lives being surrounded by such.

This early exposure to persistent health challenges sparked their initial interest in safe and effective alternative solutions. They witnessed firsthand the limitations of conventional treatments, which often fell short or introduced unwanted side effects. As Brian emphasizes, “there is evidence that hemp was used for thousands of years as a trusted remedy for acute and chronic ailments like pain, sleep and anxiety.”

Historically there was no knowledge of the medicinal compounds found in hemp, as Michael states, “In our early years before legalization. We weren’t after the THC nor were we solely focused on the CBD. We were after wellness and the prospect of feeling better. The plant was the safe and effective gateway to that.” This unwavering belief in the hemp plant’s inherent wellness properties became their guiding principle and their mantra: “True-To-The-Plant.”

“True to the plant” is not just a philosophy; it’s a production method, which can be broken down to promote, preserve and deliver. The result is a product that is something like a mirror of the plant itself. Not distilled. Not refined. Not stripped to a molecule or two. “To boil a product down to just CBD or THC is almost naive,” Brian says. “The plant makes thousands of different compounds, most of which science has yet to document. We want to maintain the plant’s chemical complexity in our extracts because that’s how it was done for thousands of years.”

Their approach defies the market trend toward single-compound isolates and maxed out THC percentages. “It’s a convoluted atmosphere where you’re trying to help people and you have guys selling hemp derived THC gummies as a health and wellness supplement,” Michael says. “It’s an adulteration of the plant and the legalization movement as a whole.”

“Full transparency is what we’re trying to provide people,” Brian says. “Our products are non-intoxicating, non-habit forming, safe and effective, and yet, they look, smell, and taste identical to marijuana. So, there’s a lot of education to do, and we’re happy to welcome people to our kitchen and farm to help with that.”

Their commitment to holistic wellness has earned them loyalty from individuals with a diverse background of health conditions with pain and anxiety, MS and cancer. None of their clients are chasing a buzz. They’re chasing function, presence, normalcy. “The plant gives us an opportunity to reclaim the rest of our life that is in disarray,” Brian says.

Looking ahead, the brothers want to grow something even bigger than hemp. This summer, they will be giving a talk with Cancer Patient Lab, a patient-led community that helps advanced cancer patients. “We don’t just want to push hemp on people. We want to participate and be part of the community. We’ll pass out informational materials, and if people want to have a one-on-one, we’re going to support them in any way we can,” says Michael.

“‘True to the plant’ is not just Michael and Brian,” Michael says. “It’s beyond Western MA Hemp. In truth we’re just passing a torch that has been passed for thousands of years by wellness practitioners and likeminded stewards helping their communities.”

As Michael points out, “If there’s a legacy for this business, it’s to maintain access to true hemp products and the good name of hemp as a medicine. Ultimately we’d love to leave behind healthy people who can help themselves.”

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