Jonathan Martinez, former Miami Dade police officer and a Bronx Parkchester native, is now Head of Security at WholesomeCo, a medical cannabis pharmacy in Bountiful, Utah. Martinez also weighs in as Utah’s third strongest person according to last year’s ranking on FitCon.
Jonathan sat down with us for a Salt Baked Q&A session
Q: When did you decide you wanted to become a police officer?
Actually, I didn’t. It started off with small security gigs for places like the Gap, and doing loss prevention for Sephora in Times Square. Eventually, I went to an executive protection school for a couple of years and started doing private security for celebrities and high profile executives. Living in Miami I got an opportunity to become a Police officer through my Kids mother’s Dad who was a Sargent for Miami-Dade County. I worked my way up from Patrol duty to Corporal and then I became part of the Miami Dade Gang Unit.
Q: What was the daily life of a Miami police officer like?
I can tell you there was never a dull moment serving my community there. From domestic violence calls to dealing with high stress wrecks, etc. All I only know is how to serve and protect.
Q: What made you decide to leave Miami and lead the security team at WholesomeCo cannabis located in Bountiful?
I left to start over, and to be with my long time love who is now my wife. I tried to transfer departments but Utah doesn’t acknowledge outside Certifications. I’d would have had to redo the whole Academy again, and my answer to that was, “Hell, no!” I’m not going through that again. Richard and the WholesomeCo crew came to Bountiful, and now, here I am. Here, I am finally on the other side. Instead of pulling people over for it, I can at last show the world there’s a future in cannabis.
Exciting New Changes – Free Delivery for All Customers
Starting August 2nd, WholesomeCo is removing delivery fees and offering FREE DELIVERY to patients statewide.
With reach to 99% of the state’s population, there’s a good chance that delivery is an option for you. Try delivery for your next WholesomeCo order and enjoy the convenience and discretion of having your medical cannabis delivered directly to your door.
Click to Learn More: www.wholesome.co
Q: What’s your favorite part about running security at a Utah medical cannabis pharmacy?
First, I love watching how cannabis helps the beautiful people who come through our shop. I love feeling that we are actually making a difference in a wide spectrum of people’s lives everyday. First-time patients come in and they look at me and either say, OMG, you scared me, or I’m so glad you’re here. Also, I work with the best security team here. There’s Tua, Sin, Trey, Samui, Damarr, and Isaac. These are my brothers, and we’re all here for your protection.
Q: Are you a Utah medical cannabis patient? If so, what is your qualifying condition?
Yes. So, I’m a Utah strongman athlete. Last year I took 3rd place at Big Mountain Barbell, and my body has taken a beating. I also suffer from PTSD.
Q: How do you use cannabis as a medicine? Do you see it benefiting the overall quality of your life compared to other stuff you’ve tried?
I’m already a loving, chill person who loves talking to peoplem, but I love the way cannabis just makes me better. Cannabis helps me to be ten times more focused, and on point. You will never catch me slipping because people’s lives are at hand.
Q: What Utah products are your favorites to consume, and why?
What works for me are the Jilu (heel-you) products. They’re very smooth, and CO2 extracted.
Q: Do you recommend cannabis to others suffering from pain and PTSD? How do you approach such a conversation?
Yes, I would. PTSD can range from okay, to really bad. Around 288 officers die every year and people always expects us to just come home and act like nothing happened, but it’s hard. Can you imagine going to a domestic violence call, but you arrive too late to find a spouse, or child has died. You can hate yourself for a long time afterward. You might think about it everyday, and then pile everything else onto what’s currently happening in your life. But cannabis is the key. It helps against the horrors of everyday shit that so often happens to our first responders. But, it’s a different time now, so in the same spirit I’m gonna’ serve and protect. Instead of by the badge, it’s gonna’ be by the plant.
Published in Salt Baked City Print Magazine – Spring 2021
