AACE INTERVIEW: IRFAN SADIQ of BLUE GEM HEMP
Linkedin has been a major source of where I find amazing people to interview, one of them Irfan Sadiq grabbed my attention, his profile photo has the biggest and warmest smile, and his and his wife Rudaba’s company Blue Gem Hemp is making headway in education and product research. - Ophelia Chong
Blue Hemp values it’s R&D and holds that as the best practice for its clients, tell us about Blue Hemp’s isolation of CBDA.
Irfan: Research and development is embedded in Blue Gem Hemp's DNA and is critical to any industry. Our proprietary extraction method allows us to isolate any molecule, without leveraging the conventional isolation methodologies (winterization, crystallization etc..
In the last 7 years, CBD and THC companies have been educating the public about the differences between the two, how do you see full spectrum CBD surpassing THC in popularity?
Your work in the IT field seems a far throw from the CBD industry you are in now, however, the complexities and user experience are similar in the fact that the consumer has to be educated as to why both IT security and the benefits of full-spectrum CBD work to build defenses. How did you make the leap from being a top security expert in IT to CBD?
Irfan: I am and always will be a technologist at the core. Information Technology has become the foundation of all digital transformation technologies. In the cyber security framework we have five overarching functions that support the core of InfoSec. Identify, Protect, Detect, Respond and Recover. This framework is industry agnostic. After identifying gaps in the current Cannabis industry standards and protocols, we created Blue Gem Hemp.
Your smile brings so much joy whenever I see your photos, how do you keep a balance between the stresses of the industry and your off-work lives?
Irfan: Thank you for complimenting my smile:). I'm genuinely blushing while answering this question. My secret is to keep the family as a priority over professional life. This helps me automatically manage the work-related stress.
What was your first CBD experience? And how do you describe the benefits to your most reluctant relatives?
Irfan: Our first experience was truly a life changing event. I effectively manage my chronic migraines and obstetric sleep apnea, and Rudaba manages her fibromyalgia and type-II diabetes related symptoms with our full spectrum extract. Our family and friends know that both Rudaba and I are straight shooters and don't sugar coat, when it comes to health and wellness. This has built a trust, that we will never provide a wrong advice, to anyone.
If you had to find a new cannabinoid to help one health issue, what would it be?
Irfan: We would focus on Endometriosis as many women suffer from this globally.
Where do you see the CBD industry expanding to? (New form factors, new ways to ingest, inject, smoke etc)
Irfan: Our industry is currently more focused on recreational part than the medicinal. Blue Gem Hemp is focusing on full-spectrum suppositories.
Lastly, what flavor gummy would you make that hasn’t been done?
Irfan: We don't see a value of adding sugary junk to the might cannabis extract. So natural cannabis flavor gummy would be the correct answer.
LINKS: