“I want people to know that receiving an unfavorable diagnosis, whether human or a pet, does not mean we automatically turn to Big Pharma; there are healthier, more holistic options,” says Laura LaMarca, creator and owner of Wellness-Palooza.
Laura became a certified cannabis coach after years of suffering with multiple health issues, including double autoimmune disease, spinal stenosis, degenerative disk disease and PTSD. By the time her doctor prescribed her 14th prescription, she says she recalls determining she’d had enough.
“I said, ‘I’m not living my life like this,’ and asked him for my medical marijuana card,” she says. “But nobody helped me through the process and it was frustrating. I said, ‘I am missing something big here, and I need to figure it out.’”
That’s when Laura says she entered a certification program for cannabis coaching. She learned how to “ditch all of her prescriptions,” and now helps others and their dogs and cats with everything from anxiety to pain reduction and more.
But the journey to her own wellness soon carried over to her own rescue dog, Cooper, a German shepherd/pitbull mix, who suffered from anxiety and stomach issues. She says it took some trial and error, but she finally found the right recipe that controlled his anxiety. “Toward the end of his life, the CBD treats were the only thing to give him some relief,” Laura says.
Cooper died of cancer during October 2021. “We're ever so thankful for these treats and want to share them with the rest of the world.”
Now Laura and her daughter, Bailey LaMarca, who inherited the same health issues from her mother, offer their CBD-infused dog treats, “Coopie Snacks,” with locally grown CBD, as well as a pet tincture with CBD and Cannabigerol (CBG) for pet owners looking to realize the following potential benefits of their products:
- Reduction in Anxiety
- Anti-Inflammatory
- Reduction in Pain
- Reduction in Seizures and Convulsions
- Immune System Support
- Nervous System Support
- Cardiovascular System Support
- Gastrointestinal Support
Wellness-Palooza offers individual counseling, home parties and community events to educate people about CBD use for them and their pets.
Laura's and Bailey's products are now in 12 stores in St. Charles and Lincoln Counties, and offered online. Wellness-Palooza also donates samples of Coopie Snacks, a small bottle of tincture and educational materials to pet owners at fireworks stands around July 4.
Laura says she wants to clear up the confusion about Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and CBD.
“THC is very toxic for dogs,” she explains. “THC is the main active compound in cannabis, which is responsible for the high a person feels. CBD is the second main compound in cannabis used widely for medical purposes and is nonpsychoactive. We want to create holistic healing products for people and pets that help them. That’s it. We tell people all the time, ‘We’re here to get you healthy, not get you high.’”