Updated: March 25, 2021
Originally Published: March 25, 2021
In the first moments after his daughter’s emergency C-section birth, Alex “Sully” Sullivan sensed something was amiss. “She looked like she was screaming for help,” he recounted during a recent interview. His fears were confirmed when genetic testing revealed that his daughter, Emily, was born with a rare genetic disorder involving complex duplications of chromosomes 1 and 13. With no support groups available, Sully and Emily’s mother had to navigate their journey alone.
Now ten years old, Emily is described by Sully as a joyful and loving girl, despite facing numerous medical challenges over the years, including heart surgery at age four and ongoing therapy for various developmental issues. Yet, her spirit shines through. “She’s a remarkable little fighter,” Sully said, highlighting her resilience and humor.
However, when Emily developed seizures at age seven, her condition took a turn for the worse. The prescribed medication, while intended to help, caused her to lose almost 20% of her body weight and dimmed her vibrant personality. A suggestion from Emily’s mother led Sully to consider CBD, despite his initial hesitations. After weaning Emily off her medication, they began using CBD oil, which significantly improved her condition.
A visit to a hemp farm in Vermont opened Sully’s eyes to the potential of hemp as a wellness alternative. Realizing that this was the source of the medicine that had helped Emily, he made a bold decision to pivot his career from a well-known TV personality into hemp farming, despite having no prior experience. He established MONTKUSH, a name that combines the French word for mountain, reflecting its Vermont roots, and “kush,” a term meaning happy in Hindi.
With a commitment to producing quality products for his daughter, Sully aimed to educate others about hemp and CBD, dispelling myths and showcasing their benefits. He partnered with Thom Beers, known for popular shows like “Deadliest Catch,” to document this journey on a new series titled “Kings of Hemp,” which premiered earlier this month on Vice TV.
Facing numerous challenges, including record rainfall and the pandemic, Sully and his partner successfully grew 66,000 hemp plants in their first year, increasing to 75,000 in the second year. Their CBD products have since provided relief for many dealing with conditions like anxiety, PTSD, and sleep issues.
What began as a father’s quest to help his daughter has transformed into a mission to assist countless others. “No magic happens in the comfort zone,” Sully said, emphasizing the importance of stepping beyond familiar boundaries for growth and healing.
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Summary: Alex Sullivan’s journey from a TV spokesperson to a hemp farmer is chronicled in Vice’s new show, “Kings of Hemp.” Faced with his daughter Emily’s rare genetic disorder and subsequent health challenges, Sullivan discovered the benefits of CBD. He founded MONTKUSH, striving to produce high-quality hemp products while educating the public about their advantages. His story is both a personal and communal journey toward healing and understanding.