Look, cannabis gets a bad rap. People hear the word and think trouble. But in the States and Europe, it’s pretty normal. Doctors write prescriptions for it. People use it and feel better. It’s just a plant doing what plants do.

Bombay Hemp Company (BOHECO) saw this back in 2013. They asked a simple question: why can’t India have proper hemp and cannabis wellness too? Not the dodgy stuff. Real science. Real medicine. Stuff that helps people with pain, sleep problems, and everyday stress.

TheGlitz got invited to their new Boheco Clinic & Store opening in Bangalore. I sat with all five founders for a good chat. Man, these people really care about this. They showed me the medicine side, the food side, and how they work with farmers. The whole picture.

Hemp can give you fibre for clothes. Seeds for nutrition. Medicine for healing. Even material for building. It does a lot. So next time someone looks at you funny when you say cannabis, just point them to Boheco. They’re doing it right.

We got talking. Here’s the conversation.

TheGlitz: Five individuals, one vision. Tell us more…

BOHECO: We were seven young minds who saw opportunity where the world saw controversy. We came together with one shared belief – that a single plant could change lives. BOHECO began as a collective mission to reimagine cannabis from a misunderstood crop into a force for good. Each of us brought different strengths, but one vision united us: to build a future where farmers prosper, and patients find natural relief through science-backed cannabis medicine.

You’re selling wellness, but what are you really selling – comfort, curiosity, or permission?

We’re selling all three – curiosity sparks the journey, comfort sustains it, and permission makes it personal. When someone chooses BOHECO, they’re not just buying a product; they’re reclaiming wellbeing on their terms.

Five founders. Who’s the classicist, and who’s the radical?

We all carry a bit of the classicist and the radical within us. One moment we’re fighting for regulatory reform and scientific acceptance – that’s the radical in us. The next moment we’re grounding ideas in research, patient safety, and clinical rigour – that’s the classicist. It’s that duality that keeps BOHECO moving forward responsibly.

You’re educating customers. What’s the first lesson?

The first lesson is simple: cannabis is medicine. When guided by science and doctors, it can safely improve sleep, stress, and pain. Removing stigma is the first step toward healing.

What’s the most common mistake customers make when they start?

The most common mistake is expecting a dramatic overnight change. Cannabis medicine is powerful, but like any therapeutic approach it needs consistency, the right dosage, and medical direction. When customers work closely with our doctors, they start seeing meaningful improvements – better sleep, reduced pain, calmer days; and those compound over time.

There’s someone who comes to your clinic regularly. Tell me about them without telling me their name.

They’re typically someone in their late 20s to mid-50s – educated, urban, digitally informed. They’ve tried conventional solutions for sleep, stress, or pain, but want something natural and clinically guided. They come to us because they’re not looking for escapism, they’re looking for relief that integrates into daily life. They first came in with hesitation, almost apologetic for asking whether cannabis is legal and if it could help. Today, they’re one of our most confident patients – educated, empowered, and inspiring others through their quiet conviction.

What’s the difference between your premium offering and your entry-level product – besides price?

The difference lies in the level of precision. Our premium products offer higher potency, targeted formulations, and more advanced delivery systems. They’re designed for individuals who need stronger, faster, or condition-specific relief. For example, COMBAT, our most advanced medicine, contains a high concentration of cannabinoids to support severe and chronic pain conditions, including cancer-related pain and palliative care.

At the other end of the spectrum, our entry-level solutions serve as gentle introductions to the category. RELAX, for instance, is a topical aromatherapy roll-on infused with Hemp Seed Oil, ideal for everyday stress relief and relaxation without requiring a prescription.

Same philosophy, different intensity – we simply meet you where you are in your wellness journey.

What’s the one thing in your store that makes the pharmaceutical industry nervous?

The fact that you can walk into our clinic, consult a doctor, and access prescription cannabis-leaf medicines under one roof. We’re simplifying a category that was never meant to be this accessible.

You’ve got competition coming. What’s your advantage when the market floods?

Our advantage is credibility. We’ve spent years building this category responsibly – from cultivation and research to doctor-led care and real patient outcomes. We’ve laid a very strong foundation of trust and scientific rigor. So, when the market floods, customers and clinicians will gravitate toward the player with proven science, regulatory experience and trust earned over years – and that’s BOHECO. The depth we’ve built isn’t easy to replicate.

Five years from now, what endures – the business model or the mission?

The mission endures. Our business model will adapt as the market evolves, but our purpose – empowering patients, supporting farmers, and changing perceptions around cannabis, is what drives every decision. That’s what will remain unchanged five years from now.