Meet Anthony Riley

Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Anthony Riley. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Anthony, looking forward to learning from your journey. You’ve got an amazing story and before we dive into that, let’s start with an important building block. Where do you get your work ethic from?

I get my work ethic from my mother and father who have always been hard workers who take very little time off. I started working when I was only 14.

Let’s take a small detour – maybe you can share a bit about yourself before we dive back into some of the other questions we had for you?

My name is Anthony D Riley, born in Dayton, Ohio. On my 15th birthday, I was brutally assaulted by a peer, resulting in damage to my left eye socket and a traumatic brain injury, leaving me disabled. Despite these challenges, I graduated from Meadowdale High School in 1998, completing my studies in just three years by attending summer school and taking extra classes. This determination stemmed from being held back in elementary school due to a fight with a bully, which motivated me to avoid being the oldest student in my class.

Following my assault, I was resolute in finishing my education. Although health issues prevented me from continuing college, in 1998, I turned to music, using FL Studio to create beats as a therapeutic outlet. In 2018, with the legalization of medical cannabis in Ohio, I began using cannabis to manage my pain and appetite issues. I became one of Ohio’s first medical cannabis patients and recognized a gap in public knowledge about cannabis. This led me to launch Ohio Cannabis Live in 2019, a YouTube channel initially focused on product reviews but later shifting to news and education.

In 2022, I enrolled in the Ohio Media School in Columbus to study TV and radio broadcasting, graduating in 2023. Over the years, I have participated in several media interviews with ABC6 Columbus about medical cannabis. Ohio Cannabis Live has evolved into a news media and educational platform, providing accurate information and resources through our website, www.ohiocannabislive.com, and a weekly live stream.

I have testified before the Ohio Senate on cannabis reform and advocated for home-grow rights and consumer protections. Additionally, I created the Ohio Cannabis Expo, a series of events aimed at uniting the cannabis community and providing networking, employment, and educational opportunities.

Known as Mastamynd, I developed a white-label brand called Mastamynd Cannabis, which offers vape cartridges available in over 30 dispensaries throughout Ohio. I also own several cannabis-related websites and have my own cannabis strain called Mastamynd Kush, named after me and my dog Kush, who sadly passed away from cancer.

As a content creator, event host, social media influencer, and small minority business owner, I run Another Mastamynd Hit LLC, certified as a disabled-owned and minority-owned business with the state of Ohio. Beyond my cannabis endeavors, I operate an online store called Mastamynd’s Stuff on Walmart.com, with plans to expand to Amazon soon.

In summary, my journey has been marked by resilience and determination, from overcoming a traumatic assault to becoming a leading figure in Ohio’s legal cannabis industry. My diverse ventures reflect my commitment to innovation, education, and community engagement.

Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?

Learning how to use computers at an early age was a big help for me. Learning how to get along with people with different beliefs and values was also an important part of my growth and development. I had to learn how to be a team player before I could become a leader . I had to learn how to listen to people and adapt based on feedback good or bad this allowed me to have a tougher skin when I hear things about me or my brands that I don’t like. Feedback matters good or bad.

How can folks who want to work with you connect?

I am always looking for volunteers, and interns to help with video production interviews and events. I am always looking to network and partner with other businesses in the cannabis industry and beyond to help further educate and inform the community about the benefits of legal cannabis. I can be reached by emailing me at [email protected]

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