In an industry often dominated by corporate investments and deep-pocketed backers, one cannabis operation stands apart—not for its size or scale, but for the way it was built. From the ground up, every step of the journey was self-funded, a rarity in an increasingly commercialized landscape. But this is more than a business story—it’s a testament to resilience, survival, and an unwavering commitment to independence.
A Legacy of Hard Work and Sacrifice
Long before This journey entered the picture, the foundation of self-sufficiency was laid generations ago. The story begins with John Polomczak and Tekla Polomczak (Tekla Rybinski), who immigrated from Poland to America before the Holocaust, seeking a future built on hard work and opportunity. Their son, Adam Polomczak, was born in 1917 in East Chicago, and alongside his wife, Catherine Polomczak (Catherine Gratkowski), he carried on the family’s determination to create something lasting.
In 1940, they acquired their first farm in Decatur, Michigan, later selling it to Adam’s brother, Peter, and moving to a larger farm nearby. Through sheer grit, Adam built a dairy barn by hand, expanding the land over the years. In 1970, they purchased property in Lawton, Michigan—not knowing it would be the very land that would one day serve as the home of Green Hippo Provisioning. By 1971, they constructed a home and a machine shop with the help of close family, ensuring their work could sustain future generations. Even as Adam transitioned from farming to machining to support the family, the land remained central to their legacy.
Adam passed away in 1997, months before the founder of this cannabis journey was born. His wife, Catherine, remained a guiding presence in the family until her passing when the founder was thirteen. The land was handed down through the family, becoming both an asset and a sacred space—one forged through generations of labor, sacrifice, and an unwavering belief in self-sufficiency.
A Journey of Struggle and Healing
The road to this moment began long before the first seed was planted. From an early age, life was filled with battles against external pressures and internal struggles. At just seven years old, doctors, teachers, and counselors prescribed a path paved with SSRIs and ADHD medications. By twelve, opiates entered the picture, offering a temporary escape but leading down a dangerous road. A DUI at sixteen from Xanax use underscored the deepening crisis. Morphine, OxyContin, and Percocet became drugs of choice, making sobriety seem like an unattainable dream.
Yet, against the odds, sobriety was achieved nearly a decade ago—not through traditional rehabilitation, but through faith in God and the use of cannabis. The withdrawal process was excruciating, but cannabis provided a lifeline, offering pain relief when nothing else could. However, sobriety wasn’t the end of the struggle—it was only the beginning of a new challenge.
Battling an Invisible Enemy
Once clean, a mysterious health crisis took over. Symptoms included intense nausea, nerve pain that brought collapse, and blackouts that confounded doctors. Multiple tests, medications, and hospital visits led nowhere. Even the Cleveland Clinic, after three days of extensive testing, had no answers— In truth, abandoning pharmaceuticals and relying solely on cannabis and clean eating had resulted in the best health experienced in years.
This realization ignited a fire—a drive to not only heal personally but to create a space where others could find relief without interference from industries more concerned with profit than well-being.
The Birth of a Self-Funded Mission
Returning home, the vision took shape. A caregiver facility was the first step—an independent operation funded entirely by the core family unit. The cultivation facility was established in 2016-2017 through the personal investments of Tom Docekal & Stacey Docekal. Every dollar was bootstrapped through week to week paychecks and personal loans, every expansion carefully planned to ensure true independence from corporate interests.
As Michigan’s cannabis industry evolved, so did the mission. The realization struck: standing against corporate cannabis meant creating a model that empowered small operators and ensured a fair market. By the end of 2019, the cultivation facility was near completion, requiring only final touches like doors, racking, dehumidifiers, and security cameras. But recognizing an impending market crash fueled by corporate overreach, construction was halted.
At that critical juncture, the founder’s uncle—father’s brother— Todd Docekal stepped in to fund the retail dispensary. This ensured that the family’s vision could continue forward without external investors. The groundwork for retail began on December 26th, 2019, marking the transition from cultivation to a dispensary model that could sustain their principles and protect small growers.
On August 1, 2023, licensure was secured. By November 1, 2023, doors officially opened, marking the beginning of a new chapter in independent cannabis retail.
A Safe Haven for Legacy Growers and Consumers
More than just a dispensary, this establishment is a sanctuary for caregivers, independent growers, and patients seeking high-quality, craft cannabis. The mission has expanded beyond just selling cannabis—it now includes a “board of caregivers” to ensure fair market trade from seed to sale. It’s a direct counter to the corporate cannabis giants who prioritize margins over medicine.
The future holds even more ambitious goals: one day, returning to cultivation and, ultimately, creating a rehabilitation center that promotes sobriety through herbal medicine, helping others break free from addiction in a way traditional institutions have failed to do.
Building a Future Together
This journey is far from over. What started as a personal battle has evolved into a movement—one that challenges the status quo, empowers small operators, and prioritizes the well-being of the community over corporate greed.
Through passion, perseverance, and a refusal to compromise values, this business stands as proof that true independence in cannabis is still possible. And for those who believe in quality, fairness, and integrity, the doors are open—inviting all to join in the pursuit of a healthier, more informed, and more empowered future.
