Dragon Hemp: A Talk With Founder Kevin Menard
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Time to read 6 min
This article originally appeared on James Lane Post.
Dragon Hemp, located on Main Street in Sag Harbor, was founded by Kevin Menard, LAc, a Sports Medicine Acupuncturist. The brand specializes in CBD-hemp and medicinal herb based formulas. We caught up with Menard to learn more.
Tell us about your background in Sports Medicine.
Sports Medicine Acupuncture integrates advanced sports and orthopedic injury assessment with principles from Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) and Western sports medicine. Using this holistic approach, I can pinpoint injuries and their origins, especially when noting postural imbalances during static and active movements. This method remains anchored in the core values of TCM, balancing its simplicity and depth.
On the East End, many patients come to me for relief from musculoskeletal issues, particularly those stemming from exercise or sports-related injuries. The blend of ancient wisdom and contemporary techniques has proven effective, especially with athletes from teams like the East Hampton men’s soccer and the Mighty Montauk Sharks rugby. These experiences have honed my expertise and inspired the creation of Dragon Hemp.
What inspired you to start Dragon Hemp?
Chinese herbs have potent healing properties, but their taste and smell often alienate clients. Personally and professionally, I’ve felt their benefits. Discovering CBD in 2018 was eye-opening for its clinical benefits, from pain to anxiety, insomnia, and more; yet, intuitively, I felt merging it with Chinese herbs could elevate its healing prowess. Combining them, I found they enhanced each other’s therapeutic effects — CBD activated the herbs, while the herbs boosted CBD’s efficacy via diverse pathways, from improving circulation to reducing inflammation.
Thus, Dragon Hemp was born.
I first combined Broad Spectrum CBD with Chinese herbs in capsules for pain relief and performance. Then, I evolved to use Full Spectrum CBD, crafting tinctures, balms, and gummies that blended efficacy with palatability. By 2021, with advances in the NYS hemp industry, I could finally produce top-quality, efficacious, and guaranteed Dragon Hemp products.
And what brought you to Sag Harbor?
The short answer? Hurricane Sandy. After completing my Masters in Science for Acupuncture in New York City, I had plans to practice in Tribeca. But the storm devastated my apartment, and my family relocated to Water Mill. This twist of fate led me to establish my base in Sag Harbor, where I fortuitously found my office and never left.
After starting Dragon Hemp, it became evident that a physical store was essential. Even though interest in CBD was rising, there was a clear gap in understanding its benefits and application. This gap widened when considering the enhanced effects of CBD mixed with Chinese herbs. Sag Harbor, known for its embrace of wellness and arts, was the ideal spot. Our Apothecary is a center of learning for CBD and cannabis. With a setting that blends traditional Chinese herbs and modern remedies, our well-informed team is always available, guiding customers toward the right solutions.
Tell us about the name. How did you come up with it?
Dragon Hemp is the fusion of Traditional Chinese Medicine and innovative cannabinoid medicine. The Dragon symbolizes health, wellness, and good fortune, while Hemp represents the promise of modern cannabinoid therapy.
Can you tell us about any specific success stories you’ve heard from someone who has benefitted from your products?
Countless individuals have experienced transformative benefits from Dragon Hemp products. Their stories are a testament to our product’s efficacy. For example, Brendon, a local hockey player in his mid-30s, has faced numerous severe injuries over the years. After a recent shoulder injury, surgery seemed inevitable. Yet, within just a week of using Dragon Hemp’s recovery tincture and Cooling Balm, his pain vanished. His surgeon confirmed Brendon didn’t need surgery and urged him to continue his new regimen, citing an unprecedented recovery.
Talk a little about the quality of your ingredients and how you source your organic US grown hemp.
We don’t compromise on quality. Every ingredient we use, from our cannabinoids to our Chinese herbs, is sourced from the finest organically-grown US hemp. And it’s not just about ensuring top-notch quality; it’s about trust. That’s why every batch is rigorously lab-tested, with results available online. Scan the QR code on our product packaging to view the corresponding Certificate of Analysis. With Dragon Hemp, you experience unmatched quality, taste, and efficacy in every product.
Where do you manufacture your products?
Our core manufacturing partners hail from North Carolina and Colorado, each dedicated to cultivating organic hemp on small-scale farms.
When you have downtime on the East End, how do you like to spend your time?
Practicing various forms of martial arts, long walks on the beach, swimming in the ocean, and hanging with my four rescue dogs: Dylan, Chase, Scout, and Alfie.
This article originally appeared on James Lane Post.
Explore our Rest & Restoration Collection and reclaim your nights.
Our Apothecary.
Our Apothecary in Sag Harbor, New York was conceived as a beacon of rejuvenation and wellness in the Hamptons. Much more than a dispensary, at the core of the Dragon Hemp Apothecary is a commitment to education and understanding the benefits of time-honored herbal remedies synthesized with today’s advancements in cannabinoid research.
Offering an array of products designed to align with the wellness needs of the Hamptons community, the store seeks to bridge the gap between ancient wisdom and modern applications, making herbal medicine more compatible with our lifestyles today. Our unique apothecary in Sag Harbor not only represents a physical space but also embodies Dragon Hemp's ethos of premium, all-natural, effective wellness solutions, drawing from the rich heritage of the Hamptons and the innovative spirit of New York.
Not your conventional dispensary, our first-of-its-kind retail location, harmoniously balances tradition and innovation with an emphasis on experience and education. We invite you to step inside and let our herbal experts guide you on an exploration of the rejuvenating power of cannabinoids and traditional herbs in a setting that feels both timeless and contemporary.
Designed in collaboration with renowned Alfredo Paredes Studio, the apothecary embodies a sophisticated fusion of old-world tradition and contemporary application. Known for his 33-year tenure as Ralph Lauren Executive Vice President and Chief Creative Officer, Alfredo Paredes, a master of crafting memorable retail experiences, helped transform the space into a shining gem of Sag Harbor. Reflecting the premium, natural, and therapeutic essence of Dragon Hemp, every aspect of the store, including the unique furniture pieces from Paredes' line, contributes to an ambiance of refined tranquility and wellness. The design echoes a classic herbal pharmacy blended with a modern aesthetic, mirroring our brand ethos of contemporizing ancient herbal medicine for today’s applications. Read more about our Apothecary design in Forbes.
Standing out on Main Street in Sag Harbor with the glow of our distinctive neon sign, our unique retail store has become a design destination of its own -- beyond just wellness -- in one of the Hamptons’ most popular villages. Whether you’re looking for potent natural therapeutics to tackle pain & inflammation or legal THC products to enhance mood or improve sleep, our apothecary is your safe haven at 108 Main Street.
Our Products.
Our products are formulated to serve the four crucial daily needs most often seen in Kevin’s practice—Essential Wellbeing for comprehensive health, Rest & Restoration to foster rejuvenation, Aches & Pains for relief from discomfort, and Liniments for body care that enhances both physical and emotional wellbeing.
Available in four versatile forms—swift-absorbing tinctures, targeted balms, discreet gummies, and moisturizers—we ensure a suitable choice for every lifestyle and wellness routine.
Our story.
Dragon Hemp is the practitioner-founded apothecary that produces plant-based therapeutics formulated with a proprietary blend of next-generation botanicals and time honored herbal remedies.
For people seeking treatments that give relief & address the root cause.
Our herbal remedies are innovative and user-friendly, with wellness benefits that are effective & accessible to everyone.
So you can feel like yourself again.
Our Founder.
Kevin Menard, LAc., is the leading practitioner in Sports Medicine Acupuncture and Traditional Chinese Medicine on the East End of Long Island, with clientele ranging from business executives and fitness professionals to wellness gurus and weekend warriors.
As he cultivated his practice, Kevin began integrating CBD & other cannabinoids, native botanicals, and herbs into his treatments, addressing conditions like pain, musculoskeletal injuries, insomnia, and more.
Following the promising results from his herbal and CBD-infused treatments, Kevin expanded his work, introducing Dragon Hemp to support patient wellness beyond his clinic's walls.
Our Ingredients.
We carefully select our organically grown ingredients, emphasizing sustainability to protect Earth's biodiversity.
We believe in transparency in all our processes, from ingredient selection to the methods used by our CBD farmers, who lead the sustainable agriculture charge and concentrate on ecosystem restoration and carbon sequestration.
We're not just about products but about nurturing an understanding of traditional herbal practices and helping people make healthy decisions.
With respect, we introduce newcomers to the benefits of age old herbal wisdom.
Our aim is a future where well-being stems from nature, combining timeless knowledge with today's research.
Discover the distinctive characteristics of each herb in our Ingredient Index.
