WALLINGFORD — After being diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), Brayan Valencia opened his second business, The Local Market LLC, this year as a way to continue helping others in similar situations.
“They gave me access to medical marijuana, and it made me feel really good,” he said. “I wanted other people to feel the same way.”
The Local Market is home to his other business, Quality over Quantity CBD, which Valencia says is one of the few Mexican-owned cannabis companies in the region. He says his main target consumers for his business are Mexicans and Latinos in general; Wallingford has a large Mexican community and surrounding towns like Meriden have a large Puerto Rican community.
In 2019, Quality over Quantity CBD opened an online store from an office in Hamden, shipping products directly to consumers. In June of this year, Valencia opened a new store where customers can visit and see the products.
The young entrepreneur hasn’t done any marketing for his business since he plans a grand opening in the spring.
Collaboration is key
In addition to CBD products, The Local Market partners with other Connecticut small businesses selling their products. The market sells items such as cups and rolling trays. “I have a shelf out front where other small businesses can leave their cards,” Valencia said. “I’m also dedicated to collaborating with small artists.”
Some of the products he sells are hemp ground coffee, hemp oil, hemp gum bites, hemp joints, and hemp CBD cream.
It also sells pet products such as CBD dog treats, which may be an option for treating social and separation anxiety.
“We don’t sell marijuana products,” says Valencia. “We sell hemp products.”
Although hemp and marijuana both come from cannabis sativa, there are differences. Hemp contains 0.3 percent or less of tetrahydrocannabinol, or THC, which is the psychoactive component responsible for the “high” sensation traditionally associated with marijuana. Marijuana contains more than 0.3 percent THC by dry weight, which means someone can get high from ingesting it, Michigan State University explained on its website.
Family support
When starting his business, Valencia says his parents didn’t understand the idea.
“At first, we didn’t understand it, but as Brayan started the opening process, he started educating us about it,” said Valencia’s father, Marco Valencia.
Valencia’s parents came to the United States from Jiquilpan, Michoacán, Mexico in 1992. Both were undocumented until six years ago when they received residency. According to Brayan Valencia, growing up with undocumented parents was difficult and he described it as “living in fear 24 hours a day.”
“I’m so afraid that one day my parents would be deported and I’d come home and they wouldn’t be there,” she said.
His father, Marco, says living without papers was difficult because he had to build relationships with people to find jobs that didn’t require social security, such as gardening and construction.
Since getting residency, Erika Valencia, Brayan Valencia’s mother, says it’s been less stressful. She now has a driver’s license and is not afraid of being stopped by the police.
Brayan Valencia is relieved to know his parents will not be deported.
“Right now, I’m very proud of my son for what he’s accomplished,” Erika Valencia said. “There have been days full of tears and nights of going to bed without food to get here. We will always be here to support you with whatever you need.”
Future events
Although it won’t open until spring next year, Valencia is hosting some events for the community.
On October 30th, The Local Market hosted a Halloween Puff and Carve night. Another event that takes place every day from 12pm to 9pm is Puff & Paint for over 21s. The event includes all painting materials and a free hemp board for $25.
For more information about The Local Market LLC and events, visit https://www.localmarketllc.com/.
Reporter Crystal Elescano can be reached at celescano@record-journal.com.
