Katrina Thompkins: From COVID-19 to Cannabis

Marijuana and COVID-19: two words normally not in the same sentence. Yet, with a passion for people and science, Registered Nurse Katrina Thompkins uses both as a muse for improving lives.

Born and raised in Arlington, Texas, Thompkins had an active childhood. She was involved in multiple sports and activities, but early on, she made a pact with her great aunt to become a doctor.

"I played a lot of basketball, I also played volleyball, ran cross country, and played clarinet in the band," Thompkins said. "I wanted to go into medicine because to me, college basketball seemed like a full-time job that you don't get paid for — my end goal was to do something in the medical field.”

During her time at Juan Seguin High School, Thompkins suffered a knee injury while on the varsity basketball team. Although Thompkins was upset about the injury, she wasn't discouraged. While rehabbing her knee Thompkins was able to get a better view of the medical field.

Katrina Thompkins, circled, and her basketball team during their 2011-2012 season. Courtesy photo

"When I hurt my knee, I discovered what a nurse nesistis was, and I was like ‘WOW nursing is a cool profession, you can really expand your playing field of opportunity as a nurse,’" exclaimed Thompkins.

After high school, Thompkins attended Baylor University, ultimately landing a position as an RN in the critical care units at UT Southwestern hospital in Dallas Texas. When her contract ended earlier this year, Thompkins reflected on the landscape and knew where she needed to be next: in New York City, fighting the pandemic.

"As my contract was ending in Texas, I thought New York City was the place where I could grow," she explained. "Sometimes you need to move away from your current environment for change. In NYC, everything was closed down, I really enjoyed being able to explore the city commuting to work."

COVID-19 was beginning to spread rapidly through the boroughs of New York. Thompkins felt confident working as a nurse in New York, pushing through adversity with shortages of safety equipment and high death counts. Thompkins says the best way to prevent the spread of COVID-19 is simple. Wash your hands often, stay home as much as you can and wear a mask.

"New York City has a lot more people coming to the emergency rooms,  but the care and emotion remains the same,” Thompkins lamented. “The hospital in April during this pandemic was a highly emotional environment — still is now. People are really exhausted but hopeful, I'm just more vigilant in the hospital dressing out in face shields, gowns, and N95 masks.”

Thompkins working during the pandemic. Courtesy photo

In addition to fighting COVID-19 on the frontlines, Thompkins is an entrepreneur. In February, she launched K'dara, an online full-spectrum CBD product retailer. With mint green and aqua tones throughout the website, the logo is an ode to Thompkins’s upbringing. The word "dara" in Hindu means wisdom, and the "K" and clover represent Thompkins’s grandmother, Clover.

All the Hemp used to produce K'dara products is organically grown in American fields. Labs in California and Florida are utilized as research facilities to safely study and create cannabinoid and terpene profiles. The hours spent on research and development help to ensure safe and quality hemp infused products. 

"I've worked with a lot of patients that suffer from chronic pain. It can become difficult for these patients to manage their pain levels outside of the hospital without opioids." Thompkins explained. "I developed K'dara CBD products as a safer alternative."

The THC content is extracted from cannabis which removes the high that marijuana can produce when smoked or ingested, and K'dara has a host of products for people and pets, including CBD oils, bath bombs, dog drop tinctures, pet chews tinctures, gummies, and pain creams. The website highlights some of their best sellers including watermelon gummies that are a treat for the eyes. 

As a trauma nurse, developing products that reduced pain or anxiety for people and their pets was a perfect business venture for Thompkins, but despite the professional presentation and scientific support, there are many obstacles with owning a cannabis-based business. The laws and state regulations constantly changing is the steepest hurdle. While Thompkins works on the frontlines in New York City, she continues to build her brand.

In the near future Thompkins plans to make K'dara a household name. Brand momentum is paramount, and she along with her team are aggressively working to get brand exposure. Thompkins continues to serve with empathy, compassion and bravery — proof that not all angels have wings; sometimes they wear N95 masks.