Rikia Thompson was born and raised in Baltimore. She has been a massage therapist for 17 years, and for the last six years, she has run her own practice, Touch Massage, in Catonsville. Her goal has always been to help people both physically and mentally. As a student of behavioral science, her interests eventually led her to Cannabis and other natural remedies. Being in the industry for over two years, Thompson is making her mark and planning for longevity in a manufacturing or grow facility.
How has your deep understanding of the human body influenced the way you approach Cannabis as a medicinal tool?
Learning how to use cannabinoids for different things has made such an impact on how I use my knowledge. As a student of all things human, I’m constantly learning new things and figuring out what I need to be at my best. Timing and dosage are very important in how well something will work for you, so I try to bring my knowledge to the Cannabis world every day.
You’re planning for longevity in the manufacturing or growing space. What draws you to the back-of-house production side, versus the patient-facing retail side?
As much as I do love the retail side as a people person, there is something therapeutic about being around plants. I have my own plants, but I would love to get involved with growing on a much larger scale. Even just packaging is very fulfilling for me, and I’m a Virgo, so it helps with my accuracy.
What skills from running your own massage practice for six years are you finding most transferable to a manufacturing or cultivation environment?
Business is business, and the output is going to directly reflect how much work you put in. I hold myself to a certain level of responsibility that you need if you’re going to operate in those spaces. I treat every day at work as if I’m working on something I own, and that mindset is what makes me happy and successful.
Do you see a future where Cannabis and massage therapy are more formally integrated, and how do you see yourself leading that charge?
Oh, yeah! In my massage practice, I offer CBD treatments, but I would love to be able to offer my clients THC products. We aren’t quite there yet, but advocating for it and being ready for it to happen is exciting. I use CBD-infused bath salts and soak hot towels in them for my clients, and it works really well, but THC products would take it a step further. In a perfect world, I would formulate my own Epsom salt to soak the towels in.
What would you say to other wellness professionals who are curious about entering the Cannabis industry but aren’t sure where they fit in?
The first thing to think about is what is drawing you in and what your goals are in this industry. Everyone gets in the industry for different reasons, but setting goals keeps you going in the process of a long-term career. We’re at a place with Cannabis where people are starting to recognize it as a preventative medicine versus a luxury or recreational product.
