My name is Matthew Brown, and I am the Chief Financial Officer of Hemp Not Trees. I am a 19 year old who's greatest ambition is to become a notable philanthropist in this world of ours and give to those who are born into poverty an opportunity to grow in society. I was born in Newark, New Jersey at the Newark Beth Israel Medical Center and lived in various cities growing up, including Hillside, Jersey City, and Union City. When I was 6 years old, I moved to West Orange, New Jersey, where I met Austyn Rosa and Abijah Minton.

 

I currently attend Howard University in Washington, DC, where I major in finance and focus my efforts on building awareness of the miraculous benefits that hemp and CBD products can have in our every day lives. Though I knew of Austyn and Abijah, I did not establish a relationship with either of them until fate brought Abijah and I to the same university. It was during our first summer orientation at Howard that I was able to meet Abijah, where we instantly bonded like brothers. We talked about many things, ranging from where we came from in life to where we wanted to go and what impacts we wanted to sustain. Our relationship was authentic and efficient in a way that aided us both on our paths toward Hemp Not Trees and ultimately my involvement in the company. Like Austyn,

 

I experimented with marijuana recreationally during my high school days. I came to enjoy the plant and the benefits it had on helping my body recover during wrestling and track seasons. As an athlete, I have always pushed my limits and suffered from severe muscular pain because of it. It has been the combination of CBD and THC that allows me to push my body further that I would have ever imagine, and the decision is one that I will continue to stand by. It was during our first winter recess from Howard that Austyn and Abijah manifested the vision that would become HNT.

 

In Austyn's basement, the first "Think Tank" was held, during which Austyn and Abijah dished out ideas about how they could build a company that would incorporate hemp and CBD into the lives of the many people who so desperately need it. Though I was not present, Austyn and Abijah saw me as a fitting and suitable candidate for the position of CFO. When presented with the chance, I immediately recognized it as a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity and accepted without hesitation.

 

I have always been a business-savy person, and thus my acceptance of this honorable position is accompanied by the skills and know-how necessary to complete each milestone task that will help HNT establish a large and thorough market for only the highest of high-quality hemp and CBD products. Like that of mine and Abijah's, my relationship with Austyn instantly flourished during that first winter recess when Abijah formally introduced us to each other.

 

After a night of hanging out and discussing what each of us stood for as individuals and why we stood for it, it was totally clear that these were intellectuals that I have been graciously Blessed to meet and grow with. For that, my gratitude is unbounded and all-embracing.