Why It Started

My journey into the hemp and cannabinoid industry began as a father long before it became a business.

My son, Colten, was diagnosed at just three years old with idiopathic generalized epilepsy.
Like most parents facing that diagnosis, we followed the medical guidance available at the time, which meant prescription medications from an early age. While those medications were intended to help manage his condition, they also came with side effects that were difficult to watch and even harder to accept over the long term. 

As a parent, I couldn’t shake the question:
Is there a safer, more natural way to support his body—one that doesn’t introduce new problems while trying to solve another?

“I wasn’t looking to start a company. I was looking for something I could trust for my own child.”

The Science That Changed Everything

That question led me into extensive research on cannabinoids and the body’s endocannabinoid system (ECS).
What I discovered wasn’t hype or speculation—it was a foundational biological system present in all humans, designed to interact with naturally occurring compounds found in the hemp plant.

Even more compelling was what I learned about full-spectrum hemp extracts—the idea that multiple cannabinoids and naturally occurring plant compounds can work together in a way that isolated or synthetic compounds often can’t replicate.

I became focused on building a product I could stand behind with complete confidence—because it mattered to my family first.

2014: Turning Purpose Into a Research Program

In 2014, when Kentucky reopened hemp cultivation under the federal research pilot program, I applied with a singular purpose: to develop high-quality, non-intoxicating, full-spectrum CBD oil that I would feel confident exploring for my own family—especially as an option worth considering alongside, or in some cases as an alternative to, prescription-heavy approaches.

I was awarded one of the very first hemp research pilot programs in Kentucky, and at the time,
the only program focused exclusively on cannabinoid research. That work became the foundation of
Kentucky Cannabis Company.

The KCC Standard

From the beginning, the mission was clear: control every step of the process—genetics, cultivation, extraction,
formulation, and testing—so nothing is lost, altered, or diluted.

Long before “full spectrum” became a marketing term, we were focused on preserving the natural complexity of the hemp plant, because that’s how the plant works—and how the body often responds best.

• Transparency first: clear processes, consistent standards, and lab verification.
• Whole-plant integrity: full-spectrum formulations designed to preserve natural synergy.
• Education-driven: helping customers understand quality, safety, and what truly matters.

Today & Beyond

Today, I remain deeply committed to education and transparency—helping families, healthcare professionals, and consumers understand the difference between natural, whole-plant cannabinoid support and isolated or lab-altered alternatives that often miss the mark.

What began as a father’s determination to find a better option for his son has grown into a lifelong commitment to raising the standard of the hemp industry—so other families don’t have to navigate the same uncertainty we once faced.

— Bill Polyniak, Founder