The previous Navy SEAL who nailed Osama bin Laden has gone from killing to chilling.
Robert O’Neill, the adorned ex-Navy scorching shot who fired the bullets that killed the al Qaeda fiend, is mellowing out because the proprietor of a brand new hashish agency — Operator Canna Co. — and can quickly begin promoting his model of state-licensed marijuana in New York Metropolis pot outlets, The Publish has discovered.
“I wanted to get into the cannabis business through my experience in the military and watching vets suffer from things like post-traumatic stress disorder,” O’Neill, 48, instructed The Publish.
“It’s a good way to take the edge off. It helps to get rid of the noise,” the budding proprietor stated of pot.
The knowledgeable marksman stated he plans to ship a portion of revenues from his firm gross sales to disabled vets by way of a separate charitable group.
O’Neill acknowledged that marijuana was the very last thing on his thoughts serving as a Navy SEAL commando, noting pot and different medicine are verboten within the navy.
“One of the general rules in the military is ‘zero tolerance,’ ” he stated of medicine.
However the freshly minted hashish service provider quipped that pot might assist additionally defuse a lot of America’s nasty, divisive political discourse.
“If we take cannabis, we can have better conversations. We have the potential for world peace right here,” he stated.
A former SEAL Group 6 member, O’Neill grew to become well-known when he took credit score for firing the photographs that killed 9/11 mastermind bin Laden throughout a daring 2011 covert raid in Abbottabad, Pakistan.
O’Neill counts his blessings that he’s nonetheless alive, pondering on the time that bin Laden had explosives that might kill the group of Navy SEAL commandos despatched to take him out.
“I thought that would be my last day on Earth: We’re going to kill him, and he’s going to kill us,” O’Neill stated.
“We were able to fulfill the mission,” he stated gratefully.
“Operator”– the model identify of his hashish firm — is similar moniker used for his tell-all ebook about serving as a Navy SEAL in addition to his present podcast.
His navy expertise is woven all through the corporate. His web site has the colour of inexperienced fatigues, and the cursor on the positioning is a picture of a sniper’s bull’s eye.
His strains of flowered weed are known as “Healer-Indica”, “Warrior-Sativa” and “Shooter-Hybrid.”
“Warrior is an energetic strain for when you need to be on high alert,” his firm web site says.
“Healer provides a mellow high for when you need to relax from a long battle,” and “Shooter provides the perfect balance of precision focus and calm to ensure you always hit your mark.”
The pre-roll packs with 5 joints are known as “Front Toward Enemy” and “Fire Like This.”
The previous Navy SEAL’s weed, grown and cultivated at a farm upstate, will first be bought completely in The Flowery hashish shops on Staten Island and in Queens, in addition to the Higher West Aspect and SoHo in Manhattan.
Individuals concerned in super-high-intense occupations that require whole focus have to chill out and get psychological aid, he stated.
He believes marijuana is a greater various than alcohol and prescribed drugs.
“Cannabis is a real way to deal with the stress of the past. It’s a good way for people to get rid of anxiety,” O’Neill stated.
His web site says, “Operator Canna Co. is on a mission to assist veterans and others discover more healthy alternate options to dangerous substances like alcohol and opiates.
“By providing premium, hand-crafted hashish, we purpose to supply a path to restoration and well-being, whereas empowering those that have served and sacrificed for our freedoms.
“When you choose Operator products, you’re not just enjoying exceptional cannabis — you’re supporting veterans, law enforcement, and first responders who continue to protect and serve our communities. Together, we’re building a future that honors the sacrifices of our heroes, while crafting the finest cannabis for those who demand excellence. Join our mission and experience the difference.”
O’Neill stated he personally advantages from smoking ganja.
“I usually take it at night to help me go to sleep,” he stated.
He co-founded Operator Canna Co. with Ari Molovinsky, a 45-year-old businessman who has in depth expertise in gross sales and social media. They met just a few years in the past.
“We’re excited about the future. Cannabis is a product that brings people together,” Molovinsky stated.
There are presently 307 licensed pot dispensaries working within the Empire State.
New York regulators lately introduced the state has surpassed $1 billion in gross sales from the rising trade. Gross sales ramped up sky excessive final yr after a rocky rollout beset by lawsuits and company backlogs in issuing licenses in 2022 and 2023.
The variety of licensed weed outlets is predicted to double to greater than 625 by the of finish of 2025, the state Workplace of Hashish Administration tasks.