Bud & Mary’s is a multi-generational family-owned company named after the first generation of our family, Bud and Mary Nelson. With decades of plant science behind us, our core values reflect longevity and family values. Proudly 3rd generation and locally sourced, we prioritize our customers’ wants and needs and are dedicated to pushing the boundaries of innovation through cannabis research. Bud & Mary. For the people.
In a rapidly evolving industry often faced with preconceptions, Bud & Mary’s emerged with a vision of transparency, quality, and community. A name that evokes nostalgia and familiarity, Bud & Mary’s is more than just a cannabis brand—it’s a tribute to family values, scientific curiosity, and a commitment to transforming lives.
Bud & Mary’s was born out of a desire to revolutionize the cannabis industry and serve people with thoughtfully crafted products that combine innovation, expertise, and care. Behind this brand is Dr. Chris Nelson, whose passion for discovery and commitment to improving lives were instilled by his parents, Bud and Mary Nelson. Their values of compassion, integrity, and service continue to shape the brand’s mission today.
Chris saw an opportunity to combine innovation with compassion to bring scientifically backed products to the cannabis market, and he seized it. But the story doesn’t start with cannabis. It starts with two people who believed in the power of plants long before it was trendy.
Bud and Mary Nelson were pioneers whose journey began long before the first cannabis seed was planted at Bud & Mary’s. With five children and a spirit of entrepreneurship, they founded Kemin Industries in 1961. In a vacant wool barn on the outskirts of Des Moines, Iowa, with just $10,000 in savings, they crafted their first product—a silage preservative that helped farmers protect their crops.
Bud was the innovator, formulating products using a Maytag® washer to mix ingredients, while Mary managed operations from their kitchen table, balancing the books and caring for their children. Their grit, resilience, and unwavering commitment to improving lives became the foundation of a global enterprise.
Kemin Industries grew from those humble beginnings into a global leader in plant science and molecular innovation, offering more than 500 specialty ingredients to customers in over 120 countries. Guided by a vision to transform the quality of life, Kemin’s products unlock the vast potential of plants for humans, livestock, and pets, setting the stage for the next chapter of the Nelson family legacy.
Dr. Nelson, inspired by his parents’ vision and compelled by a chemist’s curiosity, recognized an emerging frontier where plant science could once again make a difference—cannabis. As the industry became more mainstream, he saw an opportunity to apply decades of scientific expertise to create high-quality, trustworthy cannabis products.
In 2016, Dr. Chris Nelson founded MedPharm Holdings in Colorado, establishing a company committed to advancing cannabis research and developing innovative, science-backed products. The following year, he submitted an application to enter Iowa’s newly formed medical cannabis market, ultimately securing one of the state’s first licenses to provide patients with safe, effective cannabis-based therapies.
Product research and development began in late 2017, and by mid-2018, MedPharm introduced its first adult-use product in Colorado: the BATCH Signature vape line, marking the brand’s official debut in the regulated cannabis space. On December 1, 2018, MedPharm Iowa opened dispensary doors in Sioux City and Windsor Heights, making history as the first operator to legally sell medical cannabis products under the Iowa Medical Cannabis Program.
In 2021, MedPharm further cemented its leadership by becoming the only cannabis operator in the United States to earn a Schedule I DEA license, authorizing the company to conduct groundbreaking clinical trials. This rare federal designation positioned MedPharm at the forefront of cannabis science, combining rigorous research with a steadfast commitment to patient care and therapeutic efficacy.
As the cannabis industry matured, so did the company’s vision. In 2022, MedPharm Holdings and MedPharm Iowa were unified and rebranded as Bud & Mary’s—a name that honors the Nelson family legacy and reflects a renewed dedication to innovation, trust, and improving lives. The brand’s identity is a nod to the past and a bold step toward the future, blending nostalgia with next-generation science to shape what cannabis can truly be.
Today, Bud & Mary’s is a leading name in medical cannabis and an emerging force in the adult-use markets of Colorado, Michigan, Missouri, and beyond. This growth is fueled by a dedication to scientific precision and groundbreaking technology.
At Bud & Mary’s, innovation extends beyond cultivation, encompassing a portfolio of brands that push the boundaries of cannabis. With cutting-edge technology, true-to-plant experiences, and precision-crafted formulations, the company delivers products designed to meet the needs of every consumer.
