The former Navy SEAL who killed Osama bin Laden has transitioned from killing to chilling.
Robert O’Neill, the decorated ex-Navy hero who fired the bullets that killed the al Qaeda leader, is settling in as the owner of a new cannabis company, Operator Canna Co., and will soon begin selling his state-licensed marijuana in New York City pot shops, according to The Post.
“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, told The Post.
“It helps to relieve stress. “It helps to get rid of the noise,” the new owner said of pot.
The expert marksman stated that he intends to donate a portion of the proceeds from his company’s sales to disabled veterans through a separate charity.
O’Neill admitted that marijuana was the last thing on his mind while serving as a Navy SEAL commando, noting that pot and other drugs are prohibited in the military.
“One of the general rules in the military is ‘zero tolerance,'” he stated about drugs.
However, the newly minted cannabis merchant suggested that marijuana could help defuse much of America’s nasty, divisive political discourse.
“If we use cannabis, we will have better conversations. “We have the potential for world peace right here,” he declared.
O’Neill, a former SEAL Team 6 member, rose to prominence after claiming responsibility for firing the shots that killed 9/11 mastermind bin Laden during a daring covert raid in Abbottabad, Pakistan, in 2011.
O’Neill considers himself fortunate to be alive, believing that bin Laden had explosives that would kill the Navy SEAL commandos dispatched to apprehend him.
“I thought that would be my last day on Earth: We’re going to kill him, and he’s going to kill us,” said O’Neill.
“We were able to fulfill the mission,” he said gratefully.
“Operator” is the brand name of his cannabis company, as well as the title of his tell-all book about his time as a Navy SEAL and his current podcast.
His military background is interwoven throughout the company. His website is the color of green fatigues, and the cursor is a sniper’s bull’s eye.
His flowering weed strains 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 company’s website states.
“Healer provides a mellow high for when you need to relax from a long battle,” or “Shooter provides the perfect balance of precision focus and calm to ensure you always hit your mark.”
The pre-roll packs containing five joints are dubbed “Front Toward Enemy” and “Fire Like This.”
The former Navy SEAL’s weed, grown and cultivated on a farm upstate, will first be available exclusively at The Flowery cannabis stores on Staten Island and Queens, as well as the Upper West Side and SoHo in Manhattan.
People who work in high-intensity occupations that require complete concentration, he said, should relax and seek psychological relief.
He believes that marijuana is a better alternative to alcohol and prescription drugs.
“Cannabis is an effective way to cope with past stressors.” “It’s a good way for people to relieve anxiety,” O’Neill stated.
His website states that “Operator Canna Co. is on a mission to help veterans and others find healthier alternatives to harmful substances like alcohol and opiates.”
“By offering premium, handcrafted cannabis, we hope to provide a path to recovery and well-being while also empowering those who have served and sacrificed for our freedoms.
“When you choose Operator products, you’re not just getting great cannabis; you’re also helping veterans, law enforcement, and first responders who continue to protect and serve our communities.
Together, we’re creating a future that honors our heroes’ sacrifices while producing the highest quality cannabis for those who demand it. Join our mission and discover the difference.”
O’Neill stated that he personally benefits from smoking marijuana.
“I usually take it at night to help me go to sleep,” he told me.
He co-founded Operator Canna Co. with Ari Molovinsky, a 45-year-old entrepreneur with extensive sales and social media background. They met a few years back.
“We are excited about the future. “Cannabis is a product that brings people together,” Molovinsky explained.
There are currently 307 licensed marijuana dispensaries in the Empire State.
New York regulators recently announced that the state had surpassed $1 billion in sales from the growing industry. Sales skyrocketed last year following a rocky rollout marred by lawsuits and agency backlogs in issuing licenses for 2022 and 2023.
The state Office of Cannabis Management projects that the number of licensed weed shops will double to more than 625 by the end of 2025.
