The Founder’s Story

Hi, I’m Michael Ferguson Valenzuela, founder of The Weed Exchange. I was born in Lynwood, California with deformities in my feet and knees that have caused me chronic pain throughout my life.

For years, I managed that pain the way many do - with pharmaceutical drugs. It wasn’t until adulthood that I discovered a safer, more natural alternative: cannabis.

In 2016, I underwent reconstructive knee surgery hoping for relief, but the procedure left me in worse shape than before. Needing work that required less walking and standing, I decided to combine my appreciation for cannabis with my background in online marketing. That’s how The Weed Exchange was born - an attempt to turn a difficult situation into something positive.

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A little about me

• Birthplace: Lynwood, California

• Education: B.S. in Business Administration, Marketing (concentration in e-commerce), California State University, Long Beach

• Previous venture: Real estate broker & founder of The Loft Exchange in Downtown Los Angeles (2008–2017)