Women’s History Month: Jasmine Winters Shatters Myths With Protect Your Peace
Jasmine Winters
By Clyde Hughes | AC JosepH Media
GLOUCESTER COUNTY — Jasmine Winters said her struggles with anxiety and OCD led her to using CBD products and now this healthcare advocate has created her own business to share the message and to shatter misconceptions.
Winters is one of many young African Americans breaking into the growing CBD industry. She has owned Protect Your Peace since August 2020. She said she became an advocate for it through her own experiences.
“What led me to starting this brand and company was my passion for mental health awareness as well as a long history of battling anxiety and OCD myself that at times resulted in fainting episodes in my adolescent years,” Winters told Front Runner New Jersey.com.
“During my teenage years my doctor prescribed medication to help with these diagnoses, however; the effects made me feel sluggish; as if I were losing my natural-born drive and ambition. So I quickly stopped taking those medications.”
She said she started therapy in her 20s, which gave her the tools to navigate through moments of feeling overwhelmed. That and her usage of CBD gummies, which she was introduced to her in her early 30s, made a positive difference.
“I then began making gummies at home for myself but then had an idea,” said Winters, the daughter of Gloucester County NAACP president Loretta Winters. “‘Why not help others with a similar story and mental health concerns of their own to find the same peace I experienced with CBD and some THC products?’
“This passion birthed the family-owned and operated business, Protect Your Peace, to support effective management of symptoms related to anxiety, depression, inflammation, insomnia and more.”
She said the meaning behind “Protect Your Peace” is more than protecting your energy. It’s also protecting one’s mental peace from discomforts that CBD can help aid in relieving.
Along with being the CEO of Protect Your Peace, Winters is also the coordinator of healthcare group Thrive NJ Coalition and is a patient advocate for The Women’s Centers. In her interview Winters discussed shattering myths about CBD and mental health along with how African Americans can take advantage of this growing industry.
FRNJ: What surprised you about CBDs once you got into the industry?
Jasmine Winters: Before I became part of the industry, I was a consumer of CBD products. What surprised me most about CBD, was the relief I felt from anxiety and the ability to function without the psychoactive effects, better known as the “high” feeling.
FRNJ: There is so many misconceptions about CBD. What are one of two of the myths you’d like to shatter?
Jasmine Winters: A myth I’d like to shatter is that CBD will cause a high. CBD, or cannabidiol, is the second most prevalent active ingredient in cannabis (marijuana). While CBD is an essential component of medical marijuana, it is derived directly from the hemp plant, a cousin of marijuana, or manufactured in a laboratory. It is one of the hundreds of components in marijuana, however, CBD DOES NOT cause a “high” by itself. CBD is used to aid in relief from anxiety, pain and inflammation, sleeplessness and so much more.
FRNJ: What are your most popular products? Why?
Jasmine Winters: Our most popular products include our CBD infused candles, bath bombs and lip balm. Our candles not only provide an atmosphere of welcoming aroma but they are also designed to be used as a massage oil or skin moisturizer once melted. Our bath bombs leave your skin feeling soft, moisturized and help aid in relaxation. Lastly, our lip balm is designed to moisturize dry, damaged lips and help to seal in moisture. All of our CBD infused products are formulated to help aid in relief from anxiety, pain and inflammation, sleeplessness, skin care such as psoriasis, acne, bug bites and so much more.
FRNJ: How can African Americans break into this field and why is it important for us to be part of it?
Jasmine Winters: Mental health is an essential part of our overall physical health and satisfaction. The Black community suffers from an increased rate of mental health concerns, including anxiety and depression. Given that the Black community exists at the intersection of racism, classism, and health inequity, our mental health needs are often unfulfilled. Breaking into this field as an African American will open doors to destigmatizing mental health concerns, and finding a way to achieve helping people, especially within the black community, to understand that mental health is an essential part of well-being — just like a healthy diet, sleep and exercise.
There are several ways to break into the field of CBD and cannabis entrepreneurship. In New Jersey, if eligible, you may apply for a micro license, allowing you to choose from six different class types of licensing. If helping others to find comfort and peace from physical or mental discomforts, then this business is for you.
FRNJ: Anything else you’d like to add?
Jasmine Winters: Protect Your Peace CBD officially launched its website December 1, 2021. We are hopeful for the expansion of our inventory and accessories that will benefit our customers. We are also excited to announce in the very near future THC infused products coming to our website.
To sign up for the Protect Your Peace email newsletters or browse their store, go to: www.protectyourpeacecbd.com, Phone: 609.972.2187, or email: pyp.cbdinfused@gmail.com.
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