Dr. Annabelle Manalo-Morgan | How A Mother’s worst nightmare Became her passion and Purpose

Dr. Annabelle Manalo-Morgan is a Filipino-Canadian scientist, educator, author, speaker, wife, and mother of five. She earned her bachelor’s degree in biology from Eastern Kentucky University. She began her graduate work at Georgetown University in Neuroscience and completed her PhD in Cell and Developmental Biology at Vanderbilt University.   

In 2016, Dr. Annabelle’s life changed forever when she gave birth to her third child, Macario. Macario means “blessing” in Tagalog, and he has certainly lived up to his name! Macario’s birth was smooth, and was even discharged from the hospital early. Just a few hours at home, Macario was seizing and foaming at the mouth. They immediately returned back to the hospital for tests and treatment. From birth, Macario suffered up to 200 seizures per day. Unfortunately, nothing was working. At just twenty-eight days old, Macario spent 9 hours of surgery to remove 38% of his brain.   

As a mom, Dr. Annabelle felt helpless. As a scientist, she was unsatisfied with traditional medicine so she had to take matters into her own hands. Being from Saskatchewan and of Filipino heritage, indigenous roots to healing and alternative medicine paired with spirituality, helped fuel Dr. Annabelle's quest to find remedies beyond what the pharmacy could offer. She was interested in finding treatments that could help her son’s development and improve his quality of life. After careful research and testing, Dr. Annabelle developed a pure and potent proprietary cannabidiol (CBD) formula to put through her son’s G-tube. Within 3 days, Macario was expressing emotions and had energy for movement. He was walking by 14 months old. Macario is now a happy and healthy kid, thanks to his mom and the power of this “mighty flower”. 

Dr. Annabelle is taking a new route of research to reclaim the narrative about the cannabis plant. In her latest book, Mighty Flower, she states, “I believe we are blessed with certain gifts in life, gifts that our background, upbringing, and experiences hone over time – and one of the greatest blessings is to be able to utilize those gifts to the benefit of our greater community”. 

We had the opportunity to interview Dr. Annabelle about her journey, the positive impacts cannabis has on numerous health ailments, and how we can work together to develop cannabis medicine that we can be proud of and that patients can both access and trust. “It’s time we water the seed of this mighty flower and watch where it may grow”.  

1. Tell us about your brand and how Masaya started?

Masaya means “happy”in Tagalog. There was no plan to start a company, but it was born out of necessity. When my son had to have 38% of his brain removed, I believed that he could develop even just a little bit. Because of my background in neuroscience I knew that the brain could rewire and maybe even compensate for the area that he lost, even just a little bit. I had faith and wanted to give him the best chance and have some quality of life. 

When I turned to cannabis to formulate a product for him, it was a solution to replace the medication he was on and to give him neuroplasticity, which means the brain’s ability to rewire and adapt to change. I didn’t know what to expect. In 2019, when Macario turned 3 years old, we formed a company. I wasn’t trying to get with the CBD craze and get in every gas station, Target or box store. I wanted to be research backed, and part of collaborations with those aligned with cannabis as a medicine, and the science within cannabis. We named our company Masaya because seeing Macario’s progress made us happy. My child was able to overcome and heal so that he could be a normal child today. 

My dad’s cancer diagnosis and the realization that there was a protocol that they followed in the medical field, inspired me to pursue my PhD. I didn’t want to accept that he just had months to live. I realized that there was no out of the box thinking in traditional medicine. While working in an academic setting, I also kept my eyes open to use both holistic and traditional medicine in a more personalized manner. I have a neutral mindset. What if we focused on the patient as opposed to our know how? What if we had an out of the box, collaborative mentality. If we did that, the patient would be so much better off. Right now, we operate in separate boxes. We don’t often get the opportunity to seek outside what we practice so I am here to bridge the gap. After my dad’s diagnosis and Macario, I knew this was the plan that I was destined for.

2. What makes Masaya different from all the other brands out there?

We are not focused on revenue or making a bunch of products. We are focused on R&D. It’s a platform for education, helping others understand the different cannabinoids so that we can eventually see specific medications come out of cannabis for specific diseases. The way it works right now, it's free for all. We can simply walk down the aisles in Target and pick up over the counter drugs knowing that Tylenol is used for headaches or Ben Gay is used for back pain. Cannabis is not specific like over the counter drugs. I want to do the same for cannabis as behind the counter drugs.  

3. What was one of the biggest obstacles you faced along the way while creating Masaya and how did you overcome it?

When I was creating Macario’s formula, there was no cannabis in Tennessee, which is where we live. I used hemp derived CBD, and even getting that was a huge obstacle. I couldn’t find it anywhere to study and bring it to the lab. When forming the company, I needed to get people to understand my why. I only had one product and people questioned how I would generate revenue. I was always focused on science and less on business. 

My company was acquired last year by Flora Growth, based in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Masaya serves as the Life Sciences/Pharmaceutical arm of the company. The product is not being sold because it’s currently undergoing clinical trials. We are aiming to sell it as a prescription medicine within the next year or two. The trials are on chronic musculoskeletal pain. This is a baseline formula, which is different from what I created for Macario. The goal is to achieve homeostasis so that your body can heal.  

I am a collaborator! I am not a chemist or pharmacologist. I am a cellular biologist. I educate, give due diligence, and connect with others to give a stamp of approval on different formulas that are coming out. There’s a lot of technology innovations taking place in plant-based medicine. I am involved in a lot of the creation, and I am excited about collaborating with others to see the industry move forward faster. The only way we can do that, is if we work together! I like to contribute to the current models. I am backing up what I talk about with research. It’s about being able to present the appropriate information and knowing my audience. I’ve had nothing but love and support.  

4. In your book, Mighty Flower, you wrote that “if we do not stop the perpetuation of the myths surrounding this plant, we may deprive countless individuals of an opportunity to heal their bodies”.  What are a couple of common myths about CBD that you want to debunk? 

CBD does not cure everything. Nothing is perfect and no two bodies are the same. Our lives are not that simple. CBD can help bring about homeostasis and reduce inflammation. But, not all cannabis is safe! It’s not being legalized as fast as we expected. It’s not federally regulated. People are making stuff outside of their garages, and it’s not made in a pure manner. No one is inspecting the final product to make sure no residue is left. Proper regulation is needed. CBD is safe if it’s done right and correct. Advocacy takes more than holding up a sign. We have to back it with data and research – the weapons we need to see this plant get legalized. 


5. In moments of self-doubt as a mother, doctor and entrepreneur, what do you do to build yourself back up?

I am human! I am balancing a lot! I have 5 kids, and a husband, Roy “Gramps” Morgan, who is a reggae, Grammy award winning artist. He travels a lot, and I also work in multiple places around the world: I consult with the different governments, run different clinical trials in labs around the world, and just launched my book. There are days where I need a break!

I put myself first. If we are not our best selves, then we cannot give our best to others. Being a former athlete, if I don’t feel good, I am not going to look good. I need to get that workout in. I need to have my spa days! I listen to my body and what I need. As women we are constantly serving others and giving them what they need, teaching, and going to pick up the kids. What about ourselves? I am very simple, even if it’s a breath of fresh air or a little me time. That’s all I need. 

I am incredibly organized. I prepare! I have a huge whiteboard in my house to prioritize everything I have to do. It’s about being a leader. My kids are my priority, and everything and everyone gets attention. We just have to take turns and help each other. Whether it’s my oldest daughter helping her little brother or my husband tackling half of my to do list. 

If my kids aren’t well, then I am not well. If I am going to my son’s basketball game, I am not taking calls. If I am playing Lego with my little guy, I am present. If I am at my husband’s show, I am present and in the moment. If it’s about me, it’s about me. I have been able to create a level of happiness within my home because I am extremely present even though I am traveling and away a lot. When I am home, I am home. That gives me peace and I don’t feel bad. When I am home, I give so much of myself and I am present in it. 


6. Knowing what you know now, what would you do differently? If anything?

I don’t have any regrets. I like to educate on my experiences so others don’t make the same mistakes. Those tragedies have molded me to be who I am today. Those mistakes have made me strong and they are all teaching moments. I am super optimistic and I have a lot of faith. I am not afraid of change or rejection. I’ve done so many things, and I have never been afraid to step out into the unknown. You never know, there may be things that you want to change, which may turn out to be a gift.  

I grew up with Filipino parents who didn’t allow me to be a pushover or allow me to fail. They didn’t allow me to get down on myself. It required strength! Being a former athlete taught me a lot about mindset. As quick as you make a mistake, you can turn that around and create something beautiful. You don’t get anywhere pouting or feeling sorry for yourself. You have to use that tragedy as a stepping stone or opportunity. Focus on what you have to be grateful for. Gratitude and peace help me overcome anything. 



7. What kind of advice would you give to someone who is interested in considering CBD for treatment?

Do your homework! Understand where it comes from, who manufactured it, and what you want it for. Every person is different. What works for me may not work for you. We are all genetically different and we should be treated in a personalized manner. 

Some reputable sources include Leafly which is a nice bridge between recreational and medical news. Other sources like Physicians CBD Council and Mmeri Program at Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University have scientific updates and experts that share innovations within medicine. 


8. What is one of the biggest lessons you’ve learned so far ever since starting Masaya?

In regards to business, I learned that it’s important to understand what your mission statement is and what you’d like to see come out of your work. Take the time to ensure that you are aligned with the people you collaborate with. The work that you do should be more than a job. Even a small job prepares you for that larger gig. Take a step back and understand the give and take. 

As far as life, life is a roller coaster and that is ok. All the tragedies and roadblocks we hit are designed to be stepping stones to help us become greater. Who are we without a testimonial and story? That becomes our power and for me that’s become what I have to share with the world. 



9. What does it mean to be Filipino for you? 

Just recently, I was awarded as one of the Top 50 influential Filipinas by the Filipino American Chamber of Commerce of Greater Los Angeles. It feels good to be celebrated amongst other Filipinos that are doing a diversity of things. It’s inspirational and motivates me to keep going.  

Coming from a Filipino family and household, it’s important to give back to the community and to medicine. All the work I am doing, I want to contribute all that I can, whether that’s through education, consultation, or building a bridge. I came from incredible parents and I understand the sacrifices that were made for me growing up in Canada so I can be who I am today. I not only want to give back to my parents, but the Philippines as a whole. 



10. What are you currently working on?   

I just launched my book, Mighty Flower, which I wrote to use as a platform for my ideas and thoughts on how to bridge the gap between all the medical boxes that we have. I want to collaborate with others and use my platform to get funding for the right research. I want to break the boxes down so we can have more personalized, precision based medicine. It’s not going to happen overnight, but I will continue to have these conversations in order to create the mindset of personalized medicine: whether that is holistically, holistically plus traditional medicine, or remove stigmas and get doctors talking to each other. I want to get scientists outside of the lab and have them communicate with doctors. I want to be the bridge to that stairwell! Doctors and scientists should be able to talk to each other. We need to create a synergy among all these different spaces to create the best care for our patients. It’s a big thing to tackle, but stories like my son’s and the faith and mindset that I have as a scientist, we will continue to see progress. 

11. How can people reach you? 

Doctorannabelle.com 


Written by Jennifer Redondo

Co-Founder and Co-Author of In Her Purpose


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