Contact Mieko Perez Mieko@uf4a.org

Mieko Hester-Perez, International Autism & Cannabis Healthcare Advocate    

• President, CA Corporate & Attorney Services, Inc.
• Board Member, California Aquatic Therapy & Wellness Center Inc.
• Board Member, California Minority Alliance
• Board Member, Chalkin Social Foundation
• Board Member, Norml Woman's Alliance 
• Education Director, From the Earth Dispensary | CA State Licensed  

In 2009, Mieko Hester-Perez decided to go public with her son's success with medical cannabis and since that day in 2009, she has become a source of inspiration and information for families looking to explore unconventional and holistic treatment options within the autism spectrum.  Mieko diligently leads the pack with tremendous knowledge regarding laws, regulations, products and a plethora of family resource options.  She possesses personal knowledge and experience navigating through treatment options resulting in positive outcomes for families throughout the world.  Although medical marijuana is not known to be a cure for autism, it has proven to facilitate life for her son and has ushered him into documented progressive development.

The combination of 20 years of legal experience and over 15 years of special education knowledge, make Mieko a modern day “warrior mom” within the industry. As Co-Founder of UF4A.org, she consults with families, autism organizations, universities and healthcare professionals.  In 2012, Mieko was awarded the Evelyn DuPont Award for improving the lives of children with autism and she has also received special recognition from Congress for her many hours of community service and dedication.  She most recently was also the recipient of the 2016 Lifetime Advocate Award at the Chalice Festival.

Her expertise in cannabis consulting with special needs families has made her an ideal board member on the NORML’s Woman’s Alliance, which is one of the most progressive and respected marijuana organizations internationally.    In 2015, Mieko was placed on the Advisory Board for Acology Inc. and created a custom, FDA approved, child-resistant container to house “Joey’s Strain”, a specific cannabis strain for persons on the autism spectrum.  In 2016 Mieko became a Scientific Advisory Board for Cannabis Science, Inc. representing the voice for patient-centered focus regarding clinical decisions.  

In 2016, Mieko participated in and endorsed Costa Mesa’s Measure W for safe, quality medical marijuana access in the city.  Mieko and Joey’s journey were featured in pamphlets and commercials throughout the campaign. 

Mieko is currently participating in a funding campaign with a collaboration of Israeli moms, American moms and cannabis advocates to get medical cannabis treatment accessible for children and adults with Autism. The goal of the campaign is to fund essential research to make it a “Qualifying Condition” around the world.  Israel is a groundbreaking state in medical cannabis research and Mieko supports the campaign and has brought attention to it with her professional and personal expertise in the subject.

In 2016, Mieko developed The Joey Network introducing the first cannabis and autism-centered app made available for patients throughout the world.  This app was created as an informational tool for families and medical professionals, who have exhausted all other treatment options associated with treating autism symptoms.  Updates on cannabis news and media clips are also included within the app.  In 2017 Mieko’s alliance crossed over into the Island of Puerto Rico providing viable resources to their growing autism community and the interest in cannabis therapies and dietary alternatives working with multiple organizations. 

Mieko has participated as a key speaker and panel expert at many engagements throughout the United States including the International Association for Food Protection IAPF 2018 in Salt Lake City Utah on the panel on Identifying Knowledge Gaps Surrounding the Safe Production, Sale and Consumption of Cannabis and Cannabis-related Products, the 3^rd Annual Professional Palliative Care High Technology Conference 2018 at University of San Marcos in San Diego, 13th Annual Embracing Excellence in Oncology Nursing Practice 2018 organized by Hoag Health Center in Newport Beach California, Vegas Cannabis Summit 2018, Canna Tech 2017 in Tel Aviv Israel, the 2016 Palliative Care Education Endowment for Hoag Hospital in Newport Beach, California, 2016 Autism One conference, 2015 West Hollywood Cannabis Educational Forum and the 2012 Cypress Hill Smoke Out Festival.

In spring 2018 Mieko Perez, the education director of the From the Earth Information & Resource Center teams up with the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute in Boston trying to understand the role of medical marijuana in cancer care. The title of the study is “Qualitative Analysis of Medical Marijuana Use in Oncology.” As a cannabis healthcare advocate she has been able to provide patients with an opportunity to participate in this study that meet the standard requirements. 

Joey and Mieko’s journey has been featured on a number of shows including FOX Morning News, The Doctors, The Dr. Juan Rivera Show, NBC, CBS, Good Morning America, ABC’s 20/20, Motherboard, Vice Media and The National Marijuana News.  Their story aired internationally on The Columbian Latin American News Network, Univision, Telemundo, Cannabis Capitol TV, ABC Fusion Channel and Australia’s number one morning show in the United Kingdom.  

Medical Cannabis Journal, High Times, Kush, Spectrum Magazine and other cannabis-based publications have featured Mieko as a pioneer to this ground-breaking treatment.  In April of 2015, Mieko was named among some of the most influential woman in the cannabis movement by Skunk Magazine.  Mieko was also recently featured in OC Weekly, ENDOCA, Generosity, Huffington Post and Leafly.com.

Deep within her soul Mieko feels blessed to have Joey as her son and she strives every single day to share their journey.     Today Joey is flourishing with new communicative expressions and he’s happier, healthier, better behaved and is more productive than ever before.  Mieko pledges to “leave no family behind” and every single day her mission is to help families improve the quality of life for their loved ones through unconventional treatments. 

Contact: Mieko Perez  mieko@uf4a.org   | Instagram: Mieko Perez

For more events where you can find Mieko Perez, read below or go to current projects tab...

 Mieko Perez joins the panel on Identifying Knowledge Gaps Surrounding the Safe Production, Sale and Consumption of Cannabis and Cannabis-related Products. Read More

Mieko speaks at the CSU Institute for Palliative Care at Cal State San Marcos and the San Diego Coalition for Compassionate Care for a full day of learning and collaboration on June 15, 2018. Read more 

Mieko speaks at the Palliative Care Conference on her new role as a healthcare advocate and end of life care for her son Joey who passed away in April 2018 from complications with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy.

On May 5, 2018 Mieko Perez accepts a board member role with the California Aquatic Therapy & Wellness Center Inc. at the 55th Cinco De Mayo Anniversary event in Long Beach along with presenting the warm water facility with a philanthropic donation from, From the Earth Dispensary in efforts to support organizations that support the citizens in their communities. For more information: www.caaquatictherapy.com

Medical Cannabis Fourm Panel, Mieko Perez

13th Annual Embracing Excellence in Oncology Nursing Practice is organized by Hoag Health Center and will be held during Feb 23 - 24, 2018 at Hilton Waterfront Beach Resort, Huntington Beach, California, United States of America.  

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Ground breaking Cannabis & Clinical study set to take place In Israel.

Published 11/15/2016

Launching on November 15^th a crowd-funding campaign for recognized clinical study with persons on the  autism spectrum.

This ground breaking collaboration is with American and Israeli special needs mothers working together on global mission for families who are choosing medical cannabis as a safe and effective medical treatment. 

Abigail Dar an Israeli mom, activist and cannabis advocate who is involved in the clinical data gathering for the Israeli study.   Janie Maedler is a policy advocate, CannaKids ASD Consultant, and Board President of Rylie’s Smile Foundation.  Mieko Hester-Perez is an International Special Needs Advocate, Co-founder to UF4A.org, Scientific Advisor, and a Board Member on the NORML Women's Alliance.

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Mieko was presented with the Chalice Festival's Industry Dedication Award for her tireless work helping families with special needs children to better understand medical cannabis

Mieko Hester-Perez is a modern day warrior mom, a champion of special needs families. Every single day, her mission is to help families improve the quality of life for their loved ones through unconventional treatments and she has pledged to “leave no family behind.” Read more hopegrown.org 

Mieko & Jesse Stanley one of the founders of Charlotte's Web at the Autism One Conference.

 Mieko Perez joins the Medical Cannabis Panelist at The Autism One 2016  Conference held May 25-29, 2016, at the Loews Chicago  O’Hare Hotel  in Rosemont, IL. For more information  autismone.org 

Kevin McKernan – Sequencing the cannabis genome at CPHx 2012 - Copenhagenomics 2012

Discussing Joey & Mieko Perez 11:17

Sharing genomics expertise • June 14-15, 2012