JJ Coombs, the Pharmacist Building a Smarter High

JJ Coombs never set out to join the cannabis industry. He certainly didn’t imagine himself leading it. A board-certified pharmacist with more than 15 years in the cannabis industry. Coombs built his career around the careful, calculated world of traditional medicine. But that background is exactly what makes his next chapter so compelling.

As the founder of Mellow Fellow, a rising cannabis brand built around science-forward products and functional effects, Coombs isn’t chasing trends — he’s redefining standards with an approach rooted in his training, culture, and core values.

From Pharmacy to Formulation

Before there was Burn, Creativity, or Dream — Mellow Fellow’s function-focused cannabis blends — there was a question: Why wasn’t anyone treating cannabis with the same care and precision used in medicine?

“I saw a lot of products flooding the market that were mislabeled or misleading,” says Coombs, who is based in South Florida. “There wasn’t enough consistency. You could try the same strain twice and have completely different experiences. As a pharmacist, that didn’t sit right with me.”

That gap in reliability became his mission. Through Mellow Fellow, Coombs began creating pharmacist-formulated cannabinoid blends — combinations of compounds like THCv, CBN, and Delta-10 — designed not just for potency, but for purpose. Need focus without the jitters of caffeine? That’s Burn. Want a smoother, more balanced high that still hits? That’s THCh, a rare cannabinoid that’s become one of the brand’s signatures.

Each formulation is a reflection of Coombs' belief that cannabis can — and should — serve people in their day-to-day lives. “It’s not about chasing a high,” he says. “It’s about crafting a feeling that people can return to again and again with confidence.”

The Burn Blend and the Rise of Functional Cannabis

While much of the cannabis industry is still focused on relaxation or recreation, Mellow Fellow is carving out space in a different lane: function. The brand’s 2024 Bella Magazine Beauty Award-winning Burn Blend was designed with productivity in mind, helping users power through creative blocks or focus-heavy tasks without the fog or fatigue often associated with THC.

The star ingredient? THCv, a lesser-known cannabinoid that provides an energizing, clear-headed experience.

“There’s a science to how you feel,” he explains. “My job is to understand the pharmacology and design products that make people feel exactly what they’re hoping to feel — nothing more, nothing less.”

Engineering the Experience

Product formulation is only one part of the equation. Delivery matters, too, and that’s where Mellow Fellow’s 360 Spinner vape comes in. The 360 Spinner vape is a product of the same intentional thinking that Coombs brings to the company’s formulations. With aerodynamic airflow and spinning technology that enhances terpene flavor while minimizing harshness, it complements his vision for a smoother, smarter cannabis experience.

“People overlook hardware, but it’s part of the experience,” he says. “You can have the best formula in the world, but if the delivery isn’t right, you lose the impact.”

A Voice for Representation in Cannabis

As a Mexican-American entrepreneur in a space that remains overwhelmingly white and male at the ownership level, Coombs is also using his platform to advocate for representation, education, and accountability.

“There’s still a stigma attached to cannabis, especially in communities of color,” he says. “Part of our mission is to change that — to normalize its use, to show it can be done responsibly, and to open the door for others to lead in this space.”

Every Mellow Fellow product is third-party tested and transparently labeled, a reflection of Coombs’ dual commitment to safety and equity. His leadership, supported by partners Jerry, Lindsey, and Lex, centers a future where cannabis is smarter, more inclusive, and grounded in real knowledge — not just hype.

What’s Next?

Mellow Fellow is continuing to expand, with more formulations in development and new collaborations on the horizon. But for Coombs, success isn’t about becoming the biggest brand in cannabis — it’s about building trust, one blend at a time.

“We’re not here to overwhelm people,” he says. “We’re here to meet them where they are, with products that actually work for their lives.”

In an industry often marked by extremes, either too clinical or too chaotic, JJ Coombs is proving that cannabis can be thoughtful, transparent, and yes, still a little bit fun. Not by accident. By design.