Today we’d like to introduce you to Cody Callarman
Cody, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
Cody Callarman is the founder and president of Carolina Dream, a veteran-owned hemp company redefining the industry with premium products and a mission for change. A Marine Corps veteran and South Carolina native, Callarman has become a trusted advocate for cannabis reform, working tirelessly to destigmatize its use and expand access.
After serving as a Marine Sergeant with an infantry deployment in 2010, Callarman earned his BA in Finance from National University and is now pursuing his MBA. His journey into the hemp industry was deeply personal—he witnessed cannabis transform the lives of his mother, who found relief from partial paralysis and opioid dependence, and fellow veterans who used it to manage their injuries and mental health challenges. These experiences ignited his passion to lead the charge for cannabis advocacy in South Carolina.
Under Callarman’s leadership, Carolina Dream has set new benchmarks in the hemp industry, becoming the first company in the U.S. to launch a full line of fast-acting gummies. “Opportunity lurks where responsibility has been abdicated,” Callarman says. “The industry in South Carolina needs a leader willing to step up, and I’m proud to be that voice.”
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Challenges? I face them every single day. I’ve learned that the difference between making something of yourself or not is simple—don’t give up. Not giving up means always finding a way. When a business-crippling problem pops up, you can’t dwell on it. You figure out how to navigate through it. Giving up is the easy route, but it’s also the biggest mental challenge anyone will ever face.
In the cannabis industry, especially in the Southeast, those challenges are even steeper. There’s no delusion about it, there are powers that be who don’t want to see cannabis flourish, but that doesn’t change my mission. I believe in what I’m building, and I know that success in this industry takes resilience, creativity, and relentless determination. I’m here to prove that persistence isn’t just a strategy, it’s the foundation for lasting success.
Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
Carolina Dream: A Mission-Driven Cannabis Brand Redefining Wellness
Carolina Dream isn’t just a cannabis brand, it’s a movement. Founded by a Marine Corps veteran in Charleston, South Carolina, the company is on a mission to redefine wellness through transparency, quality, education, and the transformative power of cannabis. At the heart of Carolina Dream is a deep commitment to integrity, setting what they call the Carolina Standard—a promise to deliver premium, trustworthy cannabis products held to the same rigorous standards as licensed medical and adult-use companies.
Specializing in innovative, functional, and fast-acting cannabis gummies, Carolina Dream ensures that every product reflects its unwavering dedication to quality. Each item comes with a QR code that traces its journey from seed to sale, offering complete transparency to consumers who deserve to know exactly what they’re putting into their bodies.
But for Carolina Dream, this mission is deeply personal. Having witnessed firsthand the devastating effects of the opioid crisis, Cody saw an urgent need for natural, effective alternatives. They’ve experienced the life-changing potential of CBD and cannabis, not just in their own lives but in the lives of veterans, loved ones, and countless others seeking relief.
Carolina Dream stands for more than just exceptional products—it stands for empowerment, education, and breaking the stigma around cannabis. With a relentless drive to create a better world, one product at a time, Carolina Dream is proving that cannabis isn’t just about business—it’s about purpose, healing, and a future where everyone has access to safe, high-quality alternatives.
What were you like growing up?
I was generally quite and to myself. I was born in Jersey, but moved down to Charleston at a young age. I wouldn’t say I left my shell until my last year of high school before joining the Marine Corps.
I have always been a teacher, mentor, and leader figure since the Marine Corps. I prided myself on how well my junior Marines performed, seeing their success was a direct representation of myself. Which led me to becoming a professional instructor after the Marines. From there I took a leap of faith into entrepreneurship and I’m very lucky that cannabis fascinates me. You need to love what you do.
I love farming, being outside, motorsports, physical fitness, college football, and video games with friends.
Pricing:
- Fast Acting Bundle – $85
- Low-country Recovery Bundle – $85
- Uplift+ – $36
- Dreamer nighttime gummies – $36
- Daily Tincture Bundle – $85
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.carolinadream.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thecarolinadream/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thecarolinadream
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/thecarolinadream
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@fromcannabiswithlove
