Interviewee:
Meghan Zaklin, MSN, FNP-BC
In your own words, tell us about your business, organization, or initiative.
ECS Wellness was founded in 2017 by my late husband Ryan D. Zaklin, MD, MA, with a vision for wellness centered around supporting the endocannabinoid system (ECS). The ECS is the body’s master regulator, responding to internal and external stimuli and helping regulate systems such as the nervous, gastrointestinal, and cardiovascular systems. Ever wonder why you feel so good after exercise or connecting with someone you love? That feeling comes from the ECS releasing anandamide — our body’s own THC-like compound, often called the “bliss molecule.”
Cannabis can support this system, but it is not the only solution. Mind-body medicine and lifestyle interventions are also essential for restoring balance.
As experts in medical cannabis and the endocannabinoid system, and positioned within the Mass General Brigham (MGB) academic healthcare network, ECS Wellness provides safe, evidence-based care that helps patients integrate medical cannabis thoughtfully into their treatment plan. We collaborate with MGB specialists and primary care clinicians and document within the system-wide EMR to ensure coordinated care.
Our approach focuses on whole-person wellness, combining medical cannabis guidance with lifestyle and mind-body interventions. We also accept health insurance for visits.
What to expect from your appointment at ECS Wellness:
• A holistic evaluation of your medical conditions
• Additional workup if needed (labs, imaging, or referrals)
• A personalized treatment plan that may include:
– Medical cannabis certification (if eligible)
– Product recommendations (edibles, tinctures, etc.)
– Personalized cannabis dosing guidance
– Ongoing follow-up and treatment adjustments
– Lifestyle and mind-body medicine recommendations
– Prescription management (when appropriate)
Tell us a bit about you and why you do what you do. Share your passions for your business, organization, or initiative.
Growing up in Maine, my mother, a second-grade teacher, instilled a love for science and nature – spending hours exploring the woods, fishing, lobstering with my grandfather, and hiking/biking at Acadia National Park. This interest continued to grow. Witnessing my sister’s early struggles with underdeveloped lungs and her subsequent healing, supported by excellent clinicians, demonstrated the power of medicine and set my course toward the field.
Finding my calling as a nurse practitioner, I met my late husband in a former clinical role in geriatric medicine, and was introduced to the ECS and cannabis. Learning about the ECS, to use my late husband’s words, was like watching a sunset for the first time. It just made sense to me and I am passionate about educating others (patients and colleagues).
After recently losing my life and business partner, I am navigating profound grief. I am grateful for his love, support, and the knowledge he shared on plant medicine, spirituality, and cannabis history, which showed me how to safely and effectively use it to help thousands. I’ve learned that holistic tools like meditation, nutrition, exercise, sleep, nature, music, pets, and connection are essential for healing and staying centered during this difficult time. Cannabis is important as well, and it’s not just about THC. Focusing on my own ECS wellness keeps me aligned and trusting my wisdom—to be “easeful, peaceful and useful” (Sri Swami Satchidananda)—and helps me guide others on their journey.
What is the last thing you read, watched, or listened to that had an impact on you?
The Untethered Soul by Michael Singer – Incredible life shifting book (also available on Audible) I have re-read this several times.
The Tara Brach Podcast – everytime I feel the need to realign and tap into my truth, Tara Brach’s words seem to be aligned with what I need at that moment. Tara reminds us what really matters in life and helps me to be a better human being – more aware, compassionate, and connected to others.
What’s the one thing people would be surprised to learn about you or your business?
Turns out, you can use medical insurance to pay for your medical cannabis card and cannabis wellness visit! If you love this plant and have been using it for years, or never have, this is unlike any practice you will find in Massachusetts. Trust me, what other health care provider can you see virtually, and spend a whole medical visit searching dispensary menus, asking questions about strains and terpenes, or anything cannabis related, and walk away feeling seen, heard, and hopeful.
What is Creative Collective?
Creative Collective delivers comprehensive business services – marketing promotion, technical assistance, business consulting, and advocacy at all levels – for Essex County entrepreneurs, creators, and innovators. We support the whole person, not just the business, through a collaborative community where members learn from each other, not just from us, because we know thriving businesses are built by thriving humans supporting each other. Learn more and join Creative Collective at www.creativecollectivema.com/join
