b'CANNABIS Cannabis plants growing on Serena Donovans farm in Vulcan County, Alta. PHOTO: SERENA DONOVANDiversifying the Family FarmAfter using medicinal cannabis to treat her migraines, Alberta farmer Serena Donovan decided to diversify her family farm by starting to grow it herself.GROWING UP, Serena Donovan always viewed cannabis in the lens that most people doan illegal drug, used for a recreational high. However, with an increasing number of people turning to medical cannabis in the last number of years to treat everything from migraines to MS, she found herself turning to it to treat her debilitating migrainesI didnt tell anybody but went and saw a cannabis doctor. I had a lot of shame and fear over judgement of even thinking of trying cannabis as a medical substance, Donovan explains in a phone interview. Honestly, within the first month, I had a reduction to maybe 10 (days of migraines) instead of 16 (a month). And the next (month I had) even less.As Donovan settled into her new migraine treatment, she took on a new position in her community as a county councillor for Vulcan County. Donovan lives in the county with her husband, Ian, and five kids, farming on Ians familys fourth generation 3,000-acre grain farm.Through her new councillor position, Donovan started attending farm conferences where she started debating how her familys farm should diversify through special crops. At around the same time, the legalization of recreational cannabis was coming to fruition, which got Donovan thinking, why not grow cannabis?She approached her family, explaining her use of medicinal cannabis and plans to grow itand was met by mixed reactions. Ian was cautious, having been raised similar to Donovan, viewing cannabis as a drug used for getting high, rather than an aide for medical conditions. Her son Robert whoFrom left to right Grace, Serena and Julia Donavon on their farm in Vulcan County, worked on the farm was not very impressed, while her twoAlta. where the three work together growing cannabis.PHOTO: SERENA DONOVAN40seed.ab.ca'