Mykel Konohia, a wellness entrepreneur and advocate for plant medicine, is redefining holistic health in Washington, D.C., with his innovative store, Cap & Stem (2601 Sherman Ave NW). Inspired by the passage of the Entheogenic Plant Medicines and Fungus Policy Act, Konohia recognized a lack of locally cultivated mushroom products and comprehensive psychedelic education in the city’s retail scene. He co-founded Cap & Stem to set a new standard for ethical, community-oriented, and harm-reduction-centered businesses in the industry.

In a city where alternative therapies can be difficult to access, Konohia creates a welcoming and informative space. “We wanted to make the store feel like a really cool living room,” he explains. “Imagine walking through your friend’s house, and you really like all of the little items that make up their personal space, enough for you to ask, ‘Yo, where did you get this?’ Using that as our criteria, it was pretty easy to curate a space filled with products and items that resonate with us personally, each with its own story and significance.”

Cap & Stem offers diverse wellness products, from mushroom-based adaptogenic tinctures and herbal teas to beginner and advanced plants that teach mindfulness. “We believe wellness can be achieved in a variety of ways, inside and out,” Konohia adds. “We’re always expanding our product selection, so if you come in week to week, chances are there’ll be something new, including our gifts.”

Konohia’s approach to wellness is deeply personal, informed by his own journey with microdosing psilocybin since 2019. “Listening to the testimonials and personal journeys of the people who visit the store validates me and the work that I strive to perform daily,” he shares. This firsthand understanding drives his commitment to promoting education and harm reduction, especially among millennials in the DMV area.

At Cap & Stem, fostering community is key. In the wake of the pandemic, Konohia recognized the need for a “third space” where people could connect with like-minded individuals. The store hosts monthly events, providing a platform for budding creatives and artists and offering opportunities for people to try something new. Looking to the future, Cap & Stem is expanding its offerings and services, partnering with mental health practitioners, revamping its website, and preparing for e-commerce and a local courier service.

For Konohia, the most rewarding aspect of building Cap & Stem has been witnessing the positive impact on his customers’ mental health journeys. “Almost every day, at least one patron comes back and shares with us how we’ve helped them along the way in their journey, and that is priceless,” he says, reflecting on his grandmother’s influence as a nurse and healer.

As the conversation around plant medicine evolves, Mykel Konohia and Cap & Stem are at the forefront of the movement in the area, cultivating a healthier, more connected future through community building and a holistic approach to wellness.