Steele Clarke Smith III: A pioneer, a fighter and the man poised to make medical history in a new era of cannabinoid-based therapeutics.
Steele Clarke Smith III is no stranger to controversy—or to making a comeback. As Chairman and CEO of C3 International, Inc., Smith is leading a revolution in cannabinoid-based therapeutics with the company’s flagship product, Idrasil™. Behind the accolades lies a tumultuous journey marked by groundbreaking achievements, legal battles with federal agencies, and a relentless commitment to transforming lives through science.
From Cannabis Pioneer to DEA Target
Smith’s career began on the frontlines of medical cannabis advocacy in the early 2000s, a time when the plant was still demonized as a remnant of America’s failed War on Drugs. In 2006, Smith and his wife, Theresa Ann Smith, co-founded California Compassionate Caregivers (C3), where they developed Idrasil™, the world’s first cannabis prescription tablet.
“It was a deeply personal journey,” Steele shares. “Theresa and I learned from patients every day, refining our approach and proving that cannabis could be standardized and prescribed just like any other medication.”
The Smiths volunteered their time with patients, particularly those suffering from AIDS during the height of the epidemic, and they say it opened their eyes to the pain that AIDS patients went through and the relief that cannabis provided.
Steele states, “The desire for dignity is universal. All human beings share the need to be respected and loved. The people I worked with who were suffering from AIDS were the first pioneers and beneficiaries of medical cannabis. Theresa and I had day-to-day contact with people who were ill. That contact was a learning process of trial and error, as we received feedback from patients about the efficacy of their treatment. It was a very personal, caring and loving process.”
For the nearly 20 years, Smith, and C3 co-founder Theresa, have worked to further the learning and understanding of patients, doctors, and other groups about the efficacy of medical cannabis. Doctors were eager to learn about a prescribable, titratable and dosable natural Cannabis tablet.
But success painted a target on their backs. The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) initiated legal actions, viewing C3’s work as a challenge to its decades-long stance on cannabis. Smith’s advocacy for cannabis as a safer alternative to opioids was met with resistance. The DEA pursued Steele & Theresa aggressively, framing their operations as a threat to public safety.
“I was fighting a system that wasn’t ready for what we were offering,” Smith explains. His battle culminated in prison time—a period that, instead of breaking him, became a crucible for his determination.
“Prison gave us both clarity and a deeper connection to God,” he recalls. “I realized that we were onto something revolutionary. If the government was this threatened, it meant Idrasil™ had the power to change lives.”
Theresa stood by Steele’s side throughout the ordeal, playing an instrumental role in keeping the C3 vision alive. Together, they transformed the organization into C3 Pharmaceuticals, positioning it as a leader in the pharmaceutical cannabis sector.
A New Foe: The SEC’s Attack on C3 Pharmaceuticals
After serving his time and at the beginning of COVID, Smith had long since returned to the helm of C3, only to find himself in another battle—this time with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The agency accused Smith and his wife of a minor regulatory violation, a claim Steele vehemently denies and has been successfully representing himself, In Pro Per.
“It feels like lawfare,” Smith asserts, drawing parallels to former President Donald Trump’s legal troubles. “When the DEA couldn’t stop us, the SEC picked up the torch to keep their boot on the neck of medical cannabis”.
The ongoing case is currently under appeal in the Ninth Circuit Court, with Steele and Theresa arguing flaws in the judgment. Importantly, Smith clarifies that the litigation does not materially affect C3 Pharmaceuticals’ upcoming Initial Public Offering (IPO) or the rollout of Idrasil™.
Despite these obstacles, Steele remains optimistic. Public attitudes toward cannabis have shifted dramatically in recent years, with more Americans recognizing its potential as a legitimate medical treatment. “This is a distraction, not a derailment,” he insists. “We’re moving forward, and the IPO will mark a new chapter for Idrasil™ and for patients everywhere.”
Steele Clarke Smith, III and Theresa Ann Smith
Idrasil™: A Disruptive Solution to the Opioid Crisis
C3’s flagship product, Idrasil™, represents a significant innovation in pharmaceutical cannabis. This dry, anhydrous tablet delivers a standardized dose of cannabinoids, offering relief for conditions such as chronic pain, anxiety, and opioid withdrawal—without the euphoria associated with recreational cannabis.
“Idrasil™ is more than a medication; It’s a lifeline,” Smith explains. “It’s a prescribable, non-addictive alternative to opioids at a time when the epidemic is claiming nearly 70,000 lives a year.”
The IPO will legitamize the company for government perception, galvanize public trust and fund the expansion of Idrasil™ manufacturing and distribution, bringing the drug to patients nationwide and beyond. “We’re scaling for global impact,” says Smith, who envisions Idrasil™ as the “solution for all Clinical EndoCannabinoid Deficiencies.”
One of the unique aspects of Idrasil™ is it can be prescribed for a number of illnesses. Steele states, “Most prescriptions are single-molecule drugs designed to target a single symptom. Unfortunately, they have the potential to cause harmful side effects. These two factors explain why 30 percent of Americans take two or more medications, either to address multiple health concerns or to combat any negative symptoms of the drugs.”
When asked about the range of ailments and symptoms that cannabis can treat, Steele refers to a White Paper originally written by Ethan Russo M.D., (former Medical Director of GW Pharmaceutical, a division of BAYER) Clinical EndoCannabinoid Deficiency Revisited, in 2003. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24977967. From this White Paper, light is shed on cannabis’s efficacy in treating migraines, fibromyalgia, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and other treatment-resistant conditions. Cannabis has been shown to have a positive impact on a host of other mental and physical health issues, including ADD, anxiety, bipolar disorder, cancer, nausea and chronic pain. With his vast medical experience, Steele updated the White Paper, Clinical EndoCannabinoid Deficiency, Revisited, in 2014. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24977967/
Steele explains that Idrasil™ is made from whole, pure, all-natural cannabis, which supplies endocannabinoids to our endocannabinoid systems (ECS), without the euphoria associated with recreational cannabis. “As a result, it functions as a multi-molecule prescription, with a broader application than other prescription medications. It also comes in reliable 12.5 mg, 25 mg and 100 mg tablets that are scored and can be divided into smaller doses if necessary. It’s natural with a harmless nature – combined with the fact that it’s prescribed by a doctor, like any other medication – makes Idrasil unique,” states Steele.
Resilience Amidst Adversity
For Steele and C3, the major struggle has been the incongruity between state and federal law which Steele says has made things unnecessarily complicated. For years Steele has taken opportunities to meet with numerous state and federal representatives to explain the science of whole cannabis therapeutics.
In 2014, during a private event for then California 48th District Congressional Member Dana Rohrabacher, a long-time proponent of medical cannabis, and author of the Rohrabacher-Farr Amendment, Steele was seated with Elon Musk where they discussed the future of scientific innovations.
Despite his legal battles, Smith remains optimistic. “Challenges like these are a sign that we’re disrupting the status quo,” he says. “The pharmaceutical industry is resistant to change, but Idrasil™ proves there’s a better way.”
Theresa Smith echoes this sentiment, emphasizing the human impact of their work. “Every time we hear from a patient whose life has been transformed, it reaffirms our mission,” she says.
The Road Ahead
The journey is far from over. Despite ongoing legal battles and regulatory hurdles, his vision for C3 and Idrasil™ remains steadfast: to revolutionize healthcare by making cannabis-based therapeutics accessible, standardized, and stigma-free. “This isn’t just about business,” Steele says. “It’s about changing lives and challenging a broken system.”
Steele hopes it won’t be long before more people are able to access Idrasil™ for their health conditions. C3’s goal is to make Idrasil™ available in all 50 states and beyond to treat clinical endocannabinoid deficiency (CECD) and improve patients’ Quality of Life. “QoL is a real thing”… “it can actually be written on a prescribing professionals prescription pad”. ‘For QoL’.
Amid these challenges, C3 Pharmaceuticals is pivoting with a listing on the Canadian Securities Exchange—a milestone that marks a new era for the company. Backed by a $100 million commitment from GEM Global Yield LLC SCS NY, the IPO will enable C3 to expand its manufacturing operations and bring Idrasil™ to a broader audience.
With the IPO on the horizon and pre-sales of Idrasil™ already generating buzz, C3 International Inc. is poised to become a major player in the pharmaceutical market.
“Idrasil™ isn’t just a product—it’s a shift from western medicine to a more centric, eastern medicine mindset,” Steele concludes. “We’re not just changing medicine; we’re changing minds.”
“This IPO isn’t just about raising capital,” Steele emphasizes. “It’s about scaling a solution to the opioid crisis and empowering patients with a safer, natural alternative.”
The capital infusion will also bolster C3’s intellectual property portfolio, solidifying its position as a leader in cannabinoid therapeutics. With plans to target nutraceutical markets and integrate cutting-edge technology; C3 is set to disrupt the pharmaceutical landscape.
When asked about his ultimate goal, Steele’s answer is simple yet profound: “To make Idrasil™ available to everyone, for QoL. To show the world that cannabis isn’t just a drug—it’s a solution.”
For Steele Clarke Smith III, the journey from the DEA’s crosshairs to Wall Street’s spotlight has been anything but ordinary. But for this disruptor, the fight is far from over—and the best is yet to come.
For more information, visit www.C3InternationalInc.com.
