Ex-Navy SEAL Robert O'Neill — who killed Osama bin Laden — set to peddle pot in NYC: ‘Helps get rid of the noise'

Yahoo

17-02-2025

The former Navy SEAL who nailed Osama bin Laden has gone from killing to chilling.
Robert O'Neill, the decorated ex-Navy hot shot who fired the bullets that killed the al Qaeda fiend, is mellowing out as the owner of a new cannabis firm — Operator Canna Co. — and will soon start selling his brand of state-licensed marijuana in New York City pot shops, The Post has learned.
'I wanted to get into the cannabis business through my experience in the military and watching vets suffer from things like post-traumatic stress disorder,' O'Neill, 48, told The Post.
'It's a good way to take the edge off. It helps to get rid of the noise,' the budding owner said of pot.
The expert marksman said he plans to deliver a portion of revenues from his company sales to disabled vets through a separate charitable group.
O'Neill acknowledged that marijuana was the last thing on his mind serving as a Navy SEAL commando, noting pot and other drugs are verboten in the military.
'One of the general rules in the military is 'zero tolerance,' ' he said of drugs.
But the freshly minted cannabis merchant quipped that pot could help also defuse much of America's nasty, divisive political discourse.
'If we take cannabis, we can have better conversations. We have the potential for world peace right here,' he said.
A former SEAL Team 6 member, O'Neill became famous when he took credit for firing the shots that killed 9/11 mastermind bin Laden during a daring 2011 covert raid in Abbottabad, Pakistan.
O'Neill counts his blessings that he's still alive, thinking at the time that bin Laden had explosives that would kill the team of Navy SEAL commandos sent to take him out.
'I thought that would be my last day on Earth: We're going to kill him, and he's going to kill us,' O'Neill said.
'We were able to fulfill the mission,' he said gratefully.
'Operator'– the brand name of his cannabis company — is the same moniker used for his tell-all book about serving as a Navy SEAL as well as his current podcast.
His military experience is woven throughout the company. His website has the color of green fatigues, and the cursor on the site is an image of a sniper's bull's eye.
His strains of flowered weed are called 'Healer-Indica', 'Warrior-Sativa' and 'Shooter-Hybrid.'
'Warrior is an energetic strain for when you need to be on high alert,' his company site says.
'Healer provides a mellow high for when you need to relax from a long battle,' and 'Shooter provides the perfect balance of precision focus and calm to ensure you always hit your mark.'
The pre-roll packs with five joints are called 'Front Toward Enemy' and 'Fire Like This.'
The former Navy SEAL's weed, grown and cultivated at a farm upstate, will first be sold exclusively in The Flowery cannabis stores on Staten Island and in Queens, as well as the Upper West Side and SoHo in Manhattan.
People involved in super-high-intense occupations that require total concentration need to relax and get psychological relief, he said.
He believes marijuana is a better alternative than alcohol and prescription drugs.
'Cannabis is a real way to deal with the stress of the past. It's a good way for people to get rid of anxiety,' O'Neill said.
His website says, 'Operator Canna Co. is on a mission to help veterans and others find healthier alternatives to harmful substances like alcohol and opiates.
'By offering premium, hand-crafted cannabis, we aim to provide a path to recovery and well-being, while empowering those who have served and sacrificed for our freedoms.
'When you choose Operator products, you're not just enjoying exceptional cannabis — you're supporting veterans, law enforcement, and first responders who continue to protect and serve our communities. Together, we're building a future that honors the sacrifices of our heroes, while crafting the finest cannabis for those who demand excellence. Join our mission and experience the difference.'
O'Neill said he personally benefits from smoking ganja.
'I usually take it at night to help me go to sleep,' he said.
He co-founded Operator Canna Co. with Ari Molovinsky, a 45-year-old businessman who has extensive experience in sales and social media. They met a few years ago.
'We're excited about the future. Cannabis is a product that brings people together,' Molovinsky said.
There are currently 307 licensed pot dispensaries operating in the Empire State.
New York regulators recently announced the state has surpassed $1 billion in sales from the growing industry. Sales ramped up sky high last year after a rocky rollout beset by lawsuits and agency backlogs in issuing licenses in 2022 and 2023.
The number of licensed weed shops is expected to double to more than 625 by the of end of 2025, the state Office of Cannabis Management projects.