In 2009, Mieko Hester-Perez decided to go public with her son Joey's success with medical cannabis on Good Morning America and since that day they have become a source of inspiration and information for families looking to explore alternative and holistic treatment options within the autism spectrum. 

Through Joey's Journey Mieko has participated as a key speaker and panel expert at many engagements throughout the United States and abroad including  2020 Southern California Cancer Foundation, Ebony Magazine’s “EbonyCon” 2020,  USC 2020 Forward Summit, 2019 Centinela Hospital Impact Series, 2019 Tikun Olam Education Symposium at UCI Irvine, 2019 SoCal’ Woman’s Cancer Conference, Canna Gather LA 2019, Endocannabinoid System Educational Series in Jamaica spring 2019, Digital Hollywood spring 2019, 2018 Autism Education Conference for Generation Rescue, the International Association for Food Protection IAPF 2018 in Salt Lake City Utah on the panel on Identifying Knowledge Gaps Surrounding the Safe Production, Sale and Consumption of Cannabis and Cannabis-related Products, the 3rd Annual Professional Palliative Care High Technology Conference 2018 at University of San Marcos in San Diego, 13th Annual Embracing Excellence in Oncology Nursing Practice 2018 organized by Hoag Health Center in Newport Beach California, Vegas Cannabis Summit 2018, Canna Tech 2017 in Tel Aviv Israel, the 2016 Palliative Care Education Endowment for Hoag Hospital in Newport Beach California, 2016 Autism One Conference.

Their publication exposure includes Kush Magazine, where her son Joey was the first child  to be placed on the cover of a cannabis magazine in 2010, Medical Cannabis Journal, El Nuevodia.com, Medical Jane, 420 Magazine, Hopegrown.org, Autism Spectrum Magazine, Huffington Post UK  Vegas Cannabis Magazine and Leafly.com and numerous cannabis-based publications. In September 2019 High Times Magazine highlighted Ms. Perez with proper article title, How Conservative Mom Mieko Hester-Perez Became a Global Cannabis Advocate, Forbes Magazine (forbes.com) 8/2020, Cannabis and Autism: Helping Guide Families - Hash it Out with Mieko Perez, Black Cannabis Week + We on Wellness Pains and Joys of Parenting Pediatric MMJ Patients panel, The Blunteness, Capitol Public, USC Tommy, Smoke Signals (Martin Lee), Sequencing The Cannabis Genome Dr. Kevin McKernan Cpenhagen Denmark  and Marijuanamerica: One Man's Quest to Understand America's Dysfunctional Love Affair with Weed. 

Mieko and Joey have been featured on FOX Morning News, The Doctors TV Show, The Dr. Juan Strange Medicine, ABC 7, NBC News, CBS News, Good Morning America GMA, ABC’s 20/20, Motherboard Vice Media and The National Marijuana News.  Her international media includes, The Columbian Latin American News Network, Univision, Telemundo, iheart Radio, Cannabis Capitol TV, ABC Fusion Channel, Viet TV (Vietnam Television Network), and Australia’s number one morning show in the United Kingdom.

After Joey received acknowledgment of his educational progress from the 44th United States President Barrack Obama, he was diagnosed  with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy in late 2011 second to his autism and passed away April 2018 at the age of 19 years old. 

Deep within my soul I feel blessed to have Joey as my son and UF4A.ORG will continue to honor his legacy by answering every email from families all across the world. - Joey's Mom