First and foremost, I must thank my friend and mentor, Zach Everman. Without the introduction to, Laura Hand, this podcast episode wouldn’t have happened. Your constant belief in me, and the assistance you offer so willingly, doesn’t ever go unnoticed, Zach. I appreciate everything.
I’ve been passionate about plant medicine for a long time.
I was chatting with the crew at Pixel Labs about obtaining my Iowa medical cannabidiol card and Zach volunteered that he may have a contact I’d like to speak with regarding the subject. A few days passed and I’m in an email thread with Zach and Laura. Thanks again, Zach!
The subject of cannabis is sticky, everyone has an opinion. I’m no cannabis expert, but I can twist a swisher and I’ve been exposed to this plant since grade school. I’m not naive in thinking that there will be some who don’t share my enthusiasm for this rediscovered ancient medicine. To be completely honest, I’m not sure where I stand on its legality. Up until recently, I’ve never experienced it. I do know that this plant has a healing potential for a wide array of ailments because I’ve seen it work in my own life.
I can only speak on what I know. I’ve dealt with extreme anxiety, testing anxiety, PTSD, OCD, depression, generalized anxiety disorder, panic disorder, back pain, and panic attacks. Back then, I was prescribed a cocktail of legal pharmaceuticals to deal with the stressors of my life. I willingly took those drugs and felt as though I couldn’t go a day without them. When I quit taking the medication, I was suicidal.
Cannabis isn’t the cure, but the road back started with cannabis.
It came on recommendation from another combat veteran and my best friend, he saw my trouble and shared his own experience. Having dealt with some of the same stressors and recently transitioning from the military himself, he advised I try the plant. I was extremely apprehensive due to my own preconceived notions about cannabis, and having just left the military it didn’t really fit into my realm of perception.
Black market is a fucking ridiculous way to do business and it’s erroneous that we must take this route to get affordable medicine. The astronomical cost of plant medicine and the greed I’ve already witnessed in the industry is appalling. I want access to effective, affordable cannabis for anyone who wants to use it for their wellness. It’s why I’ll be attending the first-ever Free the Weed Iowa conference in Des Moines, Iowa in mid-October with Laura Hand. I want to see a change in the current culture, and I’m going to do something about it.
Laura Hand is exactly the person I want advocating for cannabis in our state.
Having the courage to leave comfort in the corporate world, Laura is doing the work because she has seen the power of cannabis within her own life. With its amazing utility and the ability to isolate certain properties of this plant, it seems as though we’ve unearthed a medical cure all.
Thank you, Laura, for coming on the podcast and sharing some of your story. I look forward to the work we will do in the future to benefit the future of humanity. Someday we will look back and chuckle that this was all “against the grain” once upon a time….
Enjoy the Ride!
