🌿🔥 Tune into this enlightening episode of The Pothead Veteran, as your affable host Drew the Pothead Veteran blazes a trail through the intricate history of disability law in the United States. With a puff of wit and a cloud of sarcasm, Drew's “The Road to Rights” fires up a lively journey that rolls from the early 20th century to the present day, unearthing the game-changing legislation that has sculpted the contours of disability rights.
🎢📜This isn't your run-of-the-mill historical voyage; Drew crafts a spellbinding narrative that humanizes and vivifies the legislative landmarks. From the modest whisper of the Smith-Fess Act of 1920 to the triumphant roar of the Americans with Disabilities Act in 1990, this episode draws parallels to gripping dramas, complete with unsuspecting underdogs and heroes rising against societal indifference. 🦸‍♂️
⚖️But Drew doesn't stop there – he's got a special toke of history to share! Get to know Ronald Mace, an architect who brought the spark of ‘universal design’ to the fight for disability rights. You'll be intrigued to learn how the physical spaces we inhabit owe their accessibility to this unsung hero.
Strap in as the episode smoothly transitions into its second part, “Veterans at the Crossroads of Disability Law in America: A Battle on the Home Front.” Here, Drew steers the conversation to the tempestuous intersection where veterans meet disability law. Through vivid imagery, he paints the landscape where these two ancient rivers - veterans and disability law - converge. Drew doesn't just narrate; he bares his soul, revealing personal battles with disability and sharing poignant tales of his late service dog, Molly. 🐶💔
This part of the journey takes on the rhythm of an anthem, a rousing call to arms echoing through the ages. It pays homage to the countless veterans who have tirelessly championed disability rights. With earnest zeal, Drew galvanizes listeners to recognize the vital importance of advocacy and change.
📣💥As this captivating episode winds down, Drew leaves listeners with an evocative thought – How will you contribute to this ongoing battle? This episode isn’t just a historical tour; it’s an invitation to ponder, engage, and take part in shaping a more inclusive world. 🌍
🤝Join Drew in this multifaceted and spirited adventure. Pack your curiosity and light up your interest – you don’t want to miss this rollercoaster ride through history and humanity. 🎧
🌟Smoke long and prosper! 🚀🌿

Step into the shoes of a disabled veteran as he recounts his relentless 87-day quest navigating the Veterans Administration's labyrinthine system. This compelling podcast episode, titled "Day 87: The Dire Need for Disability Accommodations at the VA", is a gripping chronicle of resilience and determination.Our protagonist is not battling mythical creatures but facing real-life adversaries – bureaucracy, red tape, and inflexible protocols. Armed not with a sword, but with laws like the American Disabilities Act and the Rehabilitation Act, he engages in a seemingly Sisyphean task to secure essential accommodations for his health.This episode is not just a personal account; it is a wakeup call that highlights the crucial role of disability accommodations and the dire need for systemic changes.Experience the raw emotions, the unexpected twists, and the sheer will of a veteran unyielding in his pursuit.

Tune in to "Day 87: The Dire Need for Disability Accommodations at the VA" right here on your favorite podcasting platform!!

In this episode, join Drew, the Pothead Veteran, as he unravels his ongoing struggle for disability accommodation within the VA system. Now on day 85, the battle for his right to accessible healthcare has become a saga of patience, persistence, and enduring bureaucratic red tape. More than just a personal journey, this is a deep dive into systemic issues within the VA, and the pressing need for reforms that ensure every veteran's right to timely, high-quality medical care. Listen in as Drew challenges the status quo, advocating for himself and countless other veterans navigating the same treacherous terrain.

You probably know my backstory by now if you follow me. I use marijuana to treat both my chronic pain and PTSD symptoms. I became an expert and advocate for medical cannabis, because at that time, there weren't many voices in my state, particularly those of veterans, advocating for the legalization of whole plant cannabis medicine and doing so in a way that would actually result in cannabis becoming legal. I met Christine Stenquist at this time. She is what I like to refer to as a "Mover and a Shaker" as well as a fierce patient advocate in the medical cannabis spaces both locally in Utah and nationally. She is one of the leading patient advocates who launched the movement to legalize medical marijuana in Utah. We sat down, got high, and talked about some of these significant moments that show how our coalition of patients was able to accomplish what every single expert inside and outside the state predicted would require a decade. We achieved it in four years. We'll discuss some of the unresolved issues with the medical cannabis program as well as how patient advocacy and giving patients a voice continue to be the most effective means of bringing about advancement and change. We welcome Christine Stenquist to the Pothead Veteran.

One of the most frustrating things about Utah’s Medical Cannabis program is product consistency and availability. This is a big problem for a medical program, because patients rely on a certain level of consistency of their medicine to obtain and maintain the results they’re looking for.

It’s not just certain kinds of product that are hard to find, its across the board, edibles, vape carts, topicals, sometimes they go weeks and months out of stock. In this episode Drew the PotHead Veteran will talk about some of the reasons why Utah's program is the way it is.

“When things become so heavy, and you just can’t anymore…take a knee, catch your breath — and then get back up again.” Drew the PotHead Veteran talks about how Cannabis isn't a panacea for everything, but it is fantastic. He also will talk about his experience in a Salt Cave and talk about whether or not Halo-Therapy works for him.

In this episode Drew talks about being on a patients panel at Utah CANN, the cost of Utah's legal program for one month. Drew also talks about his late service dog Molly, why he doesn't have a therapist at the VA anymore and what PTSD does to make getting out challenging.

In this episode Drew the Pothead Veteran talks about the fear surrounding the recent SCOTUS decision leak, and how it effects him as a gay married man wanting to start a family. Drew gets into what it's like being called a "Radical Leftist" when in truth he prefers to identify as a Star Trek Liberal. Drew breaks down how star trek has influenced his views and dreams for the future. Spoiler Alert if you haven't seen episode 1 of Star Trek Strange New Worlds, Drew's gonna be taking about that and how SciFi helps us see ourselves in the story being portrayed, are we as a species going to be able to get to that bright and beautiful future so many of us dream about. Tune into the PotHead Veteran and hear my thoughts on stuff.

Drew talks about living with Chronic Pain, Depression, Anxiety, Post Traumatic Stress and how energy management is difficult to maintain and recharge. Drew share's a clip from the song Two Beds and a Coffee Machine, and also talks about the difference between Medical Cannabis & Recreational Cannabis... Drew is joined by Cannabis Journalist and author, Angela Bacca as they discuss the distinctions between the two. All that and a whole lot more, on the Pot Head Veteran Podcast.

I was well into my late twenties before I learned that 50% of people on this pale blue dot do not have an “inner voice” going on in their heads.

This blew my mind — I can’t comprehend what it would be like to not have this inner monolog constantly going on in the background. When it comes to my inner voice that bitch always has something to say, or some clever retort not safe for work, or some random factoid I learned in 2nd grade about the life cycle of a lady bug, and what do Ladybugs have to do with what I’m doing at the moment, absolutely nothing –– It’s just an interesting fact.

I’ve always had this ability for as long as I can remember, so to be without it, It completely baffles me how people exist. How do you form thoughts if you don’t have an inner voice to do it, like is it just a bunch of emotional clouds looking for words — it baffles me.

I think some of my most profound conversations I’ve ever had were the internal ones with this part of my brain.

I’m also a musician so I think in melody, but sometimes the occasional melody, chorus or jingle will get stuck on repeat and drive me absolutely crazy, especially at night. A few weeks ago I was violently attacked by the 80’s TV Theme song from the Love Boat.

It’s weird how our brains enjoy torturing us that way… at 3am, without my consent.

Controlled by my Disability, Going to the State Convention… and being Accosted by a mouth breathing Cop over a simple ADA accommodation request.

Today was the Utah Democratic State Convention, here’s the funny thing about that –– I’ve been an accidental delegate for the last 6 years. I also somehow unintentionally found myself to be the Salt Lake County Veterans Caucus Chair, as well as State Veterans Co-Chair –– Now I say this in jest and take my job seriously and I’m honored to serve, but it’s funny how when it comes to these certain responsibilities they found their way to me without ever being part of MY plan.

I’ll be honest with you, I’ve been dreading this day for weeks, I loathe these large gatherings — when I go to them, my Post Traumatic Stress controls me, instead of the other way around.

I recognize that part of the reason why it’s been so difficult for me — Post COVID, this was the first really big event I’ve attended since my Service Dog Molly passed away shortly before covid ended the world.

I started using medical cannabis around the same time I was in the process of medically retiring from the military. Up until that point I was taking upwards of 28 pills a day, a near toxic combination of Benzo’s, Opiates, SSRI’s, Amphetamines, Ambian, and more. The combination of all of these pharmaceuticals put me in the hospital several times over the years and I knew it wasn’t sustainable.

While on a Veterans retreat up at the Snowbird Resort, I was sharing my experience with another veteran friend of mine around the campfire, he then spent the next hour telling me about how my story sounded a lot like his story until Medical Cannabis saved his life and helped him break that cycle.

Today I woke up feeling pretty blah… like always, it’s my hip, my back and my neck all hurtin like hell –– and like most days living with depression, I just was done with the day before the day even began.

Then i got a text on my phone from Wholesome saying that my weed delivery was 18 min away! A flicker of hope sparked in my dark heart, and began to warm the day. Once he left and I cracked open the box...

I did the deed, there’s no going back now,

I bit the bullet and got my permission slip to get Medical Cannabis from the State of Utah.

It wasn’t that difficult of a process, I contacted a Nurse practitioner who’ve I’ve known for years, and found out he was an LMP with the state who could get me started in the program...