If he’s not outside getting the most out of mother nature by soaking in the sun or playing disc golf, you’ll find him spending time with his pride and joy – a son and daughter ages 11 and 10.
You were in the Army for 10 years. What did you do?
I’m a disabled vet. I was a tanker, an M1 Armored Crewman, and I did a combat tour to Iraq for a year and a nine-month tour in Korea. I had no experience in Cannabis when I came looking for a job, but our owner Tim is an Army vet also, and he gave me a shot.
What led to your personal discovery of wanting to trade a career in the military for one in Cannabis?
Honestly, I was planning on being a 20-year career man, but I got sick of all the pills they wanted to shove down my throat. It was ‘try this, try that, and let’s see how you feel.’ And it either zombified me to the point of where I couldn’t give any emotion, or it just didn’t work and I continued being the same angry guy. I was in Korea when legalization started happening and I had a lot of time to research it and learn the benefits for veterans, and I became willing to do anything that gives me positive outcomes in life. This plant truly has saved my life, that’s no joke.
Can you talk to us about your disability?
I have major depressive disorder and severe PTSD, as well as a couple other things. It’s all mental. They say a lot of the wounds are invisible, too.
How does Cannabis work for you?
It slows things down to the point where I can actually process things. PTSD is about the racing thoughts for me, and it’s difficult to control. It consumes me. And Cannabis allows me to let go and feel human again.
How do you feel about the glorification of war in the media?
I see the brotherhood. It’s the ability to lean on each other in the worst possible situation that you can find yourself in. I know there are negatives, which I get, but I choose to focus on the bonds that are created in times of adversity.
If you could be a professional athlete, what would you do?
I’d be a football player. If I didn’t join the Army, I was going to Oregon State to play football – but I decided to do the Army thing because when I was in 8th grade the planes hit the towers, and I made my decision then that I was going to defend my country.
