Left Face
Join Adam Gillard and Dick Wilkinson while they talk politics and community engagement in Pikes Peak region.
Left Face
Journey Through Nature and Cannabis for Veteran Rehabilitation
Imagine, as a veteran, finding solace not just in the understanding companionship of fellow veterans but also in the healing embrace of nature and its adventures. This captivating episode introduces you to Mark Fruehling, an Army veteran who is on a mission to create such a space. Mark and other members of the Paso County, Colorado Progressive Veterans group share a common goal – to alleviate the sense of isolation often felt by veterans. They have found an innovative way to do this – by engaging in outdoor activities like hiking and fishing.
We then navigate through the somewhat contentious topic of cannabis and its potential in supporting veterans’ well-being. Mark opens up about his personal experiences around PTSD, anxiety, and back pain and how the right cannabis type assisted him. We also share a heartening story of a gentleman who rediscovered his mobility through cannabis and physical therapy. Don't miss this enlightening conversation about the potential benefits of cannabis in managing PTSD and other service-related medical conditions. Whether you're a veteran, a family member, or just interested in supporting the community, this episode is a must-listen.
www.EPCCPV.org or info@epccpv.org
Hello everyone and welcome to the all things military and veteran podcast. I'm your host, adam Gillard. Thanks for taking the time to tune in today. Before we get started with this week's podcast, I want to talk to you about my little group here, the a Paso County, colorado progressive veterans, where a group of vets are just focused on helping other vets and their families. Our next big event we have coming up is November 11th, on veterans day. We have a breakfast planned up in Manitou Springs at Persephone Grays. It's show up from 7 till 10 30 and we. Breakfast is on us. That's all. Veterans and their families just show up and honestly, I'm not checking 2 14. So show up and lie to me and you'll get a free breakfast off me. So Hope to see you out there. It should be a good turnout for y'all. More to come on where to park and all that stuff. You can follow us on our website info at e p c c p v? Org and you can reach out to me on the website at info at e p c c p v org. All right, so today joining me.
Speaker 1:I have mark freeling nailed the last name. He is a army veteran and a marijuana enthusiast. He is a Was it cannabis coach or missionary cannabis missionary, where you know kind of spread the good word on what this plant can do for folks and especially veterans. And you know, with a lot of our PTSD, that that we have and I Think a lot of veterans have PTSD that's not from acute situations but it's complex. Where it's that death by a thousand cuts At least that's how my therapist described it to me and I and when she said that I was like thousand cuts, I can take a thousand cuts, it's the fucking million cuts. Yeah, so, mark, thank you for joining me here Today it's my honor, thank you.
Speaker 1:Yeah, I really appreciate. It is nice skin to talk to you Because I native roots. You'll be in one of our big sponsors here. I was able to Talk to you through them. I knew we said we're gonna say that so I can cut that out if you want. You know, I just really appreciate everything the native roots is doing for our group and allowing us to. You know, keep doing doing our thing. But when I was talking with you there, you mentioned a group that you're trying to put together to help veterans out. Tell me a little bit about that.
Speaker 2:Yeah, so I'm attempting. Well, I say attempting, I am doing because it is happening October 14th, saturday, eight o'clock at Susie's West Side Cafe of the 21st Street and I believe it's lower Gold Camp Road, right there by Bear Creek Dog Park. It's right on the top of the hill there we're gonna be meeting at eight o'clock. We are doing we did have a sign-up list. So if anyone does hear this, this is released before then and you do hear this and you're interested, contact me and I can let you know when our next meeting will be. But where we are meeting they do have a lockdown number, so they did tell me that. So I just don't want any convenience them in any kind of way. But I do want to make sure that if anyone is interested, please contact Adam here through their website or I Will give him information at the end to be able to contact me through.
Speaker 1:Yeah, I'll post that on, like the description for the podcast, stuff like that.
Speaker 2:So so yeah. So basically what I'm trying to do is just start a veteran social support group here in no pet here I don't want to say no passive County here in Colorado Springs. Basically we're just gonna basically get together for an hour for some, you know, just some fellowship and some I hanging out with each other. Because I feel like a lot of vets nowadays especially, we feel kind of lonely or lost, you know, by ourselves, like it's very easy to get lost in the hole, like well, I'll just be around my family and kind of like out in the garage or in the barn or things like that, where you're not really out interacting and stuff.
Speaker 1:Yeah.
Speaker 2:And so what I'm hoping is that through the group meeting, we can link up veterans who have common interests, things like that, maybe hobby, stuff like that, and just so that they know there are other people out there that they can call.
Speaker 2:You know things like that hey, if you want to get together and go fly fishing, if you want to get together and just go for a walk or hike, you know, I'm sure there'll be people myself you know who go hiking, biking, different activities, things like that. Like, there's a lot of us out there who you know it's you want to go out and do something, but a lot of times it's a pain to go out by yourself. You know to do things like especially if you're like, I want to go out on a really nice bike ride and stuff like that. Like, do I want to spend four hours out biking by myself, or would I rather have someone with me? That like, hey, I can stop have lunch, we can go to a specific spot maybe. Do things like that. So life's always better when you can enjoy it with somebody else, especially when you can find another veteran that, like you know, you don't have to like try to figure out how to act.
Speaker 2:Because sometimes when you're around regular I don't want to say regular people, but like civilians or people who don't have the same experiences we've had, depending on what you've done when you're in the military, the experiences you were exposed to, things like that it's sometimes it's hard to relate and so, like it's nice every now and then have a group or somebody that you can kind of like, hey, when I'm with these guys, it's just like this unspoken thing where you're like I'm in the company of just people who understand, you know, and things like that.
Speaker 2:So and that's where, like I said, it's just creating that support group, especially locally, because right now, you know, unfortunately, you know, the VA is just it's not always the most convenient thing and again, that's nothing negative in terms of VA, I don't want to give any kind of opinion like that. But you know just, it's not always the easiest to deal with the VA. I mean, I deal with them myself and I've told you, I told you when I met you, like I get anxiety when I walk in the building, yeah, me too, and it's one of those things where I'm just like I just want to get out of here basically as fast as I can.
Speaker 2:I want to be as nice as possible, I don't want to inconvenience anyone and I mean I work in sales so I'm out in the public a lot, so it's, you know, you learn how to deal with people and stuff and kind of like keep it, but just the aura of the place or something about it. I don't know what it is Like, it's just my past experiences.
Speaker 1:Every time I drive on a base or a post I feel like too yeah, I don't go. I don't spend a month on the base anymore.
Speaker 2:But you know, it's just one of those things where it's just not the most comfortable place. So that's why I said it's just meeting, you know. And then too, the other thing we're trying to do is, if I'm able to, through the places that we're meeting Susie's West Side Cafe, for instance, susie and her husband, scott.
Speaker 2:Scott is a veteran, so it's also we're also able to expose veterans to like veteran owned businesses and help support those as well here in the city, Because that's another thing that I talked to you about was the community here. You know, in Colorado Springs, like I've lived here now for a while and you know you see a change somewhat and it's nice when you can see the actual, like small businesses in the actual city of Colorado Springs really flourish versus the big companies that come in and try to do it, you know, and so it's nice when we can help support that, you know here, especially, like I said, in the city, through, you know, through local companies and if they're a veteran owned, then it's a bonus you know, on top of that, because then we're supporting our own as well.
Speaker 2:Not that the regular American citizen is not our own, or the regular person human being is our own person. But you know, it's nice when you can help support those who are, you know, trying to do something.
Speaker 1:Right, right. So I think another big asset of having a group like this and like when you said, like going out with a buddy to go fishing or biking is that you have there's a sense of accountability there. Like you know, I could have a plan to go biking by myself, you know on Saturday, but it's really easy for me to just lay in bed. Yeah, oh yeah, man, if I have to meet somebody, though if I have to meet somebody, then it's like yeah someone's counting on me, I can't let them down.
Speaker 2:Exactly Like yeah, it's a lot different when you have that, you know, and a lot of us too. Being vets, you know most of us spend time. You spend times in squads or teams, things like that. So it's, it's nice when you have that again, like, oh, there are people that you know, count on me and that I can count on as well.
Speaker 2:Yeah, so yeah it's nice to have that, like you know what was it and was that in Ted Accountability? But yeah, things like that, you know, it's just it's, and it makes us better in general, like veterans were, we're taught anyways in the service, like that we're better as a team, that we're stronger when we're together. Yeah, and so why, you know, why wouldn't we continue that? Why wouldn't we teach the regular person that in general? Why isn't that better, just in general, you know, to teach people that. So that's all, really, but yeah, I'm hopeful. Like I said, we're we're meeting the 14th eight o'clock. It should be good, I'm pretty sure afterwards I mean, it's a Saturday, so I'll probably be like you know, I'm going to Bear Creek or.
Speaker 1:Red Rocks or something you know, and just go hike or whatever, and so that's where too.
Speaker 2:like I said, if anyone is like hey, man, I'm not doing anything, you know, and they want to join, or whatever, it's like hey, why not?
Speaker 1:It just gives you time A little jumping off point.
Speaker 2:Yeah, it just gives you time as well to like spend, you know, together. So, like our, you know, people are like oh, man, the bear, I didn't know there was a dog park here. You know you always, hey, let's go get our dogs and go, you know, and take your dogs for a walk or whatever, like there's all types of things out here, you know, to really do. And it took a long time for me because, especially like when I was in the service, you know you, you really fall back on alcohol or something like that.
Speaker 1:like party and you know it's.
Speaker 2:It's the thing, especially when I was in like during that time, because we were just going back and forth, you know, for those years and you're just like you come home and you're like man, why wouldn't I go party? I just survived like a year over in the worst place in the world.
Speaker 2:You know one of the worst places we've ever dealt with, and so it was, you know. So it's nice now to be like. It took a friend of mine coming out here and after I got out, to really be like man, we should go hike and we should do it. And I was like oh, yeah, I guess we could Like he was like you never done that Like when you were in the service and I was like dude on the weekends. We used to just get jacked up.
Speaker 1:My year in Korea, every weekend we had a plan to go climb and like you can drink while you climb the mountains, to like they have soju stations, so like it's just a walk up a hill, right, and you can drink soju on the way up, you can drink soju on the way down. But I was always fucking hammered and I could never. I could never make it out Because, like the night before, like you know, like soju just erases your mind, so like so, yeah, so it's so.
Speaker 2:It's nice when you go and you know, like now, like I said that I appreciate it, uh, not being drunk, all right, yeah, you know honestly, uh, you're just like, oh, why wouldn't I go and explore the world and see these things that are right outside my door, and you know that kind of stuff. So that's what it's like It'd be. You know it's nice to be able to like, hey, this weekend let's go here, like you. You know, especially here. It's like, why not go do some 14ers? Like get some vets and go to some 14ers.
Speaker 1:Calm down, calm down.
Speaker 2:Hey I I.
Speaker 1:I go on high, don't get me wrong, I'm still physically fit.
Speaker 2:Yeah, Like I know a lot of guys aren't anymore, but like man, we, we.
Speaker 1:My wife did the uh.
Speaker 2:I thought you were making a muscle first. I was going to be like, hey, we're not on camera.
Speaker 1:Got the gun show coming out. I want to make sure I didn't realize it. No, but we my wife did the uh the incline for the first time.
Speaker 2:Oh, my gosh July 4th, there's her birthday. Yeah, the first time.
Speaker 1:Yeah, and like it took us like two and a half hours probably. Oh yeah, of course it was. It was brutal, it's tough. But she did it like again, like the next week cause she, she makes she makes bad life choices? I guess no, no, yeah, it was impressive.
Speaker 2:If I didn't have to pay to parking man, it's who I would go and go to. I'm not paying. We used to go and just be able to do it. Yeah, we used to go when uh, when I was way back when I was young, when we got back from Iraq the first time, I believe it was one of my platoons sergeants used to make us go every Friday. Cool, you go out there, and it was awesome.
Speaker 1:Man.
Speaker 2:I loved it.
Speaker 1:Like it sucked. Oh yeah, it didn't get me wrong, it sucks, but you put it in a sex together, but yeah exactly, and that's the thing, like when you're all you know doing it, it's.
Speaker 2:It's totally different than if you were like I'm just going to go by myself.
Speaker 1:This, uh, the shirt I'm wearing right now is a Pataan Death March shirt. Uh, the 25th anniversary, because they did it down in New Mexico. Did you ever hear about this?
Speaker 2:Yeah, my friend's mom did it yeah.
Speaker 1:So I've done it twice. Where you know a marathon in the desert with you know a rucksack on fucking sucks. It's harsh man yeah and like yes, the slow up hills is what gets you to. You know the slowers.
Speaker 2:Oh yeah.
Speaker 1:Like you lose all your toenails and shit. See now, I'm good on that. Yeah, it's nasty. I'm good on that. Yeah, I go.
Speaker 2:I go to a lot of different places. Bear Creek is really nice. If you go up there, uh, there's like the different trails because they close. The one trail hit it's like 666 is the one that goes up to the top, and then it like splits off to different ways you can. I believe you can go to like seven falls or whatever from there.
Speaker 1:Okay, all types of crap, man yeah.
Speaker 2:You're up on top of like a mountain for real and there's like four different paths and stuff. And then there's if you go to Green Mountain Falls, you know it's. There's a lot of nice places out there too. Sorry, I don't mean to be, I'm probably just giving you a beer.
Speaker 1:No, no, no, no, it's perfect. I was looking around cause I was looking for my rocks. So like when I go out I collect rocks and like I got like a big ass crystal up there. I'll show you that when we're done here.
Speaker 2:But no, it's you know, cause stuff like I enjoy stuff like that. And plus, like I won't lie, I take some weed out with me and, like you go smoke a little bit, but you're out hiking, so it's like I don't really need to smoke a lot because my brain is releasing like real natural you know serotonin and all that stuff.
Speaker 1:And you're just like it's just like being stoned, Like you're just like oh, it's like runner's high or a bicyclist high.
Speaker 2:You know same as same as what I get from those, like it's all that kind of stuff, man, it's, you know, and it's the good thing about that which is funny, cause I was. I was talking to a friend of mine yesterday who we were over and I racked together twice and we were saying, like you have to find those things that give you that same feeling that you got Right. When you, if you were over there, you know cause. That's the feeling that a lot of us chase.
Speaker 1:Right yeah.
Speaker 2:That's why you're doing stupid shit. You're out like I'm gonna drive as fast as I can, I'm gonna go drink and try to get into fights I'm gonna do cause you're looking for that rush, like your body's so used to it. You know, you grow I mean when you're there a year, 15 months, things like that. You get so used to it, and so it's like you have to find things that will give you that joy. Yeah, we'll give you. You know that's where, like people having kids, people, you know again, like finding really good hobbies, things that they've really loved, you know, not just a job, but like oh, I really love what I do.
Speaker 2:Like that's where it's nice to see like vets be able to fall into places like that, cause you're like, okay, cool, they're gonna, you can get that, and then you'll be happy, while you're like figuring out how to be happy again. You know cause you you need that like rush, that feel you know sometimes depending on what you did or how you know how much you know those kind of things that you and stuff, like you know, cause I know when I got back we were like, oh, I need something.
Speaker 2:Like you know, you're like bro, you're in shot at all the time, like I need something, I need, I need something you know, and so that's where, like I, said like exercise different things, like that, you know, but unfortunately a lot of my friends, the army took them away from here. You know, that's the military life. So then you're like oh, so that's where too. It's nice when you can find vets and stuff that you have things in common with. Here's like cool, I have people to go, do you know? Hey, when I want to go hike I can be like hey, so, so let's meet up and go hit like seven miles or something you know just it's nice for that, you know, for that support, that kind of thing.
Speaker 2:So yeah, and then too, if people are, you know, if someone's struggling, it's a lot easier to talk about it. After you know you've kind of been around somebody and you've been with people, it's a lot easier to be like oh yeah, hey, maybe this is going on, you know, and now it's like okay, if you need help, we can like there's someone you've built a trust with, you've built that.
Speaker 1:Well, what I always told my folks is that, like, before we can cry together, we have to be able to laugh together. Yeah, so we have to get together. We got to have fun because, like you know, people would like try not to do the mandatory team building and fun shit and it's like I get it. It sucks, but one, you're on the clock, so come fucking have fun. Like I don't know how to say this even nicer. Like we're going to do this, we're going to have fun, like, yeah, sometimes for sure, yeah, so well. So, with your experience you know being in the cannabis industry, tell me some wins that you've seen with individuals. Like you know they come to you suffering from severe PTSD. What is, what have you seen cannabis do for folks to really bring people back from the brink?
Speaker 2:Yeah, well, I mean, you know you have. Well, just because we're talking about cannabis, I would like to be able. I'll speak on like all, not just that's okay. Yeah, because there's a lot of people. Absolutely Deal with great point Other things as well that cannabis helps with. I mean, I've seen, you know I'm obviously not going to name anybody, Absolutely.
Speaker 2:Because we are a very private, private industry and you know, very integrity based industry. So you want to be able to be honest with people and you get to know them and things about them, but you also are like it's not my business For that to go anywhere else.
Speaker 2:So you know, it's also like you have to be able to keep your mouth closed and you know listen and just be able to listen sometimes too, you know because a lot of people like you want to throw your opinion, you want to throw your like oh yeah, I know this, this has happened to me too, this has, and it's sometimes it's like you just need to be, you know, like I'm sorry.
Speaker 2:Okay, you know, and so I've had patients where I have a. I have a gentleman that I was dealing with two years, you know, from when I started with one of the companies I worked for, and he used to come in and he was on like a full walker and he had, you know, back stuff and all this crap, and they had told him like you're going to be pretty much like this. For the rest, you know, like you're going to do physical therapy, you're going to be like this. And now if you were to meet him, you wouldn't even recognize him because he's like he. I remember the first time he came in with no cane or anything and he was like hey, hey, look, and he was like you can't see me, but he was raising his arms up and kind of like jumping around like very small.
Speaker 2:But like lifting himself up and he was like, hey look, look, he was like physical therapy baby and you know, and you guys, and it was one of those moments where you're like, holy shit, like I had dealt with people before who who were sick. I apologize when I, when I talk about this and think about this, sometimes I get emotional.
Speaker 1:You should, because you're changing. You're changing people's lives, man.
Speaker 2:Yeah, it's good to have a positive impact on people, because if there are any people who listen to this who knew me back in the day, they will be like, oh man, this guy was a freaking a-hole probably, or a jerk or whatever. You know, like I was, I was, I was kind of like that, but anyways, you know, he came in and he was just like he was so happy dude. And the other thing too, though that, like a lot of people would have probably been, you know, you'd have been like, yeah, weed, we got it. You know that that helped him. But the thing was it was like no, no, no, the weed did, the weed assisted him.
Speaker 2:But he put in the work, yeah, the physical therapy stuff, and he really went at it, man, he would. He would tell me, like man, it hurts so bad, you know this and that, and like the pain they're putting him in. But because it's, it's because, like, those muscles and stuff haven't been used in so long, so they're hitting limits where they're just not, you know, they're not used to it, but because he uses the cannabis, it's, it's able to. And obviously I'm not a scientist, I'm not a doctor, I do not have medical experience, I am. I am saying the most I have is like first day training in the army, basically, and I gave one of those nose things that you like put in yeah, the fairy and angel, lillithia, the flangey thing, or whatever.
Speaker 2:Yeah, I've done that before and I know how to give an IV, but that was a lot of times because we would get drunk as hell and you're like. I'll give you one. If you give me one, you're like forget the medic, oh, there you go, but like it's, it's things like that. You know that, like you, you know really, like I said, it was one of the first moments where I was like man, I really didn't expect that.
Speaker 1:Yeah.
Speaker 2:Like you know. But again, it was his hard work and we were able to help him through different things and he was willing to listen, like to do what we were kind of like hey, if you're doing this, you should maybe try.
Speaker 2:Obviously, we can't again not being a doctor, I can't give medical advice, but we can say, like, well, this is how the product would be used. This is, you know what we've had results with as far as people. And two, I do read no lie. I do read different books with, like, real research. You know, like, I have a book that was written by one of the people who was basically an assistant to damn it. I can't remember what his name was the doctor in Israel who discovered THC and CBD. Okay, I just can't remember his damn name. He just passed away, like last year. I never met him.
Speaker 1:He was here in Pueblo one year a couple of years ago, though, and I almost got a chance to go down Cool and go to like a conference he was at.
Speaker 2:I was like dude, I just want to walk up and shake his hand. They're like oh my gosh, it's like meeting a rock star.
Speaker 1:Right, like for me, for a person like oh my gosh, you know, and so Can we sign in your cleavage.
Speaker 2:But like. But you know it's, it's. So I have read different things where they talk about like different administrations they did to like you know people over there because over in. Israel. They can actually do studies there.
Speaker 1:Still research.
Speaker 2:They can actually do research where, as here in America, we can't because of federal laws and stuff like that.
Speaker 2:We won't get into that. I'm not a politician either, but you know so. So, like there was that. Like I said, there's been, there's definitely been vets where you're like, hey, man, you know we have different things for anxiety, things like that and then you offer, depending on what they're looking for some guys don't really smoke, and you know, and depending on what they're, what you're dealing with it's really. And again, I only have the experience that I have in the industry, so I can't say like this is how it is. I can just say what I've dealt with and the things that I've seen.
Speaker 2:And a lot of times you know, people come in and they're really unsure of like what, what to get. You know, say you got a med card and you come in and you're like I've had gummies but like maybe I've had rec. Only, you know, and rec is different, it's 10 milligrams per, whereas medical you start usually around 20 milligrams, depending on the company and things like that. Some companies do five milligram or things you know in that size, but most of the stuff at places I've worked are like 20 milligrams. When you go to med, 20 to 50, which is 200 milligrams to 1000, basically per bottle or candy bar different than that. And so you know you're trying to direct people, because it's very easy for things to go sideways, as it is with anything you know, even when you're on you know medication or other things like that.
Speaker 2:You know it's very easy for things to just kind of who you know, and now we're over here in left field, you know out here and so when it comes to a part of it is, I'm gonna, I wanna sit and talk to you because I kind of wanna get to know who you are, because it's like, well, I need to know what we're gonna be possibly dealing with. Number one, like, let's pretend that you're. You just got a med card, so you come in and I meet you. It's nice to meet you, adam. What are we looking for today?
Speaker 1:Yeah, so just something to help with anxiety.
Speaker 2:Okay. So, as far as something like that goes, are we looking like a smoke? Are we looking something more low key, like an edible? Are you looking more? You know, I probably at that point and again we'll kind of go in and out of the process of how things go I probably at that point wouldn't recommend anything too heavy. So probably no concentrates, probably no cartridges at that point, depending because you set anxiety.
Speaker 2:So I'm like I either wanna get you into a smoke that's pretty chill, so like a hybrid, maybe an indica, but I don't necessarily.
Speaker 2:You didn't say sleepy, you just said chill. So I'm like probably just a hybrid, maybe something that's not even super high percentage, because, too, we wanna see how it's always. We can always go up. We really can't come back, and I say that a lot to people when it comes to edibles, I'm like you wanna stay around here first and then, about so far in, you wanna try another little bit if you're not feeling anything, because it's very easy to be like I'll just eat a piece and then it's like wait, I was supposed to do 10, and that was 20, and I'm for the next five hours I'm sitting here thinking this chair is alive or something, and so it's like, well, we don't want you to have a bad experience, we want you to have a good experience, and then we can always go into like, hey, if you want something heavier, if you want this, and so it's really just directing you in that kind of thing.
Speaker 2:But I know, as far as you were asking I apologize, I smoked a little bit of marijuana before I got here but as far as you were saying like you know those dealing with those people, that you really see a change in stuff like that a lot of times it's just, you see, guys come in and they just seem a little more confident, a little more themselves. The other thing that you have to remember is sometimes, when it comes to stuff like this, they're the only. You're the only person they might be seeing during the day. You know, like when I go shopping, I'm like I go to the store, I don't really look for a person to help me, because that's the time. I know where I'm going. I go to self check out, I get my stuff and leave.
Speaker 1:Yeah, that's a good point.
Speaker 2:Like that. I could go to three stores a day and I do the same exact thing.
Speaker 2:I usually have headphones like a headphone in because I'm either listening to a podcast or some music whatever. I was listening to in the car, I probably transferred over to that, so I'm not dealing with people. But when you go into the Dispo, you kind of unless you place an online order, which you can but most of the time if you're going to a Dispo, you probably are either a regular or you know people there you know. So most of the time it's like you're gonna hang out for a minute, just kind of like hey, I was going listen to that, do you have anything new? Or if you do have something new and you're working, you're like hey, man, did you check this out? Have you seen this?
Speaker 2:But you also, if you're working, you recognize the name when it comes through or whatever, and you're like hey, so it's coming in. You get things ready and then you might put an item there for them, like maybe they'll like this, things like that. It's kind of that too. It's like the bartender or the barber. You're that person who's just kind of like I've had guys sit there and tell me stories, all types of things, and you're just like sometimes you're going like wow, man, I'm really glad you shared that. And other times I'm like what made you think you should keep talking.
Speaker 1:I wish you would just go push that back in the trunk.
Speaker 2:Put them in the trunk, like, why are we so friendly? I never knew we were like this. So, yeah, but really, like I said a lot of times, it's just you kind of see people over time come out of their shell Because I mean, if they've got a med card, most of the time they're like, oh, I have a friend or have someone who recommended me, so it's easy to. It's easy to like, oh, okay, cool, I know so. And so they might even told you like hey, I told my friend to go get his car, he's gonna come and see you guys. Like, okay, cool, we'll look out for him and stuff. And so it's just again like being a friendly place, being somewhere that guys can they come in.
Speaker 2:Obviously, at the places I've worked, most of them have given a military discount. We're in a military town, so but yeah, it's really cool. And then too, sometimes you even get to just meet vets. You know, at different places I go again, I go biking, I go skating, I go different things like that, and stop to eat food and I get to sit there and you know, sometimes you meet a guy who's like, oh, I'm thinking about getting a med card, and it's like come see me over, and then they actually come in.
Speaker 2:you know, and you're like oh, you went to the doctor or you're here to get a card to go to the doctor and it's really cool, cause then you get to like kind of experience, that whole thing, like, oh, I get to be, we get to be with you through it, you know, and kind of helping you out, and you know it's just, it's really so, it's really like I said, just a good time and you know I've been really lucky to be able to do what I do.
Speaker 1:That's cool. That's cool, you found something that you're passionate about you know.
Speaker 2:Yeah, well, and too, like with the group, you know, being able to start something like that finally in a position where I can kind of take the time to get something like that together and do it, and I have a lot of backing, which is really cool to know. You know and you know.
Speaker 1:so yeah, so, with all the you know the great things that I can do and how you know everybody out, you know, right now in Colorado Springs it's only Med and they tried to pass it last year where you know that they had the rec. They passed the taxes for the rec but they didn't pass. So, like, so it's good we got one thing out of the way, but like it just blows my mind that we still kind of hold it up because a lot of the times especially you know anybody that's suffering through any kind of you know PTSD or anxiety, depression, whatever it's hard to ask for help.
Speaker 2:Yeah.
Speaker 1:And so having to ask for help first to go to a medical professional so you can come over here and get help Like recreational, would help people start breaking down those walls before you know, and you know. I think it would help people that are kind of suffering silently and they're just not ready to ask for the full help yet you know which is you know, I can definitely agree with that.
Speaker 2:I think I think there's a lot of guys out there who you know, and just people in general, honestly, that you know, are ready for, like you know, not necessarily to use weed but for cannabis to be legal, like we're ready for the benefit which is the taxes, you know.
Speaker 2:But I'm also I'm not going to speak on that part of it, I'm not here for anything like that. But I will say, like this, city-wise, it kind of sucks to let a lot of that money go like right next door, right, you know things like that. When we could really use it here, I think, and too, having the amount of med stores here and licenses, you know, it would really help to convert some of those, because I know what they were attempting last year was they were if they had gone legal. It was going to be you could either stay med just 100% or you could go rec 100% or you could split. The only issue was going to be, if you've ever been to Denver, they have like the stores kind of broken up and stuff like that. So some stores you'd probably have to work on to get, you know, construction in or get that split so that you could operate it that way.
Speaker 2:But you know, again, we'll see what happens. I know they're attempting next year again. So yeah, I hope so. We will see. I'm hoping. You know, I'm hoping.
Speaker 2:I mean I voted yes on both because the other thing too, as you mentioned, was the tax 301. And I know that tax was going to cap at 5% and it was basically just going to be, like, you know, an alcohol or tobacco tax and that way too, the city wouldn't be able to like bump it up on us. You know, as citizens it's just like, no, it's locked in. We get to see where the money's going and you know, hey, just let it be, and it'll do its thing Right. So we'll see. I hope that they have a strong plan for next year and stuff, and I really hope so. I mean, you know, as a cannabis user, obviously I am pro wreck, but also just as a vet who served, obviously you know it's one of those things we always say like, oh, freedom, freedom. And I'm like, well, hey, even if you don't use, like I don't drink, so I'm not out. You know, in front of bars saying like close this down.
Speaker 1:You shouldn't be legal Like no.
Speaker 2:You can do whatever you want to do, man, Like you know, just be safe.
Speaker 1:Yeah, yeah, responsible.
Speaker 2:Yeah, like, be responsible, be safe, and hey, if we're going to have it, let's make sure the city benefits off of it. That's all you know. So that's where I, that's what I hope, but we'll see what happens. You know? Thumbs up. I can't speak anymore. All right, let's just say next year you can meet me, all right?
Speaker 1:Mark. Well, I really appreciate you coming out. Yeah, man, I just want to say a quick word from our sponsors. All right, the all things military veteran podcast is proudly sponsored by native roots cannabis company, colorado's leading locally grown and owned spence re chain. Native roots has been our largest owner since we were founded four years ago and we thank them for their continued support. They have 20 locations in Colorado and native roots is ready to educate and serve recreational and medical patients alike. Thanks again for joining me. This was the all things military and veteran podcast. We can be found on over a dozen podcast apps, including Apple podcast, google podcast and Spotify. We hope you found our program rewarding and informative. Please check out our website at e p, c, c p vorg and sign up for our newsletter while you're there and then, if you need to drop us a line, if you need anything, reach out to us at info at e p, c, c p vorg. Thanks for listening everybody. I hope you're having fun out there and stay safe.
