Healing Trauma: Veterans Turn to Cannabis and Psychedelics with Gary Hess

The Mission After

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Our guest today is Gary Hess, the founder and Executive Director of the Veterans Alliance for Holistic Alternatives (VAHA), CEO of Teleleaf, and Partner of Dynamic Growth Solutions. Gary served in the Marine Corps for 11 years as both an enlisted member and Infantry Officer, experiencing the challenges of PTSD, traumatic brain injury, chronic pain, and pharmaceutical dependency first-hand. He used cannabis to manage his conditions and catalyze Post-Traumatic Growth. Now, Gary is an advocate and activist for the use of medical cannabis in post-traumatic recovery for veterans and trauma survivors.

Within VAHA, Gary leads efforts to provide evidence-based education on the benefits of medical cannabis and works with patients, medical professionals, and lawmakers to reduce obstacles to access. He has teamed with Dr. Sue Sisley and the Scottsdale Research Institute to remove barriers hindering federal research initiatives and has successfully testified in Congress for the legalization of medical cannabis in Louisiana and North Carolina. Additionally, Gary is the CEO of Teleleaf, a telemedicine platform that provides affordable and convenient access to cannabis, and a Partner in Dynamic Growth Solutions, which offers solutions for indoor cannabis cultivation.

Gary holds a Bachelor of Science in Community Sociology from Wartburg College and is pursuing a PhD in Cognitive Behavior and Brain Sciences, studying the effects of trauma and the effectiveness of cannabis and other holistic alternatives in recovery.

Summary

Gary Hess, founder of the Veterans Alliance for Holistic Alternatives, shares his journey of using cannabis and psychedelic-assisted therapies to heal from trauma. He discusses the disconnect between the mind and body that many veterans experience and how holistic alternatives can help facilitate the reconnection. Gary emphasizes the importance of education, intention, and integration in the healing process. He also provides resources for accessing medical cannabis and exploring psychedelic-assisted therapies.

Takeaways

Holistic alternatives such as cannabis and psychedelic-assisted therapies have the potential to facilitate healing from trauma and reconnect the mind and body.
Mindfulness practices, breathwork, and meditation are important tools for processing painful emotions and achieving balance.
Education and empowerment are crucial in the healing journey, especially for those who have experienced significant trauma and are seeking holistic alternatives for mental health.
Access to medical cannabis and psychedelic-assisted therapies can be obtained through organizations like the Veterans Alliance for Holistic Alternatives and Teleleaf.
There is hope for those struggling with mental health issues and trauma. It's important to reach out for support and explore alternative healing modalities.

Sound Bites

"I smoked a joint and it did everything that the medicines were supposed to do."
"The cure for the pain is in the pain."
"Understanding the dos and the don'ts, understanding that you have to meet people where they are."