Episodios

  • From Protests to Progress: A Stoner’s Take on Disability Rights History

    From Protests to Progress: A Stoner’s Take on Disability Rights History
    Jul 1 2023
    🌿🔥 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! 🚀🌿
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    15 m
  • Day 87 The Dire Need for Disability Accommodations at the VA

    Day 87 The Dire Need for Disability Accommodations at the VA
    Jun 29 2023
    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!!
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    6 m
  • Accessibility and Advocacy: A Veteran's Battle for Reasonable Accommodation

    Accessibility and Advocacy: A Veteran's Battle for Reasonable Accommodation
    Jun 29 2023
    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.
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    4 m
  • Being a Patient Advocate, A Mover and a Shaker - Christine Stenquist

    Being a Patient Advocate, A Mover and a Shaker - Christine Stenquist
    Jan 9 2023
    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.
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    1 h y 34 m
  • Availability of Product, Legislating From a Place of Fear, and Dreams of a Better Tomorrow.

    Availability of Product, Legislating From a Place of Fear, and Dreams of a Better Tomorrow.
    Jun 17 2022
    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.
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    15 m
  • The Cannabis Panacea, "The Great Big Beautiful Tomorrow" & Finding Relief in a Salt Cave

    The Cannabis Panacea, "The Great Big Beautiful Tomorrow" & Finding Relief in a Salt Cave
    Jun 3 2022
    “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.
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    8 m
  • Utah CANN, My Late Service Dog Molly, Agoraphobia & Cannabis to the Rescue

    Utah CANN, My Late Service Dog Molly, Agoraphobia & Cannabis to the Rescue
    May 18 2022
    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.
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    15 m
  • Fear. Settled Law and Being a Star Trek Liberal

    Fear. Settled Law and Being a Star Trek Liberal
    May 13 2022
    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.
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    14 m