because who doesn’t want to support that?
Joseph was able to generate the donations required to get himself up and running and he’s now on his third crop. He’s learning with each one. When he started, he literally knew nothing. He thought he would be able to grow in his closet with a 60 Watt bulb. Now, he’s producing enough to take care of himself and to donate clones, edibles, and dried flower to the monthly meetings.
While sharing his story with me, it was obvious that Joseph is not only passionate about growing, but about CannaCare as well. He told me that what he’s doing is really nothing at all and I ought to check out the next event with him, which just so happened to be occurring over the weekend. I agreed, and we met up there.
Friends…what I witnessed at the CannaCare meeting literally blew my mind.
The event was held at a private residence, as these events do include consumption. Because of the nature of the event, the location isn’t given out until just before it occurs, to protect the people hosting from having uninvited, early guests. All I knew is it would be somewhere in Wasilla. On my way out the door, I received a message with the address.
This month there was a grow competition. Veterans were invited to bring in what they had cultivated and judges were present to test the goods. The garage had been converted into a smoking lounge. Inside the house, growers had their plants on display. Various edibles, both infused as well as non-infused, were offered. Over 50 veterans came together to discuss growing techniques, share Cannabis, and most importantly, create community.
“I relied heavily on CannaCare meetings to get my medicine before I started growing my own,” Joseph told me. Cannabis is still pricey in Alaska. Not everyone can afford a $20 gram/day. This is where CannaCare truly shines.
Every month, Rachel puts together care bags for the vets. They consist of various donated items, consisting of things such as dried flower, trim, edibles, infused oils, CBD products, etc. CannaCare gets donations not only from vets who attend, but from local Cannabis businesses like Green Degree and Hempire.
Vets bring clones from their own gardens and share their growing knowledge and support, openly and with a spirit of community. I was honored to witness. Halfway through the event I looked around the room and couldn’t help but notice how mellow of a crowd had gathered, as opposed to what it could have looked like had everyone attending been holding a beer rather than a joint.
Most of the afternoon I stood in awe, completely amazed by Rachel Lake. Rachel isn’t a vet herself, but her husband is. She saw the need to create this community after seeing what opiates were doing not only to the people she loved, but to herself, while attempting to manage pain she experienced as a result of bulging discs in her back. Originally, CannaCare started in Fairbanks, but after moving to the valley, she organized a new group and for the last 3 years she’s been putting her time and energy into building a community. It started out with 2 vets and has grown to sometimes as many as 60.
Rachel has witnessed veterans go from taking 14 pills a day down to 2, once they started attending the meetings and using Cannabis. She’s seen pain pumps be removed, no longer needed. She’s witnessed emotional healing, as the community grows and develops.
Right now, CannaCare needs a permanent location. They need a space to host events so they can continue to grow and support other vets in their mission to spread Cannabis knowledge and awareness. If you’re at all inspired by what they’re doing and are looking for ways to help, there are many! Happen to have a spare acre? Offer it up! If you’re truly looking for ways to stand behind our nation’s great slogan, “Support Our Troops,” this is one way you can do so. Support them after they come home, possibly wounded and needing care or community. Support them in their search for alternatives to addictive, habit forming medications.
For more information, email Rachel at [email protected] or give her a call at 907-414-5279.
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