Marching onwards... Lots of events coming up!

Greetings Friends and Readers,

It's been a few busy months. K and I finally go married on July 30th, after some 9 years together.  And building has finally started on our new home up in the Sam Houston forest.. yup, 8.36 acres. Will be perfect for growing once we get the laws changed!

I have really been enjoying my volunteer job as Houston NORML's Veteran Outreach Director. It's given me such a wonderful opportunity to meet and help and educate others, and be educated myself.  

We have a huge event called the Lone Star Rally that we will be at from Wed Nov2 thru Sun Nov 6th, with bug out the next day on the 7th.  I am making some shirts to wear at it.. this is my first ones:

I wrote about Ann Lee  a few months back, and now there is going to be a documentary about RAMP and there is a party about it next Thur I am going to:

OCT6

RAMP Documentary Premier

Thursday, October 6 at 6:30 PM

Theo's Restaurant· Buy Tickets

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Join us to the preimer of the RAMP documentary that tells the story of our organization and our founders Ann and Bob Lee. After the screening we will visit about RAMP's goals for the 2017 Texas legislative session. The event is free, but a $10 donation if welcomed to help continue our mission to reform marijuana laws in Texas.

link to the event; https://www.facebook.com/events/1088254897888522/

Then there is an MPP event here in Houston next Sat which myself and my friend Jeffery are going to. 

OCT8

Marijuana Policy Advocacy Training (Houston, Texas)

Saturday, October 8 at 9:30 AM

Trini Mendenhall Sosa Community Center· Buy Tickets

From Texans for Responsible Marijuana Policy

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  Find Tickets Tickets Available www.texasmarijuanapolicy.org

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Professional or “business casual” attire only please.
Registration is FREE!

Constituent advocacy is one of the most critical tools we have as a grassroots movement. Legislators and other community members need to hear from Texans like you who want to see sensible marijuana policies instituted.

This training event is designed to help you become an effective advocate for marijuana law reform in Texas. This training event will offer you the tools you need to make effective arguments, dispel common myths, confidently communicate with your legislators, and positively affect policy during the upcoming legislative session.

Saturday, October 8, 2016
9:30 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.
Trini Mendenhall Community Center
1414 Wirt Road
Houston, Texas 77055

FREE Registration: http://www.texasmarijuanapolicy.org/houston-training-registration/

Here is the facebook link https://www.facebook.com/events/1644170719231187/

And then on my birthday, Oct 15th there is the Texas Veteran's Conference in Austin we are going to. K has not been to Austin yet, and this will be his chance to see where I go and meet my canna activist friends. And be in the State Capitol as that is where the conference is.. and then there is a after party at a local cantina. 

OCT15

Veterans Conference 2016 - #VetConf2016

Saturday, October 15 at 10 AM

Legislative Conference Center - State Capitol

Joseph Knight and 31 other friends are going

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  Saturday, October 15 at 10 AM - 2:15 PM

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Texas NORML is proud to announce our 2016 Texas Veterans Conference! We will feature a wide variety of educators, advocates, medical professionals and veteran activists. This FREE conference will focus completely on medical marijuana and the mission to gain safe access to cannabis for patients. Veterans and patients are pushing the front line of reform in medical marijuana laws in Texas. Many people who are not Veterans also experience PTS, TBI, chronic pain and other health issues. Therefore, we welcome ALL patients to attend our Veteran Conference.

Our Agenda will be as follows:
*Veterans Panel - Veterans & Medical Cannabis*
Clif Deuvall, Kate Cochran Morgan, Jeremiah Looney

*Federal Bills, Initiatives & Laws*
Rob Kampia - Executive Director, Marijuana Policy Project

*Legislative Panel - The 2017 Texas Legislative Session & Overview of the Medical Marijuana Bill*
Heather Fazio of Texans for Responsible Marijuana Policy, Jax Finkel of Texas NORML, Randal Kuykendall - Lobbyist

*Legal Panel - Texas Marijuana Laws & Interactions with Law Enforcement*
Jamie Spencer, Jamie Balagia, Charles E. Feldmann

*Medical Panel - Medical Cannabis Information*
Dr. Scott Bier, Dr. Lang Coleman, Nishi Whiteley of Chronic Relief

*Engage in #OperationTrapped*

Plus, Dean and Alexis Bortell of Team Alexis will be our keynote speakers for this event. Dean is a disabled veteran whose family are medical marijuana refugees in Colorado. Dean moved his family to Colorado so his daughter, Alexis, could legally access medication that saved her life.

This event is FREE, family friendly and open to the public! Please use#VetConf2016 when posting about this conference.

PRE-REGISTRATION: In order to have the right amount of materials and snack for attendees, we ask that you please fill out this pre-registration form. https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSd5d2swZx8gxRmWCOh89FE1atC1aOvDUiwH8R2RY67MqhT5NQ/viewform?c=0&w=1

WHERE: The Texas State Capitol in the Legislative Conference Center, Austin, TX in the Capitol Extension, Room E2.002

PARKING: Visitor garage is 12th/San Jacinto. The North entrance is wheelchair assessable. There is also coin fed, metered parking around the Capitol Complex.

AFTER SOCIAL: We will be getting together from 3-6pm at Flamingo Cantina. After Social - Veteran Conference 2016 for event details.

Thank you to our sponsors who support Texas Veterans in their mission to gain safe access to cannabis for patients and their fight in the war to re-legalize cannabis!

PLATINUM SPONSORS:
420Dude - http://420dude.com/
Green Well - http://www.greenwelltx.com/

SILVER SPONSORS:
Spicewood Smoke Shoppe - https://mamagrind.com/

SILVER SPONSORS:
MJBussiness Attorney - www.militaryjusticeinternational.com
Barre Law Firm, PLLC
420 Science - http://420science.com/
NORML of Waco Inc - https://waconorml.org/

Learn how you can become a sponsor here - http://www.texasnorml.org/tx-norml-vet-conference-sponsorships/

As for my MST situation... this activism has been of huge help in regards to it. I have to talk about it.. and people listen.  That's really important. New people hear about it.. many have never heard of military sexual trauma.  

Just yesterday, I was at a lunch with an adult social group with friends and a new person joined us.  He asked about the brace I have to wear on my left hand now. 

He asked if it was from stopping a fall as he teaches classes on 'how to fall right'. " No".. I had to say, " It's from my supervisors grabbing my thumb and using it to twist my arm behind my back and force me into submission and to control me. And the fucks on both bases did it the same. So now, as I have gotten older, all those twisted bones have developed sharp edges that saw on the tendons. The VA wants to cut them out and use tendons from my arm to build a 'new' sort of joint there. But I am not up to that at this point, I'd rather wear the brace which helps keep my thumb immobile. "

He stared at me, obviously aghast. I am sure he'd never had that answer before in the years he's been asking that question of people. I don't enjoy shocking people that way. Thank goodness the friends there with me mostly know my story and were nodding sportively. I told him about The Invisible War

http://invisiblewarmovie.com

 Four years ago I would have lied.. would not have been able to say the truth without hyperventilating and going into a withdrawal trance.  The VA had offered me 'immersion' therapy..where you talk about what happened for months till supposedly it doesn't affect you anymore.  Thank goodness Crystal didn't recommend it for me and suggested I be a cannabis activist instead!  Boy howdy has this been useful to me. And so much more effective then telling the same person the same story. Especially in our case, we MST survivors. I think a big part of our healing is MAKING OUR STORY COUNT!  And doing this, changing the law for other veterans, children, autistic and Asburgers folks, cancer patients , TBI, other PTSD folks.. the list goes on and on... is the best therapy for me for sure.  Today, I got to talk to another lady veteran ( Hi D!) 
about how much being a cannabis activist has helped me.  

While I have made lots of progress... I still have lots of issues that I have to work on. I hate that I have such up and  down days.. that K has to be watchful of my moods. I want him to have a smooth and peaceful life.  But he knew me before my breakdown.. how successful I was professionally.. that I was able to take him on trips.  Now.. I can't imagine how dealing with me feels to him. But he has married me, knowing how crazy and emotional I can be. And I am blessed beyond beyond to have this amazing life with him. The dream home we are building that has keep me super busy on top of being so supportive of my activism.  Tomorrow they are supposed to be pouring the foundation and I hope to be up there watching it.

So, that's an update on things... as usual.. I'll try to do this more frequently.

Over and Out,
Myst

Another New Postion...

Greetings Friends and Readers....

So, it is now official.. I have taken on the roll of Houston NORML's Veteran Outreach Director.  I am very happy and excited to be able to take another step towards uniting Texas Veterans. Here is my post of plan and list of goals that I posted to the Houston NORML Veterans group:

Hello all... I wanted to say howdy as your new Veterans Outreach Director. And thank Christopher Sum for all his hard work and dedication. He put on one heck of a Veteran's conference last year that was incredible!!! I hope to continue his excellence.
Towards that.. these is my plan and the goals I have developed for Houston NORML veterans...

My plan as Veteran Outreach Director is to create a strong and united group of cannabis activist veterans in the Houston and local outlaying areas. Finding leaders in those outlaying areas to assist in carrying out the following goals is also a part of the plan.

My goal is to create a strong and active core of veteran cannabis activists that would be trained to:
1. Speak about Operation Trapped to local veteran groups and appropriate organizations
(https://www.texasnorml.org/operation-trapped)

2. Work Operation Trapped displays at Houston NORML events to collect signatures and bottles.

3. Help veterans prepare their bios and practice preparing for lobbying and testifying.

3. Train teams of veterans to go speak to their local representatives as veterans about how cannabis affects their lives.

4. Work on a plan to bring as many Houston veterans as desire to go to Austin and talk to members of the Veterans Committee,
and their own legislators, about how cannabis helps them.

5. Work on a plan to help as many veterans as possible to go to Austin in 2017 to testify before any relevant hearings.

6. Come up with other ideas to help further the cause in any way that we can.- Please let me know any ideas YOU veterans have out there! We are a team!

Wish list:
I would love for Houston to have a Houston NORML Veterans banner for parades and events for us and our supporters to identify us and to march behind.

I would like for us to have Houston NORML Veterans bracelets, pins (bigger pins!) and T-shirts etc.

I would love to see us develop some Operation Trapped gear as well to support the cause.

All veterans need each other in this fight. Not all of us can do this, but some of us can. Those veterans that can't go to Austin, can write and call their legislators and committee members and still help us all out. We veterans have been told that we are the ones that can help enlighten our legislators. It is also very therapeutic to participate in the process of bringing justice to veterans and our fellow citizens here in Texas. We understand Esprit de Corps!

Here is the link to Operation Trapped:

http://www.texasnorml.org/operation-trapped

I look forward to Houston Veterans becoming a force for Austin to recognize and be accountable too. Time for this to end! Please join me in marching us forward!!!!

-----------------------------------

I included a link to here.. so if you came from that, welcome!

On another note, myself and fellow MST survivor L head to Austin to walk with Team Hope tomorrow. It will be in memory of Vincent. Only lightening will keep me from it. Then a meeting after with his family.

It already brings me to tears to think of him... and I know he will be with us tomorrow.

Well, I'll update ya'll as things go along...

Over and out,

Myst

Hope... Starts with an R

Welcome friends and readers,

There are innumerable thoughts swirling around in my head today.  I have put off this post until I could wrap my brain around recent events.

First.. I like to start and end with goodness when I can. The headline... will only make sense to a tiny number of people who may come here. But, it makes more then enormous sense to me.

A few days ago, the same fellow veteran Arthur, that I had gone to Myra Crownover's office last year had gotten an appt so see the staff member at the Veteran's office after our upcoming PACT meeting. I asked if I could come along, and he welcomed me.  I worked on getting my folder ready to give him. I had another copy of War Without End, and a paper by the Baker Institute. Arthur had also gotten a copy of the book "Cannabis saved my life' and he would have all the patients present write in it before he presented it to the the Senators office.

My dear friend Dan

Sunday I drove up to Austin to be at the PACT meeting in the morning. It was a difficult and emotional time for me. I did have a new roommate, K, who I had a wonderful time with. We talked for hours and really enjoyed each others company. We walked to a nearby restaurant and I had tortilla soup, which was wonderful. We stayed at my fave BnB. It is only a few minutes from the capitol, and it doesn't take long to get there. I was very anticipatory about the meetings that day.

Arthur and a visitor

Shortly after we arrived at the meeting room, the Vet Committee staffer arrived to talk with Arthur and I. He gave us some quality time, about an hour, and he said he had several questions for us when we came to the appointment in a few hours.  I was glad to be able to thank him again for his words after the committee hearing. 

Myself, the visitor and Jax

As for our first meeting without it's founder Vincent.  It..... was...eyeopening. It was heart wrenching in more ways the one. Above all, it was wonderful to see patients that had come from all over Texas to unite in this cause. There is much I will not say here now. Perhaps in time, perhaps never. 

Vincent, we miss your wisdom and compassionate heart.

After the meeting, Arthur and I headed over to the meeting.  I do not have words to fully express the gratitude for the time that R dedicated to talking to Arthur and I. He had good, solid questions. He gave us advice on how to move forward. And above all.. he said we were getting closer.. and that providing the Senator with scientific research would help a lot. At the end, he also said to keep doing Operation Trapped. He said the Lt. Gov decides what hearings like this are held.  So I think that writing and asking him for a hearing into this would  be helpful. There was so much I got to say, and have HEARD.... for what felt like a long time. Not since my meetings with Reps Joe Moody and David Simpson have I felt this much better, and reassured.  Patience.. yes.. I have that.. there are patients though, veterans, who do not have the time to be patient.   

But I will continue to fight and gather information. One thing we veterans are good at.. it's accomplishing a mission.  Make it harder? Damn f'ing right, we'll fight even harder. We have the dead, children and veterans to fight for. We have Moms, Dads, grandparents, siblings, friends.. fellow humans we don't even know that we must fight for.  I pray.. I pray.. the time will come when Texas will allow us veterans to finally, finally rest. To lay down our arms of battle and just be. Not have to keep doing as we have.  This last battle.. for all of our country men.. and for the world. Not just Texas, which is all of the above.  

We have all tried so many things, as a fellow vet just told me, she has tried things she should never have tried. Things that endangered herself and her child at one point.  Medical cannabis is generally the last thing that gets tried, not the first.  This has led to the death of many who would not try it for they will not break the law.  But I did not come here to die this way.. by my own hand, after the horrors those asshats put me through.  So I will live.. carefully.. and hypothetically...missing the feeling of safety I once had. To come here.. and now.. to risk my freedom, for my life and more so for the lives of others. 

Our time will come. One day I can come here and declare that the war on patients and people has finally ended. 

Over and Out,

Myst

Testimony before the Texas Veterans Committee.

Greetings Friends and Readers,

It has taken me a while to be able to digest what happened at the committee meeting, and then to be able to write about it. 

I did decide to testify, and I am very glad that I did. There were four of us testifying and a few extra special folks who came to support us.  We got there at 8am, and they were listening to 'invited guests first.  The first two folks took about an hour.  There were updates on many veteran programs, and we heard the Chair of the committee speak over and over again about how these folks need to be taking better care of veterans.  But not one veteran was invited to speak.  

It was finally around 4pm that we got to testify.  Up first, was Arthur...
Here is his testimony.

I was... abhorred at how the Chair treated him after he states what it is that his representivie won't meet or talk to him about.  And she says this isn't the time. Well, yes Maa'm, for us who have watched friends die, it sure as shit is!!! 

Next up was Kate,
 Here is her testimony.

And then Jeremiah, 
Here is his testimony.

And I got to go last.  After the way I felt they treated my fellow veterans, I spontaneously decided that when my timer went off, I was going to keep going. I was going to say my piece, screw the two minutes. We veterans deserved better then  that!  I knew there was no one coming after myself, and while I would never take their time... I did want to do justice for so many.  I didn't mean to be rude.. but we are very passionate.

Here is my testimony.

After Art says what his issue is, the Chair does not ask another question.  We have fired our first shot across the their bow.  If this was not the time and place to speak of veterans mental health issues, when was???
This was one of the hardest things to do, but it was absolutely the right thing to do!

 We will not give up, we will not stop... we will bring home all Texas medical refugees.

I would be remiss if I did not mention the kindness of the Chair's Veteran Committee staff member. He stopped me after the testimony to tell me he was going to be looking into it. His kind words and support means more then I can say.   I hope this will be an opening of dialog between veterans and our State office.
Over and out,
Myst

Testimony Coming Up.. Whirling Thoughts...

Greetings Friends and Readers,

I had a rough night last night. Thoughts swirling around.. memories I don't want raising their ugly heads. One of the most circular thoughts was this:

This coming Thur, two veterans will represent all the Texas veterans who wish to be able to use medical cannabis as their medicine by testifying before the Texas Veterans Committee. I have very mixed feelings about this. I know and respect both veterans who are testifying. But neither of them have had the experiences I have had in a couple of different ways. First.. neither is a survivor of military sexual trauma like I and thousands of others are. Our PTSD, and the help that medical cannabis can give us is unique to each patient, but also to us as a group, being in control of our medicine, after having had our control taken from us during military sexual trauma, choosing our best medicine gives us back an extremely important choice. I have asked them to mention MST, and so far, one of them has assured me that she will.  But she cannot speak from the excruciating pain of the actual experience. 

For a refresher on MST..... or if you haven't seen this, please watch it:

 The second part, that is just as vital to me, is my experience as a veteran from a medical cannabis state, that WAS able to talk to their VA doctor about medical cannabis, and far more importantly, have them talk to ME about my medicine and be supportive of it. The experience of an open, frank, honest conversation about the best medicine for my PTSD is very healing. That they also recognized how therapeutic growing my own medicine was to me, and that was also a very healing experience.  Being able to speak about being a veteran in a medical state, where all is open and above board and is one that I think our Texas legislators need to hear first hand from someone who has lived it, and can answer questions about it. 

The difference between being a veteran in a medical state, and all the support that comes with it, as opposed to being a criminal a non-medical state for the exact same medicine is truly ludicrous. I don't need the extra paranoia that being in a non medical state brings.  I can't move anywhere else, this is where my PTSD treatment is. I don't WANT to go anywhere else, this is my HOME now!!!!  My medicine should not depend on my zip code. The VA clearly sees how healing medical cannabis is for vets, and gives us all the support they can in medical states. The mental difference for anyone with PTSD, or any illness is incredibly important.   

I also have some strong feelings about veterans families.  Operation Trapped is a fantastic rally that I am 10000% behind.  But... during working the OT table last weekend, many veterans signed it happily.  But the unhappy ones, were the family, widows, friends of veterans who also wanted to sign something in support of their veteran family member or friend.  I had to tell them they couldn't, and the looks on their faces was heart rending to me. I understand that we want pure veteran numbers in signing the letter to the Gov asking him to meet with veterans. But... the numbers in support of veterans is HUGE. Every person who read the veteran's letter wanted to sign in support of them. The numbers are enormous in support of veterans using it. The letter itself says we know that our fellow citizens support us, why not have a way to show it when they want to? 

 We have been told that that support from legislators will most likely make us the ones they can 'evolve'  on medical cannabis for PTSD, chronic pain and such. Our families have to deal with us, with our fucked-upped-ness. I know that K has become very watchful and protective of me, for like myself, he never knows when the oddest thing will trigger me into a anxiety attack, sometimes of epic proportions. Sometimes I feel guilty because some of his care-free life is forever gone. He will always have to be on guard with me to be sure I don't lose it. Being able to self medicate with an effective medication, and the excellent therapy from Crystal at the Harris County Vet Center have helped me more then I have words to speak. The fact that what I am doing could get me into deep trouble makes me incredibly jumpy. I know some of my dearest friends are spouses of my veteran friends, and I watch them struggle as K does with their veteran's PTSD or chronic pain.  I want them to have a voice.  I feel a mission to help them, but I am afraid of rocking the boat some within the activist community.  

I also want to ring the bell more to the legislators about Vet Centers and the lack of knowledge about them by most of the veterans I meed.  I would like to see the Texas legislature act to publicize them more, although it's really the VA's job to do so. But they don't seem to be doing it. 

On Wed, I drive to Austin so I'll be there early for Thru's testimony. I'll fill ya'll in as to how it goes later.

Over and out,
Myst

Operation Trapped

Greetings Friends and Readers....

It has been a while and much has gone on! First, the above graphic for Operation Trapped.  It is a movement here in Texas, led by Texas NORML's (Retired) Major Bass. The first past is this letter to Gov Abbot, which Texas veterans are signing in droves...

Honorable Gov. Greg Abbott,

 I’m writing today to request an in‐person meeting with you and a group of Texas veterans who advocate for a more inclusive medical marijuana program and currently use cannabis to treat post‐traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), traumatic brain injury (TBI), and chronic pain related to injuries suffered while serving our country. Our veterans choose to use cannabis as an alternative medication to narcotic pain medications and psychotropic drugs. The medications prescribed by our Veterans Administration (VA) doctors for chronic pain are addictive and dangerous, and the psychotropic drugs prescribed for PTSD have terrible side effects. Many veterans in Texas and around the country testify that cannabis is more effective and safer than the current pharmaceutical drugs used to treat our injuries. 

Thousands of Texas veterans who have served in every war dating back to the Korean War choose cannabis as medication. We are taxpayers, voters, homeowners, and law‐abiding citizens who believe that we have earned the right to make informed decisions about our health. Establishing an inclusive medical marijuana program, strictly regulated by the state, will allow veterans to stop purchasing our medication from questionable sources and to use cannabis safely under the supervision of our doctors. Veterans Health Administration Directive 2011‐004 dated January 31, 2011, directs VA doctors in the twenty‐three states with medical marijuana programs to treat veterans legally certified to use medical marijuana as any other patient with a non‐VA prescription. This directive recognizes that medical marijuana is a valid medication and that state laws allowing it should be respected.

 We know that the citizens of Texas support our right to choose a safe, effective medication for the injuries we sustained while faithfully serving our country. Please work with us to schedule a time to meet in Austin, preferably on Veterans Day 2016.

Respectfully, Major David E. Bass, 

U.S. Army (Retired) 254‐319‐3673 

Operation Trapped is a veteran ­driven campaign to support and rally Texas Veterans who wish to use cannabis legally to treat their service ­related injuries. Veteran signatures indicate support for Major David Bass’ (U.S. Army ­ Retired) request for a meeting with Governor Abbott to discuss medical marijuana access in Texas.

OPERATION TRAPPED PRESS CONFERENCE VIDEO HERE

Any Texas veteran can sign the letter 

HERE

Information about Operation Trapped and gathering at least 1,000 pill bottles to give to Gov Abbot next veterans day is 

OPERATION TRAPPED

========================================================================

Also, I got my PACT cards, and they look like this:

 I worked a Operation Trapped information and sign up desk here:

It was a wonderful experience!

Now, all this relates directly to my PTSD and my MST. I have had some very heart wrenching conversations with different veterans about this. I have come out of both the canna  closet, and the MST closet. Because my PTSD is different from most military experiences from PTSD, I can give a unique voice to those of us that have survived military sexual trauma, and even more to be able to speak and testify about it. 

I have made and am making more excellent contacts all the time. This therapy IS working for me. If I have to tell my story, and I get choked up... that person realizes it.. and where they may not have been listening much before, they seem to listen much more. I am using my past negative to turn into a positive for our whole state, hopefully the nation!  Voting is upon us, and next year the lobbying starts all over again.  Working all this through gives me a peace of mind I've not had for years. As well as being able to meet and talk with other veterans and MST survivors!  I know I am DOING something!

Over and Out for now,
Myst