Veterans Day Weekend 2016
A Celebration of Compassion to Cultivate Healing
Smoking SueZie had the honor to volunteer and celebrate in attendance, a diverse spread of Cannabis-Community events commemorating & supporting our United States Military Veterans this past Veterans Day Weekend. There was inarguably an incredible amount of uplifting support and positive energy that flowed throughout each event, “vibed”, and resounded with many.
Our veterans have fought for our freedoms overseas on foreign soils, given their lives to militarized daily-life enforcements; and to this day, they must fight as patients for their “human right” to access, cultivate, and medicate, using Cannabis. Together as a community of Patients, Caretakers, Growers, and Supporters- we are stronger now, TOGETHER, as we have ever been <3.
This past Veterans Day Weekend was about our Veterans and their sacrifices, that strength, and that similar sense of community that resounds throughout our very own Cannabis-Community.
Though there were too many wonderful events planned that I could actually make the time and travel distance to attend, (the most smile-ful problem to have
), I did my very best at attending and covering the very best for you all!!
Enjoy! & Remember to always selflessly thank your Veterans. “Hooah” “Oorah” “Hooyah”
Veterans Day began on Friday, 11/11/16, commencing with, Vets Rock 2016- a Career Fair, Expo, and Concert, (Free for Veterans), at the Mohegan Sun Casino, located in Uncasville, CT. The Vets Rock 2016 VSO Expo & Job Fair teamed up with non profit organization, “Til’ Duty is Done”, and “Hiring Our Heroes”, to offer Veterans employment opportunities, workshops, and even attire fittings and suits- complimentary of, “Save a Suit.” There was even an incredible ½ scale replica of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial- “The Wall That Heals!”
NEVA, (an organization that I am close with, and value greatly!) was actively spreading Cannabis awareness for Veterans coping with PTSD, injuries, and civilian adjustment difficulties (among the many other ailments that Cannabis effectively treats!). NEVA holds monthly casual meetings, (“The Monthly Burnpit Sesh”), on the last Tuesday of every month at the TetraHydro Club in Wakefield, RI- that border the line between healing sessions and delicious BBQ feasts with comrades & friends!
Saturday, 11/12/16, was spent in celebration of my very own Veteran husband and CT MMP patient OTAV- Out Of the Ashes Veteran Coalition tirelessly planned and spent the past several months sacrificing their energy and resources to create a name for themselves; with this event being their first, and it was surely, beyond a success!! “Cultivate Compassion” was truly a feel-good night out, made possible by everyone in our community getting together and donating time, funds, products, and even an entire Pig Roast to be split into delicious tacos and complemented with Street Corn. Mmmmm!!! & Bravo!!!
Roots of Creation shared an incredible set, along with fantastic opening bands & Ghost in the Groove, fire spinners & “hoopers”. Every detail of the event- from the tiki torches’ & patriotic colored balloons that lined outdoor walking paths leading to a Medicating Tent, to the impressive sound and lighting of musical sets. The warmth & thick cloud of smoke inside the Medicating Tent drew us in, and kept us together as patients, veterans, and friends. Joel & Gina Newby, (creators of OTAV, and good friends of ours), dedicated much of their time & energy into making sure the atmosphere was just perfect, and graciously succeeded in doing so!!!
Proceeds and donations from this event were donated between “VetAir” and “The Veteran Resort Chapel,” located in Lee, NH.
Saturday & Sunday, 11/12/16- 11/13/16, I was invited (and sadly unable to attend) demonstrational classes in Winthrop, Maine, covering Cannabis Cooking, Extractions, Tinctures, and Salves by acquaintance and fellow entrepreneur, Ellen Brown. (Classes were Free to Veterans and their caretakers).
Ellen Brown is founder of Sinsemilla Seminars, educator at Northeastern Institute of Cannabis, and an incredibly inspirational female member of Women Grow Boston (Whom I all completely admire and look to for inspiration!). Jen Gue is an all natural herbalist, Cannabis tincture-salve-and-cooking guru, and founder of Muffins Apothecary. Mike Clinton, Extraction artist & fellow Cannabis Activist was also leading classes and demonstrating the art of Solvent Extraction!
These classes were symbolic to me, of how close-knit, welcoming, and giving our Cannabis Community is…. Regardless of what we have to give – we share, we teach, and we lead, TOGETHER.
The conclusion to a wonderful and busy Veterans Day Weekend coincidentally involved a trip to the TetraHydro Club, for the bi-weekly and newly organized, Wellness Sesh, on Sunday, 11/13/16. FREE to all Veterans and Gold Star Families, The Wellnesh Sesh combines a Vinyassa flow-like feel to a casual gathering of female patients and caregivers, (and is open to all genders & orientations!). We come together to share an organic and healthy brunch, network with women in the industry and in their own businesses, catch up with friends, and to stretch our bodies and minds to WELLNESS… with the Peace Pipe & a “puff puff pass” of natural medicine, of course!
–Smoking SueZie
