Cannabiz Entrepreneurs
NEWS
MO cannabiz entrepreneur helping patients , veterans , inmates , and man ’ s best friend .
Editorial by Clayton Stallings
It ’ s April , and the infamous 4 / 20 cannabis holiday is finally upon us . Before celebrating with our Missouri cannafam on the 20th , I wanted to acknowledge one of our local canna leaders and celebrate his work for our local communities and veterans alike .
Veteran John Lopez , a former Combat Engineer , is the owner of Old Route 66 Dispensaries in Springfield and Ozark , MO . Although the MO MMJ Industry has made 14M for the Missouri Veterans Commission with the help of license winners like Old Route 66 dispensaries , Lopez was helping local veterans long before medical cannabis was made legal in Missouri . suffer from PTSD , but they also train K9s to provide support for others with challenges , including mobility assistance , seizure alert , and diabetic alert . Most importantly , with trained K9s by their side , it empowers veterans to move through life with newfound confidence and security .
A Purdue University study released in 2018 evaluated the effects service dogs have on the mental health of veterans with PTSD . The study reported that the veterans with service dogs had : ; Lower overall symptoms of post-traumatic stress ; Lower levels of depression ; Higher levels of life satisfaction ; Higher overall psychological well-being ; Lower levels of social isolation and greater ability to participate in social activities ; Higher levels of resilience ; Higher levels of companionship ; Less absenteeism from work due to health among those who were employed
John Lopez and family . Lopez with the support of his family is dedicated to helping veterans and Missouri medical cannabis patients .
After returning from Afghanistan , Lopez decided to face his lifelong fear of dogs by studying with experts in the field of dog training and the psychology that lies behind our four-legged friends . He developed a deeper understanding of behaviorally challenged rescues , and his reputation quickly grew with several local dog shelters . This would lead Lopez to open his own boarding and training facility , Howliday Inn Pet Resort . He not only wanted to change the lives of the dogs but also the lives of veterans by donating the canines graduating from his training program to veterans in need .
Lopez launched his K9 ’ s For Camo program to provide service dogs to support veterans with a wide range of needs . Most veterans involved
Remington is a K9 ’ s For Camo trained service dog .
Lopez saw the immense therapeutic effect service dogs provide to those in need and learned the increasing demand for trained dogs was not being met , especially for the veteran community .
The Missouri Department of Corrections later contacted Lopez to help select dogs and train offenders for the “ Puppy for Paroles ” program . He applied his analytical skills from his Combat Engineer days to his
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