lost their other children . To take one child to Colorado , many had to surrender custody of their other children to their ex . Many more had to walk away from their other children , families , and spouses to keep one child alive .
Veterans are fighting for other veterans who would like an alternative to the dangerous , black box ( side effect of death ) pharmaceuticals for PTSD and pain and an end to the 22 veterans a day we lose to suicide — veterans like retired Purple Heart Recipient , Army Veteran Chris Wolfenbarger , LTC Todd Scattini , and Vietnam Veteran George Biswell , Board of Director for KCNORML . The same three keep showing up over and over again .
Veteran George Biswell :
● Join your local and state NORML organization . Lend a hand .
So please , pitch in . Don ’ t be the couch potato that gets to smoke weed during the Chief ’ s games on the backs of little kids , their moms and dads , wounded warriors , and old widow ladies .
Action is necessary . Cannabis is not going to legalize itself . We all thank you in advance for your participation . Let ’ s end prohibition in 2025 everywhere .
What we all have in common from group one is PTSD . And every time we have to go before a group of ignorant politicians and tell our stories again , we cry . We cry for two days before , and we cry for two days after . For us , activism takes a toll .
Group two are individuals simply committed to saving the planet with hemp , like Kansas Agronomist Kelley Rippel , co-founder of Kansan ’ s for Hemp , and Bill Cook , with granddaughter Daphne Cook , Owner Operators of Native Prairie Hemp Research in Garden City , MO .
At our last round of Kansas hearings , I looked around the room at the same people who keep showing up , over and over and over again . Sadly , the twenty or so of us who are still cannabis activists are not enough to facilitate change . One thing about all of us . We are worn the hell out , and we can ’ t keep doing all this alone .
So , I asked these three activists , “ What can our readers do ? Actually , do to help ? And keep it simple — like “ Activism for Dummies 101 .”
Kelley Rippel :
● Patients honestly disclose the use and benefits of cannabis to medical providers .
● Deputies address senior officials in support of alternatives to zero tolerance .
● Citizens educate city councils and county commissioners .
● Everyone should demand change from all elected officials , regardless of party affiliation . Pick up the phone and call them !
● Write opinion pieces to local news sources .
● Send handwritten letters to legislative offices and encourage others to do the same .
● Organize town hall events to answer community questions .
Daphne Cook , Native Prairie Hemp :
● The two main things — education and supporting local cannabis companies .
● To help misinformation stop spreading , educating yourself and others about cannabis ( marijuana and hemp ) can stop falsehoods in its tracks and also help people understand and become interested in hemp / cannabis .
● For the industry to grow , people have to make money from their work . Supporting small , local cannabis companies is huge ! As a small hemp company that works with other small hemp companies , we know the importance of every single customer , especially since many of us have a passion for cannabis that is rare with larger companies . Supporting local is how cannabis can flourish in each community .
The Turner family is on the road to Texas in October 2023 to advocate and join the Texas MJ March and Freedom Festival .
Contact any of these organizations that can provide support on social media and elsewhere :
● The Coltyn Turner Foundation : www . thecoltynturnerfoundation . org
● Coltyn ’ s Crue : https :// www . coltynscrue . org
● ACLU of Kansas : https :// www . aclukansas . org / en / campaigns / reimagine-justice
● Kansas Cannabis Coalition : https :// kansascannabiscoalition . com
● Kansas Cannabis Chamber of Commerce : https :// www . kansascannabischamber . com
● Cannabis Justice Coalition : https :// www . cannabisjusticecoalition . org
Happy New Year ! Remember , get active Kansas and everywhere else — Cannabis is not going to legalize itself !
Dolores Montgomery Halbin , RN , BSN , and Ordained Nurse Minister , resides in SW Missouri . After her husband passed in 2015 , she retired from nursing . She worked with the 2014- 2018 Missouri campaigns for legalized medical marijuana . She continues as a cannabis reform activist volunteering with Canna Convict Project and working toward Federal decriminalization through educational speaking and freelance journalism . Dolores Halbin , doloreshalbin @ gmail . com . January 2025 47