Colorado’ s Most Influential Individual by Caroline Hayes so those with this disorder must revert to pharmaceutical and other forms of conventional treatment, which according to many veterans, do not help.
Not once but twice has the state denied PTSD as qualifying condition. In response to this absurdity, Azzariti formed the group Veterans for 64. Simply stated, this is a group of veterans who supported Amendment 64 in hopes that they too can medicate with cannabis legally just like patients suffering from chronic pain, muscle spasms, seizures, cachexia and other“ qualifying conditions.”
Photo credit to KimSidwell. com / mmj
On December 19 th 2012, Cloverleaf Consulting hosted the First Annual Cannabis Business Awards. The evening was featured as a sophisticated“ Holiday White Ball and Awards Ceremony.” The cannabis industry in Colorado has been growing rapidly for quite some time so it only seemed appropriate to host an awards ceremony highlighting the leaders in the scene.
Within the list of categories was the nomination for Most Influential Individual. That’ s a pretty hefty title to hold so when Sean Azzariti( CPL, USMC) won people were happy for him but also scratching their heads. Who is Sean Azzariti and what did he do to win such a honorable title?
Before the pubic were able to cast their votes for the winner, nominations were taken for each category. Azzariti received the most nominations for the category and ended up winning by a landslide, said Chloe Villano of Cloverleaf Consulting.
A little background on Colorado’ s Most Influential Individual: Sean Azzariti served in the United States Marine Corp for six years. Within that time frame, he was deployed to Iraq twice. Once he was back in the states, he started to suffer from PTSD. Having tried countless medications, he found that nothing cured his soaring anxiety like cannabis.
“ PTSD doesn’ t happen over night,” Azzariti said. After a year without any symptoms, they started to creep up, worsening immensely over time. He had to quit his job, go on disability and start therapy five days a week.“ I’ m an outgoing guy but I couldn’ t leave my condo or talk to anyone.” He knew that the pharmaceutical concoction prescribed by the doctors would kill him so he turned to cannabis after being reintroduced to it by some very close people in his life.
Unfortunately, according to the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment( CDPHE), PTSD is not a qualifying condition to receive a medical marijuana license
With all his efforts to make PTSD a recognizable disorder, others in the MMJ community started to notice Azzariti’ s impact. Mason Tvert and Ean Seeb approached him to speak in the very heartfelt“ Yes to 64” commercial.“ I think it got such an overwhelmingly positive response because a lot of people know someone suffering from PTSD, even if its not necessarily combat related,” Azzariti said.
I had the pleasure of speaking with Sean Azzariti. He is a determined, positive, grateful and well-spoken voice of reason.
THC: What does this award mean to you? SA: Honestly it’ s a huge accomplishment to be named the Most Influential Individual especially with the people I was nominated with. All of those people are amazing.
Sean said that winning the award really validates his goal of trying to lift the stigma surrounding marijuana and let fellow veterans know that there are safer options than pharmaceuticals.
THC: How are you going to continue to be Colorado’ s Most Influential Person? SA: Well, just because 64 passed doesn’ t mean my work is done. I think we are going to be facing a PTSD epidemic in the next ten years. I want to do this for vets in other states. I want to go there and be the face and voice of veterans especially those who are hesitant to try marijuana.
Contrary to what anyone might think, Azzariti was not a habitual cannabis user prior to having PTSD. He said he tried it less than ten times high school.
He’ s really speaking for the patients. He’ s a huge voice of the patients, the people and the veterans who really need,” said Villano.
“ It [ cannabis ] helped me so greatly it’ s all I can do to give back. I’ d like to be a trailblazer. It’ s not going to be as easy in other states but its something that I feel I have to do. As far as winning the award, I can’ t sit back and let it collect dust on my shelf. I have to utilize what I know. It’ s my responsibility to keep going. The award was a cool little bonus. It shows that people do care about what I’ m doing.” thcmag. com 63