Potcast 150: Soldiers for Cannabis Legalization
How can medical cannabis empower our veterans? Today’s guest on the potcast served in the U.S. military and now runs a cannabis business dedicated to serving the veterans’ community and changing the laws for veterans’ services and healthcare. Bryan Buckley is co-founder of Helmand Valley Growers Company (HVGC), a cannabis brand focused on ending the opioid and suicide epidemic plaguing our nation's heroes. We talk about cannabis, democracy, serving our country, and how to effect positive change in our communities.
‘After the Show’ Notes
As a Special Operations Team Commander with Marine Raiders, Bryan led multiple teams in deployments to Operation Enduring Freedom-Trans Sahara (Africa), South East Asia, and Operation Enduring Freedom-Afghanistan (Helmand Province). He developed rapport with numerous host nation forces, enhanced capability and capacity within the host nation units, and briefed US Ambassadors. Led a 20 man Marine Raider Team to Afghanistan that mentored, trained, and conducted over 40 combat operations with an Afghan Special Operations Battalion. Bryan also deployed twice to Operation Iraqi Freedom with Marine Infantry and Marine Reconnaissance.
Bryan is an accomplished sales and operations leader with a distinguished background in leadership, policy, training, management, operations, and strategic decision making. He is adept in negotiation, alliance formation, and organizational communication. Bryan has the ability to forge productive partnerships among stakeholders and to reach high-level decision-makers within sophisticated organizations, ensuring the free and productive flow of information. Bryan counsels and assists those within and in association with governmental agencies, along with the private sector, to adopt best practices in compliance with applicable regulations and statutes. Bryan worked at a successful EdTech firm as a Sales Manager achieving multiple awards in sales and grew his territory nearly 20% in a three-year period. Bryan is a graduate of Villanova University.
-Awarded Bronze Star Medal with "Combat Distinguishing Device" for Heroic Service.
-Awarded the Purple Heart Medal for wounds received during combat operations.
HVGC was founded by three United States Special Operations Veterans known as Marine Raiders who support and run a cannabis business dedicated to serving the veterans community.
Since its inception, HVGC has been in discussions with some of the cannabis industry’s top researchers and has developed a veteran based protocol to effectively prove the benefits of medical cannabis. HVGC is supported and essentially ran by three Marine Raiders that served following 9-11.
HVGC began its outreach into the veteran community by observing first-hand and listening to the suffering of our veterans. They knew right then the cause was worthy; and the mission was defined. Their next step was researching medical cannabis and speaking with the top experts in the field. As their research progressed, the answer to this crisis became clear: develop alternate medical solutions for those suffering from pain, anxiety, post-traumatic stress, sleep disorders, and most critically, are at a significant risk of suicide. HVGC cares about those who suffer and believe that medical cannabis is the way of the future to help those in need. The adult-use cannabis and branding will be used to assist in accomplishing these goals and ultimately serve as a profit center for HVGC.
The Battle Brothers Foundation empowers veterans through community-based personal development, economic upward mobility, and progressive medical treatments to better their lives and the lives of their families. We can win this fight against PTSD and other veteran struggles, but just like overseas we can't do this alone. You can make a difference in a veteran’s life today by pledging a donation to help our brothers in arms live a normal life again.
