Yolanda “The Herbal Trucker” Bennett and Angela Weston, M.S., M.B.A. are perhaps the most qualified duo to be leading the charge for dignified access to medical cannabis. And lucky for us, they’ve taken the mission head-on and established the Georgia Medical Cannabis Society.
The Georgia Medical Cannabis Society is a non-profit organization on a mission to promote medical cannabis as a holistic, effective alternative to traditional medical practice. They envision a future where medical cannabis use exists without stigma and the process to get this medicine is easy, transparent, and dignified.
In response to federal legal constraints surrounding cannabis, the GMCS has refocused its mission on providing financial assistance to patients in need rather than directly supplying cannabis products. Guided by the principle of “Patients Over Profits,” the organization is also committed to educating the public on the powerful benefits of cannabis. The GMCS remains dedicated to ensuring that underserved communities — whether low-income individuals, veterans, people with disabilities, or those formerly incarcerated — have equitable access to affordable medical cannabis and medical cannabis cards, all in full compliance with state laws.
Bennett and Weston appeared on The Green Standard: A Podcast By Veriheal to discuss the origins behind the Georgia Medical Cannabis Society and the current state of medical cannabis in Georgia. While doing so, they break down their personal experience with medical cannabis — both as patients and leaders in cannabis advocacy.
In Bennett’s case, she opens up about how cannabis has acted as a life-changing alternative to traditional pharmaceuticals — particularly as it relates to a disability that dramatically altered her life and forced her out of her career as a truck driver, a job that she had dreamed of since childhood. She speaks frankly about how cannabis allowed her to take back her quality of life, a quality that was significantly hindered by debilitating symptoms.
“[Dr. Rasean Hodge] was my first cannabis doctor. When I went to his doctor’s office, I could barely make it in. I was in a wheelchair,” Bennett shares in the episode. “And the only thing that got me out of that wheelchair was cannabis. The only thing that got me off of opioids was cannabis.”
Alternatively, Weston explores how her experience as a healthcare professional shapes her perspective as a cannabis educator and advocate today. Weston has her Master of Science degree in Medical Cannabis Science and Therapeutics from The University of Maryland School of Pharmacy. While this education, as well as years of advocacy in the cannabis space and an additional Master’s in Business Administration, solidify her as an expert in the field, Weston’s passion comes from hearing countless stories throughout her time in the field of others who have benefitted from cannabis use.
And it is this experience sharing that both Weston and Bennett agree will make an irreversible impact on the stigma against cannabis use.
“It could be anybody — pastors, lawyers, doctors — that are out there, but they’re so afraid because of their profession that they’ll be looked down upon. And once we can get past that, I think we’ll be in a better place,” Weston shares in the episode. “Those testimonies, those stories, are really what we need: to continue to hear people talk about how it actually helped them. That would be something that would truly help. That’s what helped me.”
Throughout the episode, Weston and Bennett provide actionable advice for disrupting the stigma, including continuing transparent communication and holding local legislators accountable.
The Green Standard podcast strives to elevate real, lived experiences within the cannabis industry — whether that’s testimonials from our patients and practitioners or commentary from our staff and partners. By telling these stories, we attempt to strip away the veil of secrecy, shame, and stigma that surrounds the cannabis industry with the effort of advocating for more transparent conversation and easier, more dignified access to cannabis across the globe.
Visit our page to hear Bennett and Weston’s story and dive into our other episodes. Subscribe to help set the standard.
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