EP 50: Matthew Ericson – Cannabis is the Next Renaissance

For Matthew, cannabis and plant-based medicine isn’t just a way to heal physical and mental illness. It’s a way to correct the injustice of the first responder industry. Maybe the people who work all their lives to save others now have a chance to save themselves, too.

Before he retired, Matthew Ericson was a firefighter for over fifteen years. He’s a cannabis advocate who brought the fight for plant-based medicine to the union board he served on. He’s been working to make cannabis more accessible to the people who need it. He’s here today to talk about his own experience with Gary, and continue his work to spread awareness and acceptance of plant-based medicine in treating first responder trauma. 

On this episode of Good Dudes Grow, Gary jams with Matthew about the reality of the firefighting profession. He calls it a ‘mechanical job:’ a job that you do automatically, that can lead to first responders suppressing their emotions and trauma in order to get the job done. For both Gary and Matthew, it’s important that people start talking and validating the trauma that firefighters face every day–only then can plant-based medicine really take root in our society and offer lasting change.

What You’ll Learn:

• What side effects happen to firefighters after years on the job–from not sleeping, to changes in mood and attitude, to flashbacks. 
• How Matthew got into the fight for alternative medicine in his industry, and why he continues fighting 
• Why the trauma from firefighting is referred to as “the silent killer”
• And so much more!

Favorite Quote:

“The biggest win, for me, is that we can talk about it. This trauma is so hard to deal with–by the end of your career, you’re fried. But now, we’re finally opening up and so now we can finally start to heal. ” 

• Matthew Ericson

How to get involved: 

Gary Roberts is the founder and CEO of Pure Body Zen, a company based not only around creating and selling high-quality CBD products, but one that is on a mission to change the landscape on how mental health and addiction are treated. Gary has founded a non-profit called Promises Recovery Centers for those who need it as well as creating the first-ever educational training facility for Physicians, Therapists, and Mental Health advocates using innovative therapeutics like psilocybin, Mdma, and LSD.

You can learn more about Pure Body Zen on their site, on LinkedIn, and on Instagram.

If you enjoyed this episode, don’t forget to visit the show on Apple Podcasts and leave a rating and review! We love hearing from you!

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