Canna Answers Chat

Back in 2014 I experienced a significant health event that led to my health severely declining. I am the person that doctor’s don’t even believe I am in pain even when in labor or when I stabbed myself with a knife going completely through my hand cause my pain tolerance is so high. Yet now I could not walk up a flight of stairs or use a remote control to change the TV channel without ending up in tears. That led me to the realization that waiting for doctors to help me was going to just lead to continued pain and my health declining. It was time to take my health back in my hands. That meant talking to my anti-cannabis husband about using CBD. I talked to him and my doctor and decided that it was time to try CBD. I hadn’t used cannabis since me and my husband started dating so this was totally different then the teenager, I was last time.

I first tried a big brand CBD for a bottle or 2 but after a negative experience with the store (not the product), I was looking for a new brand. Around this time, a friend back from WI happened to post about aliceCBD (www.alicecbd.com). I started looking into it and realized it was a local owner here in Missouri to where I live now and not back in Wisconsin, such a small world! This was before Alice Mangan opened her first CBD store in Webb City, she was still working out of her home still!  She was so highly educated and knowledgeable about CBD, it really made me feel comfortable. I became friends with Alice and got to hang out from time to time with her and she was always sharing her wealth of knowledge with me. This was right around the time of voting for Amendment 2 to bring medical cannabis to Missouri. She educated me on Amendment 2 and CBD, and I was obviously for medical cannabis. After it passed, but before you could officially apply for a card there was one Doctor that would write letters essentially saying you had a medical condition to apply for a card and that you met the legal requirements. It was in hopes that if pulled over while possessing maybe you would get lucky, and the law enforcement officer would let you go. But no promises. I thought it was great she had a letter and as much as I wanted one myself, I was (and still am) completely terrified of doctors and anything medical since 2014 so I had no intention of ever even applying for a card. Yes, I am already dreading my renewal appointment next year even though I literally have sat through thousands of yours the last few years!

Well, Alice is well Alice. And she knew I needed to take this step even if I was scared to death! She picked up the phone and messaged her doctor friend and asked her about me and what I would have to do to get a card. Well back then…pre full implementation of the program and when doctors were still learning and things were still being clarified, it was a harder process and required me to get all my medical records and an in person visit with the doctor. With Alices encouragement and probably some of her CBD products I made it through the process and got a letter of my own and eventually on the first day that you could I applied for my card.  At the time I was going to tell no one I even had a card but my husband and children, Alice, and my best friend. I was worried about wearing one of her Alice CBD shirts in public! What would people think?  How would people react? That was my fear of being judged simply for using CBD. However, Alice said something to me about how are we going to change the stigma if we keep hiding. She was right. We need to talk about CBD and Cannabis daily, publicly, if we are ever going to change the public perception. We should not have to feel embarrassed about using our medicine. If anything, we should share our stories.

All those conversations changed my perspective and is what led me to help patients figure out the process because without Alice I wouldn’t have a card and the Facebook Groups made it obvious it was a confusing mess to many people.  That led to me to helping people online understand the rules and regulations and then eventually it led me to working for clinic’s getting cards for people. Something I still do today though the process is now  easier with most patients not requiring them to get their medical records and just a easy and fast telehealth conversation! And just the other day I was asked if I owned any non-cannabis t-shirts…and honestly, I don’t own many at this point as almost all my t-shirts are 420 now!

Eventually through doing cards I also met Alice’s Sister Dora. She was also helping people get cards with one of my competitors but when she needed a new clinic, I eventually set her up with the Doctor I was working for at the time.  Over time Dora went on to pursue other passions, though she may still do cards from time to time.  Shortly after I also left the clinic I was working for, and I have new physician I use to get medical cannabis cards for people.  We always kept in touch now and then and of course see updates on social media. When Dora told me she was trying to get a new business started to help the Joplin Community, I offered to help her set up a website so she had a resource she could point potential clients to. Then when the updates on the website included job opportunities I applied and here we are with me working for Atypical Family Therapy & Disability Support Services. For now, I will be acting as the office manager, and if in the future we figure out she could utilize my skills in a different role better than that will change as we work together to bring her vision to life.

What is Atypical Family Therapy? Well, essentially Atypical Family Therapy & Disability Services offers comprehensive, integrated care for children and adults facing a range of challenges, including mental health, behavioral issues, communication and sensory needs, and developmental differences like autism spectrum disorder. They provide evidence-based therapies such as CBT, ABA, speech, occupational, and creative arts therapies, alongside crucial family support, advocacy, and community engagement to ensure holistic well-being and progress. Atypical Family Therapy & Disability Services offers comprehensive, integrated care for children and adults facing a range of challenges, including mental health, behavioral issues, communication and sensory needs, and developmental differences like autism spectrum disorder. They provide evidence-based therapies such as CBT, ABA, speech, occupational, and creative arts therapies, alongside crucial family support, advocacy, and community engagement to ensure holistic well-being and progress. An added benefit is that I can also assist some clients in obtaining their medical cannabis cards! This will be an exciting adventure, and I am looking forward to the new opportunity and challenges this role may bring in addition to continuing to grow and build Canna Answers.