Hydrolife Magazine April/May 2016 (USA Edition)

heal
by Brett Strauss
THE PLANT THAT
Saved My Life
... and How It Happened
After two-time cancer survivor Brett Strauss experienced the medicinal benefits of cannabis
firsthand, he immediately sprang into action, spearheading policy change in Colorado.
My name is
Brett Strauss. I
am a two-time
cancer survivor
and the CEO of
Pure Nutrients,
a company that
manufactures and
develops pesticides
and washes that
are safe for both
plants and the
patients who medicate with them.
I was first diagnosed with cancer in
May 2007. Three months later, I had surgery
on six tumors that were imbedded
in my thyroid. I had a 100% thyroidectomy
at that time. Fast forward to January
2010, when I had a routine ultrasound
that showed five masses in the lymph
nodes in the soft tissues of my neck.
The medical staff instantly took a
fine-needle biopsy of all five masses,
including one that was tucked behind
my carotid artery. A week later, I was told
that all five tumors were malignant.
I received the news while working in
Pueblo, Colorado, in my greenhouse. I
was in the middle of unloading a semitruck
full of Sunshine No. 4 Potting Soil. I
was not only severely devastated by the
news, I also ended up severely damaging
a muscle in my back that day. The following
day, crippled by the news and the
severe back pain, I hobbled into my office
at LAKK Investments in Colorado. LAKK
invests in marijuana businesses, and
owns and controls the grow operations for
Garden of the Gods Wellness, an upscale
dispensary in Colorado Springs.
When I limped into my office, I was met
by Olympic gold-medalist wrestler Jeff
Cervone, who operated the dispensary.
After hearing the news of my wrecked
back and cancer diagnosis, Jeff suggested
I try a high-CBD cream on my neck that he
had just received from a lady at Elsie’s Edibles
in Grand Junction. I said, “No thanks.
I have severe back pain and cancer. I need
heavy-duty painkillers, not some voodoo
marijuana cream.”
Jeff urged me to reconsider, so I gave the
cream a try. Within 30 minutes of applying
it to my back, the pain was completely
gone. Later that day, I met a lady named
Kathy who came to me to help her open a
local MMJ center. Kathy suffered from crippling
arthritis and wore soft casts on her
hands. She could barely move her fingers
or hands. As I was newly won over by the
MMJ balm Jeff gave me, I gave her some
to try. Within minutes, Kathy was able to
move her hands again.
52
grow. heal. live. enjoy.
myhydrolife.com