Each quarter, as part of our dedication to giving back, we spotlight a special weed strain and donate a portion of the proceeds to a nonprofit organization benefiting our local community. This spring, we are excited to give back to Michigan veterans with a strain cultivated by our sister company, High Minded Cannabis Co. Proceeds from sales of the DD420 strain will go to 99for22, an organization named for the devastating statistic that an estimated 22 US veterans die by suicide each day. 99for22 is committed to raising awareness and helping to meet the unique needs of Michigan veterans and their families.
The Gusher Mints Strain
DD420, also known as Gusher Mintz or Gush Mints, is one of the best weed strains for anxiety, sleep, and pain. One of our personal favorites, it creates an immersive sensory experience with an invigorating mental lift and body-zapping high that will have your eyes heavy, body relaxed, and mind blissfully at ease.
Is the DD420 Weed Strain Indica or Sativa?
DD420 is a heavy, indica-leaning hybrid that creates an immersive sensory experience for mind and body. Its creamy, smooth smoke smells and tastes like spicy diesel, sweet cherries, and menthol, leaving a refreshing minty aftertaste and invigorating mental lift. The cerebral high has a slow creeping ascent but packs a punch, although not as much as its physical effects. DD420 hits with a body-zapping high that will have your eyes heavy, body relaxed, and mind blissfully at ease, making it one of the best weed strains for anxiety.
Honoring Our Veterans
Calling the Gusher Mintz weed strain “DD420,” was inspired by veteran and Cloud team member, Jonathan Bailey. Jonathan enlisted in the Marines right after high school, and is now an advocate for using marijuana as an alternative to pharmaceuticals. When he received his DD214 form, which certifies release from active military duty, he rolled it into a joint and smoked it. “I greatly believe that through marijuana, we can kick the trend of an opioid-crazed VA, and help drastically lower the number. 22 a day is 22 too many.” We sat down with a few of our veteran team members to learn about what it means to them to be able to support other veterans through their work in the weed industry.
Stash Ventures’ Anthony Chavez was in the Marines for four years, with two deployments to Afghanistan. In 2011, as he tried to readjust to civilian life, he experienced terrible crowd anxiety, chronic pain from injuries, and severe emotional detachment. He drank a lot, he says, until he found out he was going to be a father and quit cold turkey. Anthony credits smoking weed with helping him to stay away from alcohol and process his emotions in a healthier way. Cannabis changed his life for the better, “not just for me, but for my whole family.”
Security coordinator, Ryan Johns, served as a human intelligence collector in the military for ten years, after which he continued to work with the federal government for many years before transitioning to the cannabis industry. Ryan has seen firsthand how life changing weed can be for veterans. “I knew it was an industry I wanted to get involved in. It has really helped people close to me as well as acquaintances.” Personally, he says, weed allows him to be a better version of himself.
Another team member, Chad Douglas, spent over 7 years in the 101st Airborne, returning to civilian life in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic. Because the pandemic had shut everything down, Chad didn’t have access to the resources that would have otherwise been available to help him reintegrate into civilian life. Even when the country is not in lockdown, “the VA does drop the ball quite often,” Chad says. “I haven’t gotten my disability rating and I’ve been out for four years.” Luckily, weed helps. “I wish people knew the benefits. They’re out there but not everyone knows about them. Weed is not a cure-all or substitute for all pharmaceuticals, but it is a good alternative to addictive prescriptions for many people.”
Anthony agrees, and says he regularly smokes weed to help with pain from a shoulder injury. “I would rather smoke some doobers than take some pills.”
“It’s so much less harmful for you than alcohol,” Ryan adds. “People have been using [weed] since before recorded history.”
This quarter, Cloud spotlights the DD420 strain from High Minded Cannabis Co., directing proceeds to 99for22, supporting Michigan veterans. DD420, also known as Gusher Mintz, embodies more than just a sensory experience; it signifies gratitude to veterans like Jonathan Bailey, Anthony Chavez, Ryan Johns, and Chad Douglas, whose stories illustrate cannabis’ transformative potential. Through their experiences, we see how cannabis offers relief from pain, anxiety, and emotional struggles. As we continue to honor our veterans and support organizations like 99for22, let’s remember the power of community. With each sale, we extend a hand of support, making a difference, one puff at a time.