How Not to Die

Why one New Brunswick veteran—afflicted by PTSD, feeling forsaken by the military, and armed with an evangelical zeal for the healing power of pot—turned his small town into Canada's medical-cannabis capital.

In the quiet corners of Oromocto, a transformation took root. What began as a personal struggle for survival against the invisible wounds of war blossomed into a movement that challenged provincial perceptions and federal policies alike.

"We weren't looking to start a war," he says, reflecting on the early days. "We were just looking to keep our brothers and sisters breathing."

For those feeling abandoned by the very services they were promised, the approach offered a controversial but effective path forward. The story of medical marijuana in this region is as much about bureaucracy and pain as it is about relief.

As the debate continues across Canada, the legacy of what was built here remains a testament to the lengths veterans will go to when they feel their country has left them behind.