12/08/2025
Not sure what good it will do,I never mess with politicians,but I decided to write both my senators and express why cannabis is so important to a autistic/adhd/social communication disorder/ptsd individual,!
And how they need to defend it in this new h**p act !!! This is what i sent them!!
Dear Senator,
My name is Shaun Castanedo, and I am a Minnesotan living with autism, ADHD, severe anxiety, mild agoraphobia, social communication disorder, and PTSD. I am writing because proposals to restrict or ban h**p-derived cannabis products would seriously harm people like me who rely on these products for basic daily functioning.
I have spent years working with medical providers and trying traditional pharmaceuticals. Many either did not work or caused side effects that were more disabling than my symptoms. Cannabis, including legally available h**p-derived products, has been one of the few tools that actually reduces my anxiety, sensory overload, and PTSD symptoms and helps me manage daily life without the high risks of addiction or overdose associated with other substances.
For people like me, cannabis is not about recreation. It is about harm reduction and quality of life. When safe, regulated access to cannabis or h**p is removed, patients are often pushed back toward benzodiazepines, opioids, or alcohol—substances with far higher risks and far worse outcomes.
A blanket h**p ban does not target bad actors; it punishes disabled people, veterans, and those with mental health and neurodivergent conditions who are simply trying to live stable, functional lives. Regulation, testing, and clear labeling make sense. Prohibition does not.
Minnesota has taken important steps toward recognizing the medical value of cannabis. I ask that you continue to protect patient access and oppose policies that would remove safe, legal options for those of us who depend on them when nothing else has worked.
Thank you for taking the time to listen to the experiences of everyday Minnesotans. I appreciate your service and hope you will stand up for compassionate, evidence-based policy.
Sincerely,
Shaun Castanedo
Minneapolis, MN 55418
It can’t hurt I guess!!!
If you so feel inclined google your zip codes senators. Go to Thier website click contact and express your opinions!!!!!
Shaun Castanedo
