From his front porch in Young Arizona, smoke wafted past Congressional Candidate, Brady Busby.  He took a deep breath in and exhaled. Most smoke in this area of the state originates from wildfires, fueled by ever increasing droughts and dwindling rain totals. But these plumes were different. They weren’t from fire, but medicine grown in his own home, by his own hands. As the political season heats up and swings into gear, there is a new voice in Arizona’s 2nd Congressional district.

I take my politics seriously. When trying to understand the local issues, one must learn about the whys behind both sides of the isle, especially in an independent leaning state like Arizona. When I was first introduced to Mr. Busby in late 2022, it was by a Special Forces and cannabis industry veteran, grower and breeder of over 50 years telling me of a candidate who “spoke my same language.”  

Over the course of 2023, I had the opportunity to sit down and understand Candidate Busby, learn who he is, and why he is vying for the position as an Independent in the district encompassing Flagstaff, Prescott and the entire northeastern third of the state. After meeting with Busby at least fifteen times, I got a good feel for what he stands for. 

Busby was already at the facility when I arrived. As I pulled into the parking lot of the cannabis facility, Busby was just about to light up a joint. It’s not everyday you meet up with a congressional candidate at a cannabis facility. It’s even rarer to sit down for a conversation and pass the joint as you discuss their beliefs, their background, and what they are fighting for. 

The conversation began with the tour of the production facility, Legacy Distribution – a joint project between MJ Pack and Qwik Liquids, where Busby happens to be producing his own cannabis brand, Legacy Cannabis, which will supply the Arizona market with high quality medical grade cannabis.

As an active member of the cannabis community in Arizona, I attend a lot of cannabis related events, but Busby walks circles around my attendance record. To understand the pulse of the community means you must show up and you have to listen. Busby shows up, he listens, and he asks great questions. 

How often do you look forward to your local congressional candidate’s visit? How often does that visit involve conversations about cannabis industry issues while consuming homegrown cannabis? With Busby, you can count on him having his home grown, hand rolled joints ready to go for a nice discussion about the current state of affairs in the industry. 

Busby’s story is rich with experience, full of selfless giving, heartbreaking loss, healing and coming full circle back to his duties as public servant. Brady was raised in northern Arizona in the small town of Woodruff and Holbrook near the Navajo Nation. 

Diagnosed with PTSD after a 3rd tour of Iraq, Busby served three additional tours after diagnosis.  By 2010, he had suffered thirteen major concussions (documented) during his career, with the last one occurring in Afghanistan. Busby was taking over one hundred Percocet prescribed monthly. It was a back surgery in 2011 at the age of 37 which finally took Busby out of his active-duty role. 

Busby relocated to Colorado in 2012 where he enrolled in college to pursue a degree in geography and environmental studies with a minor in geology. As he transitioned from military to civilian life, it was here his journey with cannabis began in the early days of the Colorado medical cannabis program. His path from opioids to cannabis follows a familiar trail for those who have experienced the trauma of war. Desperate for help, he took a leap of faith and a puff of medicine which changed his life. 

Busby has been growing his own medicine since discovering its powerful medicinal benefits after serving seven tours (1 in Kosovo, 3 in Iraq & 3 in Afghanistan) in the armed forces finishing his career as a Sargent 1st Class E-7. 

Today, Busby spends his free time fly fishing Haigler Creek for rainbow trout, a skill he learned in his youth as a Boy Scout. He found the opportunity to heal through fly fishing alone and with his brothers-and-sisters-in-arms with his involvement with Project Healing Waters Fly Fishing. After all, he says, “trout don’t live in ugly places, and nature surrounds us with amazing beauty, reminding us of God’s grace each and every day.” 

Since then, he’s authored two books detailing his numerous traumatic brain injuries, multiple tours of duty sparking PTSD, and perhaps the worst of all, the loss of his child by suicide in 2018. Busby is also an accomplished artist and Non-Profit founder.

Spending time in nature, fishing, and basking in the Arizona sun, while consuming his homegrown cannabis has given Busby time to ponder and reflect. When you are given a diagnosis of five years to live, each day is a gift. Being able to serve is his life’s purpose. Running as an Independent in the Congressional District 2, Busby’s priorities are clear. 

First and foremost, the cornerstone of Busby’s platform is cemented in cannabis reform and regulation. Busby calls for the complete removal from scheduling, instead of rescheduling or legalizing cannabis. This would allow the plant to be accessible to the people. 

In addition to removal from Schedule 1, Busby calls for the expungement and release of all non-violent cannabis prisoners at both the federal and state levels and records promptly expunged. Cannabis is often cost prohibitive. Busby understands what cannabis medicine means to patients who depend upon its powerful properties. In many states where cannabis has been legalized recreationally, home growers’ rights are often restricted. 

Busby advocates for the Patient's Rights to Safe Access.  He believes patients in all 50 states and territories should have the right to safe access to all medicinal options. This includes the right to cultivate their own medicines and the involvement of caregivers while extending to veterans and the V.A.

Busby will also fight for the Inclusion of Disenfranchised Communities. Busby emphasizes the importance of involving communities that have been most impacted by the failed war on drugs and in the emerging cannabis industry. He believes that equal opportunities should be provided to all, with lower barriers of entry to ensure everyone can participate.

Additionally, he is supportive of cannabis user’s 2nd amendment rights, sensible taxation, regulation and safe banking and the pursuit of scientific and medicinal research to develop the benefits of the therapeutic properties of cannabis so the United States leads the globe in understanding the value of cannabis and hemp on a national and international scale. 

As the election season begins to heat up, Busby will be making his rounds throughout the state of Arizona. From the monthly MITA events to the 2nd annual Young Bud home grower’s competition he is hosting this December in his hometown of Young, you’ll see him shaking hands, striking up conversations as well as his homegrown cannabis. Busby is a caring, compassionate veteran who shows up and is willing to listen.  

As I began to finish up my piece on Busby, I feel my phone vibrate. It’s a text from the congressional candidate. A photo of a beautiful Blue Skunk cannabis plant with the text, “Ready to get your clones off her!” I smiled and thought to myself, “Not your average congressional candidate!”