DUSTIN BRANDON
patient profile
cannabis & brittle bone disease
“I’M HERE TO SIMPLY BE A VOICE AND GIVE THE MOVEMENT EVERY BIT OF MY PRIVILEGE: MY DISABILITY, MY WHITENESS AND ANYTHING ELSE THAT I CAN.”
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>> After over 450 fractures, this Portland Cannabis community member has managed to keep his funny-bone intact.
Dustin Brandon (also known as @2lesslegs) is a stand-up comic and Cannabis activist hailing from Boston, Massachusetts. In his 36 years, he’s seen more than his fair share of obstacles battling Osteogenesis Imperfecta, or ‘brittle bone disease.’ But this wheelchair warrior continues to turn tragedy into triumph.
oregonlEAF.COM
What originally brought you to Oregon and how did you get started in the Portland Cannabis and comedy scenes? When I was 18, I left Boston to
pursue a professional career in wheelchair basketball. I played basketball my entire life, which is what brought me to Oregon. About five years ago down in Medford, I helped start a team called the Rogue Valley Scorpions. A bunch of us from around the country literally moved from our hometowns to start the team. Unfortunately, after my first year, I was hit by a car while crossing the street in my wheelchair. That put an end to my sports career. It was a pretty significant injury. I went to the hospital with well over 40 breaks and fractures. That’s what got me started in Cannabis. I had to retire (basketball) and my other passions in life were Cannabis and comedy. Portland is a great place for both of those things. As soon as I could heal enough to get back in my wheelchair, I moved and started going to comedy shows, studying my favorite comedians and learning. I spent the rest of my time involved in the Cannabis community - going to events and seshes and soaking up as much as I could. Eventually, I started planning my own events and co-branding with other people.
sept. 2020
Some folks that self-identify as Cannabis ‘activists’ are merely media influencers. As someone that has a deep connection to Cannabis both personally and professionally, what does it mean to you to be an activist? More than anything, you’re always representing the plant. You’re always representing the flower. You’re always representing that side of approval. Wherever you are, you’re always representing Cannabis. I walk around with a weed tattoo on my hand...I did that because I’m not just a consumer. I don’t just love smoking Cannabis - it saved my life. I have an undying dedication to it. Cannabis should be available to everyone, everywhere, whether they can afford it or can’t afford it. Anyone who sees different, I’m willing to have the conversation and respond accordingly.
Anyone watching your social media feed has seen you out supporting the BLM movement for the last 70+ days straight. Can you tell me a little bit about your experience? Proposition 504 (and the Rehabilitation Act of 1973) is very important to me. There was once a time when the Black community came to the aid of
the disabled community in unimaginable ways, simply because they understood. I feel it’s important our generation of the disabled community pays that back any way we can. I’ve turned down a lot of interviews in regards to what I’m doing out here specifically with the Black Lives Matter movement because I’m here to support them...I’m here to simply be a voice and give the movement every bit of my privilege: my disability, my whiteness and anything else that I can. Whether you like me or not in the community, whether you support me or not, at the end of the day I know this is the most important thing going on. I hope that on day one you helped, or day 57. I hope everyone takes some time.
What role has Cannabis played in your life through these trying times? Cannabis has been so
significant to me throughout this entire process. Whether you’re out here every night or you’ve only been out here for 20 days, it does wear and tear on you. Cannabis has gotten me through this entire time. At 36-years-old, after a lifetime of injuries I’ve had well over 80-90 surgeries. Being able to smoke during marches to get my body through it...I can’t even tell you how significant it’s been!
INTERVIEW by AMANDA DAY @TERPODACTYL_MEDIA | PHOTO by MARIAH HARRIS @MOMENTS.BY.MARIAH