Balanced Veterans Network

06/02/2026

This is why it's so vital to support the work HunterSeven Foundation is doing.

Veterans with cancer attempt su***de at a rate of 203 per 100,000 — significantly higher than the general population, according to a new JAMA Oncology study.

The risk peaks in the first six months after diagnosis but persists for up to five years.

Researchers analyzed data from more than 292,000 veterans treated between 2014 and 2023.

06/02/2026

“How dare you.”

That’s basically what Xavi thought when a fellow veteran suggested cannabis instead of another bottle of pills.

Like a lot of veterans, he was dealing with chronic pain, sleep issues, and trying to navigate life after service. The idea that a plant might help felt ridiculous. Counterintuitive. Maybe even offensive.

Then he tried it.

That night, Xavi slept for nearly 10 hours.

Pain free.

For the first time in years.

Whether cannabis is right for you or not, stories like Xavi’s remind us that healing doesn’t always look the way we expect it to.

Did you know Balanced Veterans Network helps veterans access medical cannabis certifications in more than 30 states?

If you’re curious, looking for support, or simply searching for a community that understands the challenges of life after service, join us at BalancedVeterans.org.

Thousands of veterans have explored new paths to wellness. Xavi is one of them.

Watch his full story and hear firsthand how one conversation changed everything.

06/01/2026

Everyone’s journey after service looks different.

For Xavi Vazquez that journey included military service, addiction, recovery, transition, loss, healing, community, and learning how to build a life that actually felt authentic.

This isn’t a story about having all the answers.

It’s a story about doing the work.

Xavi boldly shares the realities of navigating life after the military, overcoming substance abuse, finding purpose through advocacy, embracing identity, and creating meaningful change in the veteran community.

No matter where you come from or what you’ve been through, healing requires participation.

There’s something powerful about hearing a veteran speak honestly about where they’ve been, what they’ve overcome, and the life they’ve worked to build on the other side.

If you’re struggling, rebuilding, searching for purpose, or simply trying to become a better version of yourself, you’ll find something valuable in this story.

Watch the full story and let us know what resonated with you most. Full story available on our YouTube channel: https://youtu.be/7lTDsEQ_3c8?si=n8dUsJg1IqJETbia

Balance is built, not found.

06/01/2026

Everyone’s journey after service looks different.

For Xavi Vazquez that journey included military service, addiction, recovery, transition, loss, healing, community, and learning how to build a life that actually felt authentic.

This isn’t a story about having all the answers.

It’s a story about doing the work.

Xavi boldly shares the realities of navigating life after the military, overcoming substance abuse, finding purpose through advocacy, embracing identity, and creating meaningful change in the veteran community.

No matter where you come from or what you’ve been through, healing requires participation.

There’s something powerful about hearing a veteran speak honestly about where they’ve been, what they’ve overcome, and the life they’ve worked to build on the other side.

If you’re struggling, rebuilding, searching for purpose, or simply trying to become a better version of yourself, you’ll find something valuable in this story.

Watch the full story and let us know what resonated with you most : https://youtu.be/7lTDsEQ_3c8?si=n8dUsJg1IqJETbia

Balance is built, not found.

Xavi Vasquez’s story is one of resilience, reinvention, and learning how to build a life worth living after service.After serving in the U.S. Navy from 2008 ...

05/31/2026

The NCI-funded study tracked 206 survivors who practiced hatha and restorative yoga about 180 minutes weekly over four weeks.

Researchers called it a non-pharmaceutical solution for reducing four side effects at once.

A clinical trial found yoga cut insomnia, fatigue and mood disturbances in cancer survivors compared to standard care alone.

The NCI-funded study tracked 206 survivors who practiced hatha and restorative yoga about 180 minutes weekly over four weeks.

Researchers called it a non-pharmaceutical solution for reducing four side effects at once.

05/28/2026

We get the 2A question regularly.

A federal agency is proposing to update a gun purchase form to acknowledge the federally legal status of medical ma*****na under the Trump administration’s recent move to reschedule the drug. The Bureau of Alcohol, To***co, Fi****ms and Explosives (ATF) on Friday posted a proposed revised version ...

05/28/2026

The veteran alternative healing conversation is getting flooded with political noise, clickbait, and misinformation so we wanted to slow things down and talk about what’s ACTUALLY happening right now.

Here’s the reality:

The VA has NOT officially changed treatment policy or rolled out widespread psychedelic-assisted therapy programs yet.

But momentum is growing.

We’re watching:
• Federal agencies increase research support
• Multi-million dollar studies launch
• Universities expand clinical trials
• The Department of Defense increase research efforts
• Texas commit $50+ million toward ibogaine research focused on veterans
• National conversations around PTSD, TBI, addiction, and mental health rapidly shift

This conversation is bigger than politics.

This is about human beings trying to heal.

At BVN, we believe veterans deserve honest education, safe conversations, strong community, and access to research-driven wellness options without stigma or shame.

Healing is rarely one-dimensional.

Community matters.
Movement matters.
Purpose matters.
Connection matters.

No single tool fixes people.

But honest conversations and strong communities can absolutely save lives.

Balance is built, not found.

05/26/2026

The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is launching a new trial on whether M**A-assisted therapy can help military veterans who are struggling with severe mental health disorders, including PTSD and alcohol use disorder. The study will involve approximately 80 veterans and will compare outcome...

05/25/2026

👏 Veterans Action Council Michael Krawitz Etienne Fontan

Rescheduling “might affect a VA provider’s ability to refer VA patients to State medical cannabis treatment programs,” one document obtained through FOIA says. By Doc Laing, Veterans Action Council The Trump administration’s move to federally reschedule medical cannabis could meaningfully in...

05/25/2026

We can never repay their debt, but we can build lives in honor of the sacrifice they made.

Memorial Day is not just about remembering how they died.
It’s about honoring how they lived.

The fallen gave everything so others could have the chance to live freely, raise families, chase dreams, and build meaningful lives. The best way we honor them is not only through words, but through the way we carry ourselves every day.

Live with purpose.
Love your people deeply.
Take care of your mind, body, and spirit.
Build a life of balance, integrity, and gratitude.

A man is forgotten twice:
once when he ceases to exist,
and again when people stop saying his name.

So say their names.
Tell their stories.
Pass down their legacy.
Keep their memory alive through the way you live.

As you spend time with family today, remember that freedom was paid for by men and women who never made it home.

We can never repay their debt.
But we can live in a way that honors it.

Never forget the fallen.