First responders are trained to run toward danger, not talk about what it does to them afterward. In this episode of the Psychedelic Scene Podcast, firefighter Paul Walton explains how that gap is starting to close, and what it really takes to change policy, culture, and care from the inside.

 

Introduction

First responders experience repeated exposure to trauma, disrupted sleep, and chronic stress, yet are rarely taught how to process it. In this conversation, Paul Walton, a firefighter with more than 17 years on the job and Executive Director of Firefighters for Plant Medicine, explains how education, policy work, and careful use of plant-based tools are beginning to change that reality in New Mexico.

This episode is not about quick fixes or miracle cures. It is about process, responsibility, and what it actually looks like to create safer mental health pathways inside high-stakes professions.

Why Is Mental Health So Hard to Address in First Responder Culture?

First responders are often expected to absorb trauma quietly and keep going. Paul explains that most firefighters are never taught how to process the emotional impact of their calls. Over time, this can show up as anxiety, sleep problems, chronic pain, or emotional shutdown.

The biggest barrier is not access. It is reluctance to admit help is needed at all.

Why Cannabis Became the Entry Point

Paul did not begin this work looking for a political fight. After a work-related injury and surgery, he struggled with opioid side effects and turned instead to state-approved medical cannabis.

What surprised him was not just pain relief, but a sense of emotional regulation returning.

From there, the focus became education, intent, and responsible use. Not recreation. Not escape. A tool used carefully and off-duty, like many other medications.