Lacey Man Educates First Responders About PTSD, Cannabis Products

LACEY, NJ — After working as an EMT in Ocean County for over ten years, Dan Jensen struggled with falling asleep at night.

Jensen, of Forked River, said his sleep issues still persisted after he transitioned into a new job, where he oversaw security at medicinal marijuana dispensaries in New Jersey.

After consulting with experts in the cannabis industry and reflecting on his problem, Jensen sought medicinal marijuana to remedy his sleep.

“From the very first time I tried it, and I was somebody who was severely against it, I immediately was back to my original self," Jensen recalled. "I felt better, I was sleeping better, my productivity at work increased.”

This shift motivated Jensen to start Code 3 Outreach last summer. Jensen teaches classes at dispensaries and fire departments about post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and how different cannabis products, such as CBD and marijuana, can ease physical and mental pain.

After New Jersey’s legalization of recreational marijuana on Feb. 22, Jensen said Code 3 Outreach has been gaining traction and helping more Ocean County residents navigate cannabis usage for their ailments.

“With everything going on with the legalization and the medical program, we just want to get the education out there and we want to break the stigma of 'Oh god, marijuana is horrible,’” Jensen said. “We educate on the medicinal and therapeutic side of it.”

Code 3 Outreach also sells apparel and merchandise at dispensaries and on their website. After the sale of each product, Jensen sets aside $2 to donate to local volunteer fire and EMS departments.

Jensen said people from other towns who purchase items can send the donations to their local emergency departments.

“C3O's goal is to promote success in physical and mental health while we give back to those who serve us selflessly everyday,” Jensen said.

More information about Code 3 Outreach is available on their website and Instagram where Jensen posts educational content and organizes Q&A sessions with experts in the cannabis industry.

Jensen also offers guidance to help people understand cannabis products and determine which ones could help them.

“As we grow and get the support of the community behind us, we’ll be able to help more people and get this knowledge out where it needs to be, especially to the first responders and the veterans," Jensen said.

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