After the Storm

John Grady’s story is one of service, survival, and a relentless fight to rebuild—not just communities, but his own life.Grady answered the call to serve his country in both the U.S. Marine Corps and the Navy Seabees, deploying for two combat tours in Iraq in 2004 and 2005. He witnessed the realities of war firsthand—experiences that would follow him long after he returned home.But home offered no reprieve.Just days after his return, Hurricane Katrina devastated the Mississippi Gulf Coast. Grady describes the aftermath as “Iraq without the shooting”—total destruction, entire communities reduced to rubble. Once again, he stepped into the chaos, this time not as a soldier, but as a restorer—spending years helping rebuild what had been lost.Eventually, an opportunity brought him back to his home state of Missouri. But like many veterans, Grady carried invisible wounds. PTSD, compounded by a serious head injury on a job site and cumulative trauma, led him down a difficult path that included a failed suicide attempt.At a critical moment, changes tied to the Affordable Care Act left him without access to the medication that had helped stabilize his condition. Forced to search for alternatives, Grady discovered cannabinoid therapies—and for the first time in years, things began to shift.That turning point didn’t just change his life—it gave him a mission.Alongside his wife Kara, also a Navy veteran, Grady co-founded Slaphappy Beverage Company, Slaphappy Hemp*, and the Slaphappy Hemporium. Together, they built more than businesses—they built a pathway to healing for themselves and for others. Through their nonprofit, A Thousand Ripples, they’ve helped fellow veterans find relief, stability, and hope.*While researching, I found that I was unable to open ANY website that contained the word hemp or marijuana in the name! If this is an issue you are having as well you can email John at [email protected] the fight wasn’t over.In November 2022, Missouri exited its hemp program, transferring oversight to the USDA. Grady and his family worked diligently to comply with evolving regulations. Then, in November 2025, a last-minute federal provision backed by Mitch McConnell dramatically changed the landscape—imposing restrictions that threaten the viability of natural hemp cultivation.For Grady, the consequences are deeply personal. The same therapies that helped save his life—and the lives of others—are now at risk of being taken away.He believes powerful marijuana lobbying interests are influencing policy, particularly within Missouri’s capital, leaving small operators and veterans behind. In response, Grady and others have called on President Trump to intervene and protect access to these alternatives.They are still waiting.With the future of their family business—and their life’s work—hanging in the balance, Grady is stepping into a new arena. He is now running for Missouri House District 61, driven by a conviction that it’s time for change.A state that asks so much of its service members, he believes, should do more to support them when they come home.This is a story of war, disaster, healing, and purpose—and a reminder that sometimes the hardest battles are fought long after the uniform comes off.John’s Facebook page John’s election website John’s campaign donation websiteTestimony John and Kara Grady sent to President TrumpThanks for reading Nadine@9’s Substack! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work. Get full access to Nadine@9’s Substack at nadineat9.substack.com/subscribe