The Trump administration has made it very clear that they would like to see legal medical cannabis become a thing of the past. Attorney General, Jeff Sessions, has been open about his feelings regarding marijuana, both medical and otherwise. In a May 2017 letter, he asked leaders of congress to get rid of the federal medical cannabis protections dating back to 2014.
No one has forgotten that Sessions said “good people don’t smoke marijuana.” Not all “good people” however, seem to agree. US veterans in particular, are becoming increasingly dismayed with the medical laws allowing them safe access to medical cannabis to treat symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
With frustrations mounting, the American Legion recently got involved, supporting suffering vets in their quest to gain legal access to medical marijuana. In the spring of 2017, the two-million-member American Legion started a campaign that would reduce marijuana restrictions. They believe doing so would tremendously help veterans suffering from symptoms of PTSD, many of whom are committing suicide because of the debilitating symptoms they suffer with daily.
Joseph Plenzler, spokesman for the American Legion, reported that there are “compelling stories from veterans about how cannabis has made their lives better.” Many veterans, realizing how marijuana can help, have changed beliefs they once held about the plant. The politics of marijuana are rapidly changing, with countless people who once condemned pot use, now in support of the many benefits it contains.
The issue of allowing US vets safe access to medical marijuana has been longstanding. Colorado, known as a pioneer for both medical and recreational cannabis, only recently allowed medical marijuana for symptoms of PTSD. According to Hobson Law, Of the 29 states that allow marijuana for medical use, only 20 allow those who suffer from PTSD to legally use it.
The American Legion proposed a measure that would allow VA doctors to freely prescribe medical marijuana to vets suffering from PTSD in the states it is legally allowed for medical use. Orange County Republican, Dana Rohrabacher, believes current legislation on the matter is a “travesty.” He states that vets “are given opiates instead of maybe something they can derive from marijuana…And our veterans end up killing themselves because now they are addicted to an opiate.”
Jeff Sessions however, couldn’t agree less. Despite the growing evidence of research studies across the globe, he still believes that marijuana should not be supported under federal law. Even if it’s helping those who have fought for our country.
There are countless vets who now face more problems than they came home from combat with. Because of tight federal laws, many VA doctors still shy away from prescribing medical cannabis to treat symptoms of PTSD. They instead prescribe the prescription medications they are told to, leaving vets without room for other options.
According to Arizona vet, Dan Schmink, relief was found with cannabis when returning from the army with broken ribs and psychological problems. When he tried to talk to his VA doctor about getting it prescribed however, he was met with resistance. Rather than getting the medicine he sought, he was instead reminded about the dangers of illegal drug use.
When vets without other options do what they’re told by the doctors who are purported to have their best interest in mind, they are often left without any other choice than to take what is prescribed to them. Percocet reigns over pot, leaving many suffering veterans now addicted to the substances that were supposed to help.
Although the Trump administration wants to return to the dark ages where medical cannabis is concerned, US vets aren’t quite keen on the idea. Where they can’t get access to legal cannabis, they’re often self-medicating to relieve symptoms on their own. Many are fighting back against the Trump administrations war on weed, passionate about a plant that has outstanding potential to give them a better quality of life and overcome the problems they face from serving their country.
