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legislation focus
cannabis patient care
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vol. 3 no. 4 cannapatientcare.com
Time for an Advocacy Push
As it stands now, veterans suffering from PTSD or chronic pain
issues still do not have clear access to marijuana through the
VA. Now that there has been movement in Congress along these
lines, and more clinical trial development to prove the efficacy
of cannabis for PTSD, it's time for more advocates to step up
with their stories and get the VA to act.
To be sure, there are already many groups around the
countr y where anyone can get involved in getting help for
veterans seeking medical cannabis. One example (13) is the
Veterans Cannabis Project, founded by a former US Nav y
Seal, which joined the US Cannabis Council (USCC) in Febru-
ar y 2021. The Veterans Cannabis Project is an organization
that represents a new alliance of top cannabis business-
es, associations, and advocacy organizations working to end
federal cannabis prohibition.
The USCC threw their support behind cannabis legislation
introduced in November 2021, by Congresswoman Nancy Mace
(R-SC), called "The States Reform Act" (14). That act would pro-
vide enhanced protections for military veterans against the
loss of VA healthcare benefits and other discriminatory prac-
tices, and would fund mental health services for veterans,
among other provisions.
Other veterans and marijuana advocacy organizations in-
clude Veterans for Medical Cannabis Access (15); Weed for
Warriors (16); Veterans Cannabis Coalition (17); Veterans Alli-
ance for Holistic Alternatives (18); and the Balanced Veterans
Network (19)—among many others.
One medical cannabis advocate with his own story about
his tour in Iraq is veteran and attorney Brandon Wyatt. Wy-
att suffered psychological damage in the war, coming home
so traumatized by his experience that he was unable to speak
(20). He eventually worked his way out of that problem, be-
came a lawyer, and now works with veterans advocacy organ-
izations, touring cities and presenting at educational forums.
"That touring really allowed me to connect with a lot of folks
across the country, and also work with a lot of politicians,"
Wyatt said.
"I know that the VA is trying not to take certain steps, because
the closer that we get to that process, the closer it triggers oth-
er systems," he said. "You know if you can recommend it, if you
can talk to your patient about it, then why is the government not
paying for it, or for you to get it from the VA facility?"
Wyatt said that it's not just veterans or disabled veterans
who can be advocates for medical marijuana. "I think it can
be anybody," he said. "I think especially families of veterans,
like the children of veterans who grew up in a military type of
household. They have to be the leader of change for their fa-
ther or mother to help them get in the door regarding PTSD
or other issues, because, generationally, there's a gap. There
is an aversion for many veterans to try any medication. A lot
of us (veterans) are strict rule followers. So, when it came
about that this was the rule that the government was chang-
ing (about cannabis), and that it will be something that was
considered medical, that didn't trigger acceptance by all the
veterans. But it triggered a lot of their families. And not just
wives or daughters, but cousins, aunts, uncles, all who recog-
nize the PTSD they were witnessing with their loved one.
"In this country, you can have the weapon of the mind, the
weapon of community. It's us being able to join minds and use
our collective power as veterans to stand up for this particu-
lar issue," said Wyatt.
References
(1) https://www.ptsd.va.gov/understand/common/common_veterans.asp
(2) https://www.va.gov/opa/speeches/2022/11_07_2022.asp
(3) https://maps.org/news/media/press-release-dea-approves-
first-ever-trial-of-medical-marijuana-for-ptsd-in-veterans/
(4) https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT04565028
(5) https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT02759185
(6) https://www.congress.gov/bill/117th-congress/house-bill/2916
(7) https://www.congress.gov/bill/117th-congress/house-bill/2588/text
(8) https://www.govtrack.us/congress/bills/115/hr1820
(9) https://www.amazon.com/Path-Forward-Rethinking-
Federal-Marijuana/dp/1503109771
(10) https://mast.house.gov
(11) https://www.congress.gov/bill/117th-congress/house-bill/8454/text
(12) https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2022/10/06/
statement-from-president-biden-on-marijuana-reform/
(13) https://www.vetscp.org/news
(14) https://www.congress.gov/bill/117th-congress/house-bill/5977/text
(15) http://www.veteransformedicalmarijuana.org
(16) https://www.wfwproject.org
(17) https://www.veteranscannacoalition.org
(18) https://www.vahahealth.com
(19) https://www.balancedveterans.com
(20) https://northernvirginiamag.com/health/medical-features/2017/02/07/
retraining-the-returning-warrior-for-civilian-life/
about the author
DAVID HODES has written for many cannabis publications, and orga-
nized or moderated sessions at national and international cannabis trade
shows. He was voted the 2018 Journalist of the Year by Americans for Safe
Access, the world's largest medical cannabis advocacy organization.
