Military Times by Doug Distaso and Christopher Neiweem 7/5/2020
During coronavirus era, government restriction of cannabis is dangerous for the veteran population
The veteran population in the United States, like every other demographic in society, is facing the anxiety and trauma associated with COVID-19.
National veterans organizations that focus on lobbying for health care and benefits funding in Congress, have long been focused on mental health care modalities. With troubling reports of suicides and the well-documented symptoms of troops returning from war, it has become imperative to advocates in the veteran cannabis community to examine the variety of treatments, and make sure those that are effective are made accessible.
For a great deal of veterans, cannabis is the treatment that works. And because of the unique aspect of federalism, with some states allowing access and others — along with the federal government — restricting it, challenges exist.
This has been illuminated by the coronavirus pandemic. Veterans need cannabis options now more than ever, and restricting it by government officials and closing dispensaries poses a serious danger to veterans at this time.
Take Massachusetts for example, where the Veterans Cannabis Project (VCP) recently placed a full-page ad of a letter the organization, wrote to Gov. Charlie Baker urging him to declare cannabis dispensaries “essential services†so these treatments can be made accessible, especially in these fearful times for people.
The education gap between most policy makers and leaders in the veteran community is striking on the issues of cannabis treatment and it is now much worse this time around. For those of us that seek treatment at the Department of Veterans Affairs hospital system, it is beyond easy to acquire powerful opiates, or loads of psychotropic drugs to manage the variety of diagnosed conditions doctors may assign to us. Yet, because the federal government has cannabis placed as a schedule one drug, and due to federal law, we cannot be prescribed. Thus, most veterans will seek cannabis from their home states to manage a variety of conditions. We cannot imagine a disease outbreak reducing anxiety symptoms or making any veteran out there feel better, and we know directly from those we serve that it is making times harder.
Much harder.
More:
https://www.militarytimes.com/opinion/commentary/2020/07/05/during-coronavirus-era-government-restriction-of-cannabis-is-dangerous-for-the-veteran-population/
