Benefits of Cannabis for Veterans

Veterans across the country have sacrificed their physical and mental health for our safety, all while serving in our country’s greater cause. Unfortunately at the risk of their service, a majority of them still struggle with debilitating conditions well after they retire from active duty. While the VA health care system has taken painstaking measures to provide relief to these Veteran communities, many still do not respond to conventional medications and therapies for life-altering conditions such as PTSD and chronic pain and seek alternative methods of coping, like cannabis.

Did you know that Veterans consume cannabis at rates far higher than the general population? Among military veterans who acknowledged using cannabis within the past year, 41% classified their marijuana use as medical – a percentage that is double of that adults in the general population.

So what is the reasoning behind increased Veteran cannabis use and how can benefit effects that have arisen during military service? Read on to find out!

How Cannabis Can Benefit Veterans

Posttraumatic stress disorder, or PTSD, is something many veterans face post-combat. The American Psychiatry Association defines PTSD as a “psychiatric disorder that may occur in people who have experienced or witnessed a traumatic event such as a serious accident, a terrorist act, war/combat, or who have been threatened with death, violence or serious injury. PTSD has been known by many names in the past, such as “shell shock” during the years of World War I and “combat fatigue” after World War II, and has long been linked to combating Veterans specifically.

So where does cannabis come into play with PTSD? Studies have shown that THC could help with hyperarousal symptoms, insomnia, anxiety, and extinction deficits all related to PTSD. Available data has even suggested that low doses of THC can reduce anxiety responses in anxious and PTSD patients without inducing a psychotic effect.

Many Veterans also come home from service with various injuries, making pain management a necessity for everyday life. Rather than turning to prescription medications, many Veterans found that cannabis is a great tool for pain management. According to a review of over 10,000 studies by the National Academy of Sciences, “In adults with chronic pain, patients who were treated with cannabis are more likely to experience a clinically significant reduction in pain symptoms.” There is conclusive or substantial evidence that cannabis and cannabinoids are effective for the treatment of chronic pain in adults.

Another added benefit of medical cannabis use is the reduction of opioid use and opioid-related deaths. When Veterans don’t have the easiest access to cannabis, they sometimes turn to opioids or alcohol out of necessity or convenience. In states that permit medical marijuana dispensaries, studies show a relative decrease in both opioid addictions and opioid overdose deaths compared to states that do not.

Purple Lotus Honors Veterans

Purple Lotus understands the sacrifice that Veterans have made for our country and strives to provide them with the best possible medicine each day. All Veterans receive a 15% discount, 365 days a year in honor of their time served as a small token of our appreciation.

In addition, this Veteran’s Day (Nov 11, 2020, Only) Purple Lotus will be giving a discount of 20% off Blue Chip, Astro, Stiiizy, and Purple Lotus Products. Veterans can stack this discount with their normal 15% off for a total combined discount of 35% OFF, plus a special gift! We hope to honor and salute all of our Veterans today.

Organizations Helping Veterans Gain Access to Cannabis

Looking to help even more? Check out one of the many organizations that make cannabis readily available to Veterans in all states, despite current legislation.

Veterans Cannabis Project

Veterans Cannabis Project is dedicated to improving U.S. military veterans’ quality of life through the opportunity of cannabis. We believe medical cannabis saves lives and that veterans deserve full, legal access.

VCP is working to change the conversation about the life-saving health treatment value of cannabis by advocating on behalf of veterans’ cannabis access, educating policymakers and the public about the value of cannabis to veterans to eliminate stigma, and supporting veterans across the nation with the resources they need to understand the value of medical cannabis and know their rights while arming them with the tools they need to encourage policy change.

Weed for Warriors

Weed For Warriors Project is a social justice lifestyle brand supporting holistic rehabilitation for veterans through community-based projects, proactive care advocacy, cannabis education and compassion WFWP urges change for the empowerment of the people.

Veterans Cannabis Coalition

The Veterans Cannabis Coalition is an independent, self-funded advocacy group dedicated to ending cannabis prohibition and driving the research and development of cannabis-based treatments through the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.
VCC aims to close gaps in the community’s understanding of medical cannabis while ensuring accessibility and affordability for veterans and all patients.

References:

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3. National Library of Medicine: MedlinePlus. Adjustment Disorder.
4. American Psychiatric Association. 2013. Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth edition. (DSM-5)
5. American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry. Facts for Families: Attachment Disorders.
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