PTSD

Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards signed a medical cannabis expansion program into law on Saturday that adds to the list of qualifying conditions that qualify a patient for participating in the program, according to a USA Today Network Friday report. House Bill 579, which contained the expansions, was first proposed by state Rep. Ted James […]

Georgia Gov. Nathan Deal has signed the bill adding post-traumatic stress disorder and intractable pain to the state medical cannabis program, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports. However, lawmakers failed to pass any broad expansion to the limited low-THC program. Patients still have no in-state access. The program allows enrollees to possess the cannabis oil but does […]

The House Veterans’ Affairs Committee has unanimously voted to advance a measure to allow the Department of Veterans Affairs to research medical cannabis, according to a Stars and Stripes report. The bi-partisan measure was introduced last month by the committee’s ranking Democrat, Rep. Tim Walz, and Republican committee chairman Rep. Phil Roe, who is also […]

Derek Cloutier is the president and co-founder of the New England Veterans Alliance, a non-profit organization that helps veterans reduce their dependency on pharmaceuticals and advocates on behalf of veterans for improved access to medical cannabis therapies. In the following interview, Derek joins our host TG Branfalt to talk about the experience of veterans in […]

Medical cannabis is now available as a post-traumatic stress disorder therapy in New York after Gov. Andrew Cuomo signed the legislature-approved measure during a Saturday Veterans Day parade, according to a New York Daily News report. The Assembly first passed the bill 131-8 in May and the Senate followed 50-13 in June. “Many of our […]

Delaware post-traumatic stress disorder patients now have easier access to the state’s medical cannabis program after Gov. John Carney signed the Bravery Bill into law last week, radio news station WDEL reports. The new law allows patients with PTSD to get medical cannabis certification from any properly licensed physician rather than only being able to […]

New York’s Republican-controlled Senate has approved a bill adding post-traumatic stress disorder to the state’s medical cannabis qualifying condition list, the NY Daily News reports. The measure, which passed 50-13, now moves to the desk of Gov. Andrew Cuomo. Rick Azzopardi, spokesperson for the governor, indicated that Cuomo would review the legislation. The measure was […]

Colorado Gov. John Hickenlooper has signed a bill granting individuals with post-traumatic stress disorder access to medical cannabis under the state program, according to a report from the ABC7. Colorado is the 21st state, along with Washington, D.C. and two U.S. territories, to allow medical cannabis treatments for PTSD. The state Board of Health had […]

Johns Hopkins University has dropped out of a study exploring whether cannabis can help relieve post-traumatic stress disorder symptoms, according to a report from Reason.com. The study, funded by a $2.2 million grant to the Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies (MAPS) from the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment, will still be conducted by […]

Jeff Staker has lived a life of purpose: 11 years as a Marine Corp sniper, a drill instructor, father of four and grandfather of five, and the 51-year-old now serves as a firefighter for the U.S. government in Indiana. He’s also a leading figure in the fight for medical cannabis access in his home state […]

A bill allowing medical cannabis use as a post-traumatic stress disorder therapy is set to be introduced this session in Colorado, according to a report from the Associated Press. But if history is any indication it’s likely going to be tough sledding – the state’s Medical Board has rejected PTSD as a qualifying condition for medical […]

Medical marijuana remains a contentious subject for many, but the benefits of the plant can no longer be denied. Twenty-eight states have now legalized the medical use of marijuana, including most recently Arkansas, North Dakota, Montana and Florida, who all passed medical use amendments during the 2016 election. Most of these states won’t see prescriptions […]

Minnesota’s Department of Health has added post-traumatic stress disorder to the state’s medical cannabis qualifying list, the Associated Press reports. However, individuals suffering from the condition won’t be able to access the program until August. The agency also expanded the medical cannabis delivery options, allowing the sales of topical patches, creams and lotions. Smoking or […]

The American Legion’s Committee on Veterans Affairs & Rehabilitation is calling on the DEA to “license privately-funded medical marijuana operations” and reschedule the drug in order to increase access for veterans. The resolution was affirmed during the 88th National Convention of the American Legion in Cincinnati, Ohio. According to the resolution, the committee believes that […]

A petition calling on New Jersey Gov. Christ Christie to sign legislation adding post-traumatic stress disorder to the list of medical marijuana qualifying conditions has garnered nearly 18,000 signatures. The petition, started by The Joint Blog, comes a month after the state legislature approved a bill adding the condition, sending it to the governor for […]

A study aimed at determining whether cannabis can help relieve post-traumatic stress disorder symptoms is ready for volunteers, the Military Times reports. Ideal candidates will have a combat-related PTSD disability rating from the Department of Veterans Affairs. The Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies program is funded by a $2.2 million grant from the state of […]

Patients suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder could be granted access to medical marijuana in New Jersey if Gov. Chris Christie (R) signs legislation approved by state lawmakers yesterday, according to an Associated Press report. The bill is meant to help military veterans diagnosed with the condition, but the Republican governor is a staunch opponent of […]

Congressional leaders have blocked medical marijuana reform efforts from both the House and Senate that would have opened the door for Veterans Affairs doctors to recommend medical cannabis to veterans in states where it has been legalized, Marijuana.com‘s Tom Angell reports. In strong bipartisan votes last month, the legislatures each approved measures to the 2017 Military Construction and […]

The California-based non-profit Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies has been awarded a $2.156 million grant to test the effectiveness of marijuana as a post-traumatic stress disorder treatment. The study has been approved by the Drug Enforcement Agency and the Food and Drug Administration, marking the first time federal agencies have approved a trial involving smoking […]

Veterans could soon be able to talk to their Veterans Affairs doctors about using medical marijuana after the Senate Appropriations committee approved an amendment to the fiscal 2017 Military Construction, Veterans Affairs and Related Agencies appropriations bill, the Military Times reported. The amendment, sponsored by Sen. Steve Daines (R-Montana) and Sen. Jeff Merkley (D-Oregon) would […]

New York’s medical marijuana program is one of the most restrictive in the country in terms of its accepted qualifying conditions, and the state is so far showing no signs that it will expand the list beyond “severe, debilitating or life-threatening conditions.” Health Commissioner Howard M. Zucker announced Monday that the commission would not add […]

As per Health Canada’s Marijuana for Medical Purposes Regulations established in 2001, patients across Canada suffering from certain debilitating conditions can be prescribed medical cannabis. If they register with a licensed producer, they can purchase said cannabis. Veterans returning from war are sometimes prescribed cannabis to treat symptoms of PTSD — the Canadian Veterans Affairs actually covers the cost […]

The Washington State Senate passed a bill this week that would add post-traumatic stress disorder as a qualifying condition for a medical marijuana prescription. Senate Bill 5379 was passed unanimously by the chamber on Tuesday night, and is now being considered in the House of Representatives. State Senator Steven Hobbs (D-Lake Stevens), who sponsored the […]