Dedicating one’s mind and body to protecting our country and its people is a calling that deserves the utmost respect. And while we may readily offer our gratitude and prayers to those who have served our country, they may actually require a lot more help to resume a normal way of life upon being discharged from their duties.
Every year, countless veterans grapple with not just physical injuries, but also the harrowing mental and emotional rigors of military service. Many may have lost friends or undergone brutal conditions. Although medication and therapy are great tools to make their return to everyday life painless and comfortable, it is important to explore all possible avenues to help veterans work through their visible and invisible wounds.
The Medical Benefits of Cannabis
Medical marijuana is extracted from the Cannabis sativa plant and has been used as a herbal remedy for centuries. Researchers today are studying how a number of physical and mental health conditions can be treated using marijuana, including:
- Alzheimer’s disease
- Anxiety
- Cancer
- Crohn’s disease
- Autoimmune diseases like HIV/AIDS and Multiple Sclerosis (MS)
- Eating disorders
- Epilepsy
- Glaucoma
- Mental conditions such as schizophrenia & PTSD
- Multiple sclerosis
- Muscle spasms
- Nausea
- Pain
- Seizures
However, even such research requires a special license since marijuana remains classified as a Schedule I drug in the United States. Although research has been limited in this field, studies have suggested that cannabinoids present in medical marijuana are similar to chemicals produced by our bodies to aid in key functions such as appetite, memory, movement, and pain.
These cannabinoids can possibly:
- Reduce anxiety
- Decrease inflammation and relieve pain
- Control nausea and/or vomiting caused by chemotherapy
- Kill cancer cells and reduce tumor growth rates
- Relax tightened muscles in patients with MS
- Stimulate appetite and improve the rate of weight gain
These are just a few examples of the many benefits of medical marijuana for veterans.
How Can Medical Marijuana Benefit Veterans?
- An Alternative to Addictive Opioids for Pain Relief
Injured veterans who return home are often plagued by injuries sustained during service, which often come with crippling, chronic pain. To deal with this pain, they are prescribed strong painkillers and drugs called opioids.
But such opioids can be highly addictive when consumed over long periods of time—not to mention the possibility of untimely death from an accidental overdose of prescription opioids. In contrast, medical marijuana provides a welcome substitute for these potentially life-altering and addictive drugs, while offering considerable relief from pain in a safer form.
- Post Surgery Treatment & Recovery
In addition to pain relief, medical marijuana can be used for treatment after surgery and during recovery periods to cope with symptoms such as nausea, seizures, inflammation, and appetite loss.
- Eases Mental Trauma & Symptoms of PTSD
Apart from being supported by experts from prestigious institutions such as the American College of Physicians, the American Nurses Association, and the American Public Health Association, medical marijuana has been proven to treat post-traumatic stress and related disorders.
In a review of 80 veterans, George Greer (a New Mexico-based psychiatrist) reported that his patients displayed a 75% reduction in primary symptoms of post-traumatic stress after using cannabis for treatment. In fact, according to leading health journals, medical marijuana may even work better than other widely recognized medications for treating PTSD.
Different Ways to Consume Cannabis
There are several ways of consuming cannabis, from methods and dosage to the form of consumption. You can:
- Inhale it using a device such as a vaporizer that turns it into a mist
- Smoke it
- Eat it in foods like a brownie or a lollipop
- Apply it directly on your skin in the form of a lotion, a spray, an oil, or a cream
How you choose to consume it is up to you, as each method works differently for everyone. While smoking or inhaling cannabis leads to almost immediate effects with an onset time of around 1-5 minutes, it takes a bit longer if you choose to eat it.
If you’re new to this method of treatment, it’s best to start slow. It may take a few attempts to understand how your body responds to different dosages and various modes of consumption. If your state permits legal consumption of medical marijuana, it would be best to seek a professional opinion on the right dosage and form of consumption to help you on the road to recovery.
