According to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, about 11-20 % of Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom Veterans, 12% of Gulf War Veterans, and 15% of living Vietnam Veterans experience Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), but barely half of the states with medical marijuana laws list PTSD. as a valid cause for physician recommendations. On top of that, in the VA/DOD's PTSD Clinical Practice Guideline, PTSD providers are recommended to offer education about the problems associated with long-term marijuana use and make a referral to a substance use disorder specialist. The only two drugs approved for treating post traumatic stress are selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), which can increase suicidal thoughts and tendencies.
Hope for suffering Vets comes by way of Sue Sisley M.D.- Official Site and Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies (MAPS), who are currently running the first federally approved study on the effects of cannabis for PTSD in Veterans, and the American Legion, the nation's largest wartime veterans service organization, who recently petitioned Congress to remove cannabis from the list of Schedule 1 drugs in order to make research easier.
Additional resources: https://www.legion.org/…/mind-field-alternative-routes-reco… http://veteransforcompassionatecare.org/ http://www.ptsd.va.gov/…/co…/marijuana_use_ptsd_veterans.asp http://www.kunc.org/…/colorado-veterans-hold-their-breath-r… http://www.politifact.com/…/are-va-doctors-barred-recommen…/ http://www.thestranger.com/…/three-military-veterans-explai…