Katelyn Baker
Well-Known Member
Marion - A Cook County judged ruled Tuesday that PTSD must now be included in the list of conditions that qualify for medical marijuana use.
For soldiers like retired Army Staff Sergeant Michael Kolb, coming back from fighting in the Middle East and adjusting to every day society was a challenge, especially when dealing with the effects of post-traumatic stress disorder.
"When you come back into this environment, your mind and your body is still existing in that heightened state," explained Kolb. "You're still processing things that went on overseas or went on through the trauma you experience."
Right now, Kolb uses group sessions with other soldiers recovering from PTSD hosted by the Marion VA Hospital. He says he's never used marijuana to cope, but if legal, it's something he'd look into trying.
"I'd like to see it become studied in America," said Kolb. "I'd like to see more effort put into it and find out what are its actual health benefits, if any really exist, and how they can help people."
The judge's ruling Tuesday on a lawsuit filed by an Iraq War veteran states PTSD must be added to the list of qualifications in Illinois for medical marijuana, adding it to the list of 39 other conditions and diseases already in the law. This comes on the heels of Governor Rauner reportedly agreeing to a compromise with lawmakers that would extend the Medical Cannabis Pilot Program until 2020 and add PTSD to the list of qualifying conditions, but the ruling likely speeds up the timetable as it states the condition must be added in the next 30 days.
Kolb says he has friends he served with that use marijuana to help deal with their PTSD, and while it seems to help, he wants more research to determine if it's right for him.
"We need to be careful about using coping mechanisms that are healthy and coping mechanisms that are unhealthy and make sure we know the difference," explained Kolb.
For veterans, it can be difficult to obtain a prescription for medical marijuana because the VA doesn't allow it, even in states that recognize PTSD as a qualifying condition, since it's still against federal law.
News Moderator: Katelyn Baker 420 MAGAZINE ®
Full Article: Judge Rules PTSD Qualifies For Medical Marijuana In Illinois
Author: Nick Hausen
Contact: (618) 985-2333
Photo Credit: None Found
Website: WSIL
For soldiers like retired Army Staff Sergeant Michael Kolb, coming back from fighting in the Middle East and adjusting to every day society was a challenge, especially when dealing with the effects of post-traumatic stress disorder.
"When you come back into this environment, your mind and your body is still existing in that heightened state," explained Kolb. "You're still processing things that went on overseas or went on through the trauma you experience."
Right now, Kolb uses group sessions with other soldiers recovering from PTSD hosted by the Marion VA Hospital. He says he's never used marijuana to cope, but if legal, it's something he'd look into trying.
"I'd like to see it become studied in America," said Kolb. "I'd like to see more effort put into it and find out what are its actual health benefits, if any really exist, and how they can help people."
The judge's ruling Tuesday on a lawsuit filed by an Iraq War veteran states PTSD must be added to the list of qualifications in Illinois for medical marijuana, adding it to the list of 39 other conditions and diseases already in the law. This comes on the heels of Governor Rauner reportedly agreeing to a compromise with lawmakers that would extend the Medical Cannabis Pilot Program until 2020 and add PTSD to the list of qualifying conditions, but the ruling likely speeds up the timetable as it states the condition must be added in the next 30 days.
Kolb says he has friends he served with that use marijuana to help deal with their PTSD, and while it seems to help, he wants more research to determine if it's right for him.
"We need to be careful about using coping mechanisms that are healthy and coping mechanisms that are unhealthy and make sure we know the difference," explained Kolb.
For veterans, it can be difficult to obtain a prescription for medical marijuana because the VA doesn't allow it, even in states that recognize PTSD as a qualifying condition, since it's still against federal law.
News Moderator: Katelyn Baker 420 MAGAZINE ®
Full Article: Judge Rules PTSD Qualifies For Medical Marijuana In Illinois
Author: Nick Hausen
Contact: (618) 985-2333
Photo Credit: None Found
Website: WSIL
