Some never thought that they would see the day. Medical marijuana is now accessible to veterans suffering from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder in New Jersey. They now join seventeen other states in allowing this treatment for PTSD.
Up to twenty percent of veterans returning from active duty in Iraq and Afghanistan are diagnosed with PTSD. New Jersey veterans suffering from this debilitating condition may now rest a bit easier, with this form of treatment. Vets will first have to jump through a few more hoops before being able to lay their hands on their newly authorized treatment. Gov. Christie upon signing the bill directed the state health commissioner for New Jersey to attach a series of “clear objective criteria” regarding the drug’s use for PTSD.
Christie explains that the move for the criteria based approvals is an attempt to prevent this leading to the legalization for recreational use. So, basically, Christie is acknowledging that he will hold particular PTSD patients’ hostage to prevent “too many people” from smoking pot. Are we here at TheLaughingGrass looking a gift horse in the mouth? It just seems rather unfair to make veterans jump through more hoops when their doctors are the ones prescribing the medicine in the first place.
Although a growing number of states are expanding their current laws to include PTSD, many veterans are already using the treatment illegally. Up to sixty percent of PTSD patients have admitted to using marijuana at one time to treat their symptoms, according to the Department of Veterans Affairs.
In addition to PTSD, New Jersey also currently allows these conditions to be treated with medical marijuana:
- Lou Gehrig’s disease (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, or ALS)
- Multiple sclerosis
- Terminal cancer
- Muscular dystrophy
- Inflammatory bowel disease (IBS)
- Crohn’s disease
- Terminal illness if the physician has determined a prognosis of fewer than 12 months of life
- Seizure disorder, including epilepsy
- Intractable skeletal, muscular spasticity
- Glaucoma
- HIV/AIDS
- Cancer
