"How the system sets Veterans up for failure, jail and the ultimate spiral out of control that leads to suicide. The simple but ultimately dangerous story of one Marine:

a 100% disabled U.S. Marine who was medically discharged for combat related injuries after duties in Afghanistan. Josh suffered severe post-traumatic stress disorder following his tour of duty, and was prescribed multiple psychiatric pharmaceuticals, that were addictive and ineffective. However, the Marine began using medical marijuana after a suggestion from a fellow veteran, to relieve PTSD symptoms. Not only did Josh find relief with marijuana and PTSD, but he also found much relief of his insomnia, depression, anxiety, migraines, and physical pain.

However, after returning to near his home town, Bristol Virginia, Josh’s and his finance, were pulled over, detained and forced out of the car, searched by the police, and charged with possession of marijuana, 7 grams to be exact. Josh is facing 30 days in jail, a $500 fine, a license suspension, probation and 24 hours community service and mandatory drug treatment program.

Although 30 days of incarceration, probation, community service, and a $500 fine might not seem harsh, that is not the root of the problem. The legal trap is probation, where Veterans are having to stop cannabis treatment to pass urinalysis screening or face severe consequences to include jail for much longer than the initial term where their ailments will not be treated in accordance with what has been working let alone the stress of being jailed for your medicine.

Psychiatric medications and opiate painkillers with the Veterans Affairs will put him in the situation of addiction, overdose and worsening PTSD symptoms that can lead to suicide. The choice should be up to the veteran to choose what treatment works best for the him or her. The system disagrees and sets us Veterans up for further cruel and unusual punishment and unfortunately too often death."

The Weed For Warrior Project via facebook

 Arizona, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Maine, Michigan, Nevada, New York and Oregon all have medical marijuana laws for PTSD because they have listened to veteran's life threatening struggles experienced after war, and how medical marijuana has helped them. Only veterans who have volunteered to served their country, and fight in a war, know the real struggles of returning home. All I'm asking, as a Virginia veteran with PTSD, listen to our stories, and how the medical marijuana plant has help relieve our symptoms.  As im sure you know, 22.2 veterans commit suicide a day. Resulting in 8,000 former service member deaths in 1 year. I am contacting you to save 1 or more of these 22.2 veterans life from suicide. 

I am asking that you consider speaking with represenatives from these states and hear the scientific evidence behind PTSD and Marijuana and their views of veterans having access to medical marijuana. Lastly, Mr. Griffith, Mr. Carrico, and Mr. McAuliffe, I am asking that you give serious thought allowing medicinal marijuana as a treatment for PTSD in Virginia.

Thank you Mr. Griffith, Mr. McAuliffe and Mr. Carrico,

Respectfully, 

United States Marine Corps Veteran