After 80-plus years of prohibition, cannabis has finally found its way back into many Americans’ daily lives, including military veterans.
In this week’s midterm election, Maryland and Missouri voted to legalize cannabis, bringing the number of adult-use states to 21.
Arkansas, North Dakota, and South Dakota also voted on legalization measures, but none passed.
But while legalization’s spread has brought freedom of recreational cannabis consumption back for many, it has a higher calling.
Medicinal Cannabis
Medicinal-use cannabis, which sometimes precedes adult-use legalization, is legal in 37 states.
Cannabis has many medicinal uses, and we may just be scratching the surface with what we know in 2022.
But among all of cannabis’ uses, its ability to help repair and maintain mental health is one that many utilize.
Among those using cannabis for mental health are our beloved military veterans who risk their lives for the country’s safety and wellbeing–at the expense of their own health.
Better Treatment for Veterans
Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is not uncommon among veterans, but problems exist with its go-to treatment.
Standard treatment from official veterans services can involve opioids, which come with the potential for complications.
Opioid side effects can be mild, like drowsiness or constipation, or severe, like slowed respiration and heartbeat.
Accidental overdose deaths sometimes occur as well.
But an increasing number of veterans have chosen to eschew opioid treatments in favor of cannabis-based options.
Aside from a lack of side effects, cannabis works through the human endocannabinoid system to heal rather than treat symptoms.
But some veterans go beyond personal treatment.
Some have entered the legal cannabis market to help others in need, further the cause, and provide new tools.
Socrates Rosenfeld
One of those is U.S. Army veteran Socrates Rosenfeld, who co-founded Jane Technologies.
In the service, Rosenfeld served as an Apache helicopter company commander.
Rosenfeld has a B.S. in Leadership & Management Studies from the United States Military Academy at West Point.
Rosenfeld also has an MBA from the MIT Sloan School of Management.
Following his service, Rosenfeld used cannabis to re-acclimate himself into civilian life.
Rosenfeld went on to help found the Jane Technologies e-commerce platform for cannabis retailers and brands.
According to Rosenfeld, approximately 30 percent of digital cannabis transactions come through the Jane platform.
Jane also recently launched a consumer app.
Victor Bindi
Victor Bindi became a pilot in the service, having graduated from the United States Naval Academy.
A U.S. Navy Fighter Weapons School (Top Gun) graduate, Bindi flew 3,000 hours, led 60 combat missions, and made 800 carrier landings.
Following his time in the Navy, Bindi joined Fluent Cannabis Care as sales director.
Bindi says veterans face unique stressors and challenging work environments.
“Options for providing quality care to veterans who have returned from the front line or extended hazardous deployments should be open to non-addictive, non-destructive, holistic solutions, to include medicinal cannabis,” says Bindi. “As an active triathelete, I find that CBD/THC blended medicines provide quality pain relief, reduce joint swelling, and help me to return to training swiftly and more effectively.”
Mike McGuiness
After serving in the U.S. Marine Corps from 2009 to 2013, Mike McGuiness wanted to pursue an engineering career.
McGuiness received a B.S. in Petroleum Engineering and an M.S. in Engineering and Technology from the Colorado School of Mines.
After McGuiness worked in the natural gas storage industry for several years, he transitioned to cannabis.
With a desire to help advance research in preventing microbial cannabis growth, McGuiness joined Willow Industries as lead engineer in 2022.
At Willow, McGuiness works to improve cannabis quality and provide cultivators with the right equipment to produce consistently clean cannabis.
Veterans and Cannabis March Forward Together
Whether on a personal or professional level, veterans are a part of cannabis as much as it is a part of them.
Forming a symbiotic relationship, cannabis and veterans walk hand-in-hand toward a future of natural treatments and improved health.
Cannabis has the power to help the veterans who have selflessly served our country.
In return, veterans are helping cannabis achieve its potential in a time of expanding legalization and technology innovation.
Thank you to all veterans, for selfless service in the military and serving others in the cannabis industry.