While Raymond Schwab, a US Veteran and PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) sufferer, and his wife prepared for a move from Kansas to Colorado, Kansas State took their five children away. The charge? – suspicion of child endangerment. Raymond manages his PTSD symptoms with medicinal cannabis — a recommendation he obtained in Colorado, where it is legal.
There’s still a stigma against parents who use medical marijuana,” says Jennifer Ani, a family law attorney who says she sees around five similar cases a month – in 95% of which she believes the child was in no reasonable danger. “As much as marijuana is a moving target throughout the nation, with Child Protective Services it’s even more so.”
“A US navy veteran who served in the Gulf war, Schwab says that he uses a homemade cannabis butter to treat his post-traumatic stress disorder, or PTSD, and chronic pain. For years, he says, his mental health issues went undiagnosed, resulting in a bout of alcoholism and substance abuse. He was prescribed a variety of sedatives, antidepressants and chronic pain medication, which he says often made him feel worse. “I got addicted to the pain medication, which led to heroin addiction.”
Schwab says that he has been sober since a stint in rehab in 2011, and that cannabis is the only medication that helps with his anxiety, depression and physical pain.”
Do you know about Weed For Warriors? The nonprofit’s sole purpose is to advocate for veterans to be able use medical marijuana as an alternative to psychiatric drugs. Learn more.
Research shows medicinal marijuana alleviates PTSD! Read the full study, published in the Journal of Psychoactive Drugs, and titled” PTSD Symptom Reports of Patients Evaluated for the New Mexico Medical Cannabis Program”.
Photo by Samuel Branch on Unsplash