How Cannabis Can Help Veterans
It’s no secret that service related injuries, both mental and physical, can have a detrimental effect on veterans from all walks of life. This Veteran’s Day, we would like to shed light on the benefits of cannabis for veterans and how cannabis can provide necessary relief for many post-war conditions.
Physical Ailments and Pain Relief
According to the US Department of Veterans Affairs, nearly 60% of the 2.7 million veterans who served in Iraq and Afghanistan are living with some form of chronic pain. To manage this pain, veterans are often prescribed powerful opioid-based painkillers, which can be highly addictive and often dangerous. Unfortunately, research shows that the harmful effects of opioids have disproportionately impacted veterans. Cannabis provides a safe alternative for pain management and studies have shown that access to cannabis can even lead to reductions in opioid-related deaths. When cannabis is consumed, cannabinoids bind to brain receptors resulting in an analgesic effect, providing both pain relief and reduced inflammation.
Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and Other Mental Health Issues
In addition to chronic physical conditions, it is estimated that nearly 20% of veterans returning from the Middle East and 30% of Vietnam veterans will experience Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). Many former service members also experience depression and anxiety related to their experiences. These conditions can result in poor sleep, recurring nightmares, distressing thoughts, traumatic memories, and overall difficulty in coping both mentally and emotionally. No veteran should have to endure these challenges without safe and accessible treatment. Fortunately, cannabis can provide mental health benefits as well.
While federal prohibition still limits the research done on cannabis, the data that is available, combined with numerous personal accounts of cannabis users, show that cannabis can provide relief from PTSD symptoms, sleep disorders, anxiety, and depression. Many people utilize cannabis to find a sense of calm, including in acute situations where one might otherwise turn to prescription medications such as benzodiazepines for relief.
The medical use of cannabis has garnered widespread support among US veterans, with 83% supporting nationwide access to medical cannabis. At Timber, we believe in giving back to those who have given so much to us, and encourage anyone struggling to work with our knowledgeable budtenders to find cannabis products that are right for you.
One of the most important parts of our business is giving back to our community. Each quarter, we donate a percentage of our overall profits as well as 10% of the profits of our monthly bundle to a local organization making a difference in our neighborhood. Our focus during the third quarter of this year was giving back to veterans.
In Q3 of 2021, our Muskegon location gave back a grand total of $3650 to the Jaeger Foundation. The Jaeger Foundation is a team of veterans and civilians with a passion for helping the veteran and first responder community by assisting in providing K-9 service dogs to those in need. They provide financial assistance for purchasing and training service dogs, as well as education on service dog handling, and VA guidance on how to acquire the necessary disability rating to be eligible for a service animal.
Our brand new Allegan location has only been open 2 months but has already given back a total of $1300 to the Allegan American Legion Post 89. The American Legion is a national veteran organization dedicated to helping to enhance the wellbeing of veterans in varied ways through their devotion to mutual helpfulness. They provide family support, youth programs, school assistance, help with finding employment, healthcare services, and other resources for local Michigan veterans and their families.
