Texas is one of those troublesome states when it comes to policies and laws regarding marijuana. Honestly, I can think of like 10 reasons to never want to live in Texas, but their views on marijuana is one of the biggest ones in my opinion. Depending on where you live in the United States, you likely have access to medical marijuana programs that allow you to use a certain amount of cannabis per month, depending on the type of condition you have. Certain states are more lenient with the type and severity of conditions that qualify for treatment with medical marijuana, while other states (looking at you Texas) are much more restrictive with which types of conditions actually qualify for a medical marijuana card.

It can be hard for people that do not live in a state with access to medical marijuana, especially if they have to rely on other prescription medications and opioids that can be harmful to their health in the long run. However, recently, there has been some adjustment in the qualifying conditions for the state o fTexas. As I stated earlier, Texas is extremely strict on what types of conditions qualify for the use of cannabis. Normally, medical marijuana treatment is reserved for patients with severe, life-ending conditions that are not able to function on a regular basis. Even then, the types of cannabis products and strains made available to these patients are restricted to extremely small amounts of THC. The whole thing is really sad honestly. However, the good news is that, for residents in Texas with PTSD, you may be able to get your medical marijuana card to treat such conditions. This article will help inform you about what you need to know about these policy changes and how it affects residents with PTSD in the state of Texas.

If anybody deserves the privilege of using medical marijuana, it is our United States veterans. There are actually a lot of veterans living in Texas that are diagnosed with PTSD. According to a study done, roughly 23% of veterans with PTSD in the state of Texas are considered at risk of hurting themselves and thinking about suicide. Many of the symptoms associated with PTSD can be extremely debilitating and make normal, everyday taska a challenge. Some of the common symptoms of PTSD include night sweats, flashbacks, insomnia, loss of memory, mood disorders, depression and anxiety, hypervigilance, and increased risk for self harm. I think that allowing PTSD to be a qualifying health condition for use of medical marijuana is a great step in the right direction for marijuana policies in the state of Texas.

Afterall, medical marijuana has shown great promise for treating patients with other mental health disorders – depression, anxiety, and other mental disorders are commonly treated with medical marijuana, and it provides a great alternative to using other synthetic medications that doctors prescribe. Cannabis can be great for calming nerves, promoting relaxation, euphoria, and overall lowering some of the symptoms that are commonly found in patients with PTSD. However, I think that it is important for doctors to be very careful when prescribing medical marijuana to patients with PTSD. Since marijuana has been known to also increase levels of anxiety, stress, and paranoia, it is important to keep a watchful eye on veterans that are engaging in marijuana usage for the first time. Sativa strains are generally more prone to cause increased anxiety levels, so I think that veterans should start off by using small doses of an indica dominant strain until they feel comfortable enough to branch out. Indica is especially effective for individuals that are having trouble sleeping at night.