Noteboom The Law Firm

New PTSD Rules Could Result in More Veterans Using Marijuana

July 29, 2010 - The federal government recently announced new guidelines for diagnosing soldiers and veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), which will make it much easier for soldiers and veterans to be diagnosed with PTSD. New Mexico is the only state that lists PTSD as a qualifying condition for a medical marijuana license. It's not a far reach, then, to expect to see more veterans than ever enrolled in New Mexico's medical marijuana program.

The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) does not allow their doctors to sign off on medical marijuana licenses for their patients. Of all the licensees in New Mexico's program, however, 29% of them are for PTSD patients; the largest single group in the state program with 564 licenses. This is in spite of veterans having to find a new doctor, outside the VA health care system, who will sign their license.

The current requirements to qualify for PTSD benefits require veterans to establish specific incidents causing their PTSD. The new rules will make it much easier for veterans of all wars to begin receiving compensation by relaxing what must be shown in order to qualify for benefits.  

Many veterans suffering from PTSD do not respond to the traditional treatments of psychiatry and medications used to treat PTSD. Depending on their individual situations, other treatments may not be possible or available. For many of these veterans, they may abandon their VA health care benefits for a doctor that will sign their license and allow them access to New Mexico's medical marijuana program.