In 2016 while in Iraq, a very good buddy of mine thought of enjoying a cigarette stick prior to embarking on a mission with his colleagues. Unfortunately, that very cigarette changed my friend’s life for bad.
Pulling out one cigarette from the packet, he discussed with his colleague how the situation was in Iraq. During that chat and as he smoked his last drag, my pal (let’s call him Ron), heard a familiar but terrifying noise coming his way. It was noise synonymous with a Rocket-propelled grenade. Then, suddenly, everything went still. Darkness filled everywhere!
When he gained consciousness, Ron was in a hospital bed. By inquiring what ensued, he was told that the grenade (RPG) blew the military truck he and his marine colleague were resting while having a smoke. The blast had badly injured Ron but his brother didn’t survive.
Ron, sadly, had a wound about three inches wide and six inches long, which badly injured his thigh. Thanks to a quick-thinking medic, his leg couldn’t have been saved.
With time, my friend Ron healed physically, but that was not the case with his mental state.
After leaving the army and returning back home, he had a difficult time dealing with PTSD. At times, he would drink himself silly, but the flashbacks of what happened in Iraq kept on appearing. It was sad to see him in that situation.
One day while we were hanging out, Ron opened up to me that he considered moving to a state that permitted the use of medical cannabis to treat Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. The pills he had been prescribed in the hospital were not helping him. However, he was aware, when he smoked weed (of course discreetly) he felt relaxed. No flashbacks. No pain.
Ron was also facing another dilemma. He did not wish to smoke weed on a regular basis since he was looking for a job. And as you might be aware, drug tests are a normal routine when trying to venture in some careers. That said, it was apparent, medical marijuana would have eased the pain and PTSD he was having. But what could he have done?
Our home state, in 2008 passed a law that decriminalized the use of cannabis for medical purposes. Sadly, this came a bit too late for Ron. He died a few months before that law was approved. To make matters worse, the cause of his demise was a result of the pills he was using to manage pain and PTSD.
Ron was a good gentleman and is deeply missed by anybody who knew him. It is such a shame there was an effective cure in place, but Ron couldn’t access it just because of the laws. Ron never got the opportunity to move to a marijuana-friendly state where he could have seen his condition treated.
God keep his soul in a better place. We look forward to that day when medical marijuana will be decriminalized throughout the country so that other patients can be helped and avoid the suffering you experienced.
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