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Over the past few years, an increasing body of research has highlighted the many potential medicinal benefits of cannabis. As this knowledge grows, a number of advocacy groups, such as Weed for Warriors and Operation Evac, have emerged, passionately championing veterans’ rights to access and use THC and CBD products as part of their healthcare.
These organizations work tirelessly to ensure that veterans have the freedom to choose cannabis as a viable option for relief, and with the bleak reality of the opioid epidemic forcing everyone to rethink their relationship with pharmaceutical painkillers, it’s no surprise that an increasing number of vets have turned to this alternative. As the country continues to fight for legality, these women veterans share their stories.
Advocating for cannabis: Women veterans share their stories
For many veterans, transitioning from military life to civilian life comes with unique challenges, especially in terms of managing physical and mental health. Pain, PTSD, and other invisible wounds of war often result in heavy medication regimens that can leave veterans feeling disconnected or numb.
However, a growing number of veterans are turning to cannabis as a safer, more effective alternative. Their stories of healing and transformation show how cannabis has provided them with renewed clarity, presence, and a sense of autonomy in their recovery. From pain management to mental health support, these three women veterans share their journeys of reclaiming their lives and health on their own terms:
- Sargent Raquel Mangone, who served from 1995 – 2007 in Iraq and Afghanistan, was taking 18 to 20 pain pills a day before switching to cannabis. She says the transition has made her a better mother and listener and allows her “to be present in [her] interactions instead of feeling like a zombie.”
- Catharine Edney, who says she developed PTSD during her time serving as a military air traffic controller, initially used antidepressants to treat her illness. After discovering that cannabis was “the medicine she needed,” she finally got off “so many pills” that were being given to her by the military and began treating the issue on her own terms.
- Linci Comy, who served in the Navy for 6 years and 8 months as a Hospital Corpsman and also ran a women’s clinic in Oakland for 30 years, says that access is the biggest issue facing Veterans. “Through Prop 215, [which legalized medical cannabis], there was lots of access, but adult use has ended that. We are collateral damage to a law that was not well thought out.”
Staying resilient, overcoming obstacles and never giving up.
Despite cannabis’ increased legality throughout the nation, veterans seeking such remedies still face a number of hurdles on both state and federal levels. The DEA’s Schedule I classification of cannabis prevents VA clinicians from recommending it to their patients. In California, low-income patients who relied on compassionate care programs for subsidized medicine were stymied by the 2016 passage of Prop 64. An oversight in the law meant to decriminalize possession and personal use of cannabis placed undue regulatory and tax constraints on these non-profit programs.
Mangone says she was already sharing cannabis to get by before Prop 64, but when the law went into effect, rising costs and closing dispensaries made the situation even more dire.
The error in Prop 64 was finally remedied when Governor Gavin Newsom signed Senate Bill 34 into law, effective March 1, 2020. This major victory, thanks to the unwavering advocacy of veterans across the state, allows for tax-free donations of cannabis to patients in need.
This win also underscores the vital role these advocacy groups play in the fight for veterans’ rights. Volunteers like Mangone, Edney, and Comy dedicated countless hours of hard work to get SB 34 passed, but dismantling decades of misguided drug policies is no small feat—it requires both time and financial support. While donations are crucial to sustaining these efforts, there are still impactful ways to support pro-cannabis veterans, even for those who can’t contribute financially. It starts with challenging the misconceptions that often surround medical cannabis use—specifically, the idea that veterans are simply seeking to “get high.”
By reframing the conversation and recognizing cannabis as a legitimate, therapeutic option, we can shift public perception and help create a more supportive environment for those who have served.
Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this article by Eaze and Eaze customers are published for educational and informational purposes only and are not intended to serve as or substitute for a diagnosis, treatment or medical advice. Please consult a local physician or other health care professional for your specific health care and/or medical needs or concerns.