By Patricia Kime
Medical marijuana advocates in New Mexico launched a campaign Tuesday to protect veterans’ access to cannabis in the state, saying the initiative has national implications as more former troops with post-traumatic stress disorder find relief for their symptoms by using pot.
PTSD is a qualifying condition for New Mexico’s medical marijuana program, but former troops often face difficulties obtaining the drug or can be fired from jobs that prohibit its use, according to organizers of the “Freedom to Choose” campaign.
Protections for veterans are needed, advocates say, because vets suffer the top two conditions that qualify for medical marijuana in New Mexico — PTSD and chronic pain — more than other populations and often face job discrimination.
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