The legalization of marijuana is doing more than boost the economy; it’s providing free mental healthcare, too. An organization in Colorado Springs is giving away free pot to veterans suffering from PTSD and other anxiety disorders acquired as a result of serving our country.
The Dab Lounge, a Colorado Springs-based cannabis lounge held their annual “Spring Bake” event this weekend where they teamed up with the Veteran Farmers Alliance (VFA) to hand out free marijuana to vets.
Steve Defino, the founder of the VFA and a war veteran himself, said that marijuana helped him heal once he returned home.
“I’ve been able to actually go through my memories, recall my memories without getting upset anymore, and I’m starting to live my life again like a normal person.”
At the event, Defino handed out edibles and more than half a pound of pot to veterans who came out searching for some relief, at a personal cost to him of $1,400. But according to Defino, it’s worth it because:
“I’ve talked to guys that are ready to kill themselves. They’re ready to take their own life because they feel like nobody is there for them. So this is a small way to say thank you for what you’ve done.”
Jacinto Delgado, an Iraq war veteran suffering from PTSD came out to the event on Saturday and said that cannabis has changed his life.
“I would go 3 to 4 days without sleep at a time. With the assistance of cannabis and edibles, I’m able to go to sleep.”
Defino believes that vets like Delgado deserve better treatment and more access to mental healthcare when they return home from war. Considering that 1 in 5 veteran deaths are a result of suicide, he’s right to be concerned.
The VFA is planning to host another event at the Dab Lounge on Veteran’s Day in November, where Defino said he’ll be handing out $25,000 worth of marijuana, seeds, and planting materials to those in need.
Featured Image via Pixabay
