The Powerful Stories of Medical Cannabis Patients: A Look into the Lives of Those Who Rely on Cannabis for Treatment
From its ancient roots to its modern-day resurgence, the journey of medical cannabis is steeped in hope. We’ve spoken to some incredible folks about the profound solace and healing they’ve experienced through this controversial yet influential plant.
Written by Hannah Vysoky | Edited by Andy Andersen
Veterans meditate at a Compassionate Veterans event at Root’d in the 510 Dispensary in Oakland, Calif.
The Emotional Journey of Cannabis Access
For veteran Aaron Newsom, co-founder of Santa Cruz Veterans Alliance (SCVA), cannabis opened up not only a successful transition from military to civilian life, but a pathway to both mental and physical well-being.
“I had quite a difficult time transitioning out and kind of figuring out what my role in society was,” says Newsom, who came home from service with a challenging combination of shoulder, neck, and mental health issues. “[Cannabis] was a huge tool that I utilized. I was lucky enough to be able to start growing myself and producing my own medicine, and I wanted to give a portion of that back to the other veterans that I knew in the area.”
To heed the call, Newsom started the SCVA, which initially provided horticulture therapy to veterans and later transformed into a licensed cannabis business following California legalization. Over 100 veterans receive a free donation of SCVA cannabis products each month.
“I’ve seen this plant help so many people,” adds Newsom. “Not just with their day-to-day, but helping them maybe take an alternative path in life, in the direction of a more natural healing modality.”
Aaron Newsom, Santa Cruz Veterans Alliance
The Impact of Medical Cannabis on Patients
For veteran Kathleen Anderson, receiving a monthly compassion donation from the SCVA means the world. Anderson uses medical cannabis for arthritis, anxiety, and other health issues.
“Inside, I am all over the place,” says Anderson, “and cannabis can just calm everything down to live in a constant anxious state like that. When I found cannabis, well, I knew of cannabis when I was a kid, but now, in retirement, I know that my whole life made me this anxious inside, and I need to calm it down because I will have a stroke.”
Thanks to the SCVA’s compassion program, Anderson has access to the necessary cannabis dosages for her conditions, which would otherwise come at too high a monthly cost for her budget. She’s one of many patients who live with the emotional and psychological toll of chronic illness and the added financial and legal strain that comes with seeking relief through medical cannabis.
Kathleen Andersen, SCVA Patient
Empowering Patients Through Advocacy
Amidst their struggles, advocacy groups stand as pillars of support, championing the cause of cannabis patients and amplifying their voices in a world that often misunderstands their needs.
“I just turned 70 last week and that I’ve been an everyday smoker all of my adult life,” says Linci Comy, a Navy veteran and coordinator at the Hella Positive Art Gallery, a community center in West Oakland. “And the reality is that I would not be here had I not won life’s lottery, being able to have access to quality medication.” Comy is one of many Bay Area veterans who use cannabis for crucial physical and psychological assistance, receiving compassion donations through Root’d in the 510 Dispensary in Oakland.
“Without these distributions, we would not have that quality of life,” adds Comy. “So that’s the turning point. When is it when you need to thrive? When is it when everyone needs to be alive?”
Comy has both seen and lived the repercussions of California’s Prop 64 on the medical marijuana community, which legalized non-medical adult use and distribution of cannabis without a proper framework for a medical “flow of access,” as Comy puts it.
Together with other activists and organizations in the space, Comy hopes to keep working with the public and legislature to expand the protections ushered in by SB 34, which allows cannabis businesses to donate cannabis tax-free to low-income medicinal patients.
“We really need that space,” Comy says of her Veteran community. “We are trying to use cannabis to get ourselves out of lock and load and into kindness. So allow us the decency to have the space to do that.”
As we immerse ourselves in these powerful stories, it becomes clear that safe and legal access to medical cannabis is not just a privilege but a fundamental right for those battling debilitating conditions.
Linci Comy, Hella Positive Art Gallery