Expand cannabis program to help more veterans

Veterans in Texas are suffering. For too long, the lingering effects of war have wreaked havoc on those who have fought to preserve our freedom. With Texas being home to the second-largest population of veterans in the nation, the state must be a leader and act now to curb post-traumatic stress disorder.

A program to do so is already in place, but bureaucracy and red tape are preventing it from efficiently serving those who served us.

In 2015, Gov. Greg Abbott signed a bill creating the Texas Compassionate Use Program, or TCUP, to help children with epilepsy access low-grade cannabis to relieve symptoms from this debilitating disorder.

Thanks to the success of this program, the Texas Legislature expanded the qualifying conditions for low-grade cannabis to include all forms of epilepsy or seizure disorder, multiple sclerosis, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and other neurological disorders, autism, cancer and PTSD.

The inclusion of PTSD in this expansion could not have been more welcome to the nearly 1.5 million Texas veterans. However, due to this increasing demand, TCUP is unable to keep up. The Legislature states that DPS must issue no fewer than three licenses to meet demand. Subsequently, DPS issued exactly three. Only two of the three licensees are currently manufacturing products for program users.

DPS held a public hearing at the end of October to discuss the program and stated that new licenses will be needed within the coming months. But with a potential licensing process expected to take several months, and operators requiring up to 12 months to complete infrastructure build-outs and final inspections, Texas is already behind. DPS must act now.

Too much is at risk. The suicide rate for veterans is 1.5 times higher than for the general population. And what’s worse is the suicide rate for female veterans is 2.5 times higher. With low-grade cannabis being such an effective tool against PTSD, the clock is ticking.

To speed up the process and expand patient access to TCUP, DPS should conduct its regulatory review process in tandem with issuing new licenses.

Abbott and the Texas Legislature have long been steadfast supporters of our nation’s veterans, and this was evident when they included veterans in the list of patients able to access TCUP. But more must be done.

As a veteran, I have seen firsthand the benefits of cannabis in combating PTSD. That is why I am one of the 82 percent of veteran households who believe medical cannabis should be legal. What’s more, 88 percent of those identifying as conservative believe it should be legal.

For Texas to live up to its reputation as a state that takes care of its veterans, it must utilize every medical tool possible. By granting additional licenses in an efficient and effective manner, Texas can provide much-needed care to the veterans of the Lone Star State.