When Dave Bass returned from Iraq to Texas in 2005, doctors diagnosed him with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). It’s a familiar problem for combat vets; about a quarter of service members suffer from PTSD after they leave war zones. The disorder produces symptoms including nightmares, flashbacks, depression and anxiety. Prescribed medical treatments for the disorder are generally limited to antidepressants that can have serious side effects. Many veterans self-medicate with alcohol or opioids, which can be deadly. Since 2012, Bass has been treating his PTSD symptoms with marijuana — a relatively safe drug that remains illegal in Texas.
Bass, now a cannabis activist and founder of the group Texas Veterans for Medical Marijuana, has unsuccessfully lobbied the Texas Legislature for years to make cannabis legal for treating PTSD. In the 2019 session, several lawmakers tried and failed to do just that. Instead, the Legislature passed House Bill 3703, a bill expanding the state’s narrow medical marijuana law by adding some conditions, including terminal cancer and autism. It went into effect three weeks ago when Governor Greg Abbott signed it into law. But people who suffer from PTSD were left out, and Bass says that hurts many Texas veterans who could benefit from the treatment.
