Ever since Anton Harb Jr. returned from the Middle East battlefield after participating in the Iraq Freedom Operation in 2005, he has been engaged in a different type of battle: Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).
This was not a battle fought by him alone.
According to data from the National Center for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder at the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, up to 20% of veterans who served in that military conflict have been diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder. Harb, along with the nonprofit organization Hero Project USA, hopes to increase access to something he has found helpful for self-treatment: marijuana, which would be provided for free.
A 40-year-old resident of Macomb town has helped create a veteran compassionate care program, which is set to launch in January. The program will provide free commercial cannabis products every two weeks to 25 selected veterans suffering from PTSD or traumatic brain injury.
It wasn't until his thirties that Harb started using marijuana, which was already legal for medical purposes in the state of Michigan. He believed it had benefits for both his physical and emotional well-being, and hoped others would recognize similar advantages.
The Hero Project USA is in the process of creating a network consisting of licensed pharmacies, retail stores, processors, and growers who will contribute their time and marijuana to the project. The initial plan includes the production of marijuana product gift boxes containing edibles, inhalable flowers, e-cigarette products, or other cannabis products. These products will be provided free of charge to veterans from designated retail locations every two weeks.
Initially, the product will be distributed equally among all participants.
I produced too much and sold too little," Harb said when referring to the initial few recipients. But it won't stop there. Harb stated that once charitable supplies and logistical resources are in place, he expects the program to serve hundreds of veterans.
Given our interest and the direction reality is moving towards," he said. "I would say 25 is being used for concept validation and to actually implement it properly... but we have been inundated with emails from brands that want to participate. I think this is a bigger thing. We hope this will be a statewide initiative.
Harb stated that there are several barriers for veterans using marijuana. One is the cost, while another is fear.
Harb does not trust the VA hospital system when it comes to marijuana because the doctors and nurses are federally funded. Marijuana is still illegal at the federal level and is classified as a schedule I drug, meaning there are no accepted medical uses.
Harb stated that he has seen cases of patients at the Department of Veterans Affairs admitting to using marijuana or testing positive for marijuana use and being unable to obtain other necessary prescription medications.
He hopes to reduce the stigma and secret consumption of marijuana among veterans who use it to treat legitimate medical needs such as chronic pain, insomnia, anxiety and loss of appetite. He aims to increase access to marijuana by overcoming some of the economic barriers faced by veterans.
In 2007, Harb left the military. As a field artillery officer, he slept near a burning pit in the desert, inhaling toxic gases from burning trash. He survived testicular cancer in 2011, partially attributing it to the contaminated sleep area. In 2014, he worked as an undercover agent for the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) in Detroit, almost being robbed and killed during drug and firearm purchases. In 2016, he attempted suicide by ingesting potentially lethal pills prescribed by a doctor from the US Department of Veterans Affairs (VA).
This is a combination of post-traumatic stress disorder and war trauma, as well as medication prescribed by the Department of Veterans Affairs that I encountered while working at ATF," Harb said. "On October 31, 2016, I attempted to commit suicide. Thank God, they brought me back, and here I am.
Since then, Harb has become a loyal advocate for the acquisition of marijuana.
Harb, who became disabled due to post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), stated that Veterans Affairs hospitals tend to use powerful opioids or other anesthetics to treat patients, which can result in greater harm through side effects, including addiction and, in some cases, suicidal ideation. According to the 2021 National Veteran Suicide Prevention Report, veterans are 50% more likely to die by suicide than non-serving Americans.
Harb stated that through treatment at the VA hospital, his doctor prescribed him with fentanyl and hydrocodone, both of which are powerful and addictive painkillers.
I have been taking opioid drugs for years and it has reached a point where they have really harmed me," he said. "They have damaged the nerves in my stomach. I can't eat, that's when I use marijuana.
It has been helpful for me and I know it can also help many of my friends who suffer from anxiety to fall asleep. The most severe symptom I have observed in most veterans is chronic pain. From a pain management perspective, it has been truly helpful.
Michigan began allowing the use of marijuana for medical purposes in 2008. The state's home cultivation and caregiver system allows registered growers to produce marijuana products for up to five designated patients.
As of October, there were a total of 20,664 nursing personnel, a decrease of nearly 9,000 compared to one year ago.
Harb stated that as the network of caregivers shrinks, more and more patients are turning to the commercial licensed market. Some believe this to be safer as it must comply with stricter testing requirements.
According to Harb, approximately 1.5 years ago, he began collaborating with another company to create a program that provides care for retired veterans. However, the company halted its expansion plan in Michigan thereafter.
We don't want to see the program abandoned halfway," said Harb, who is now recruiting other companies to participate, including JARS Cannabis, Light N' Up, Verts Neighborhood Provisioning, Lake Effect and Doja.
When he started talking about this, I told him, 'Buddy, I have to be part of this,'" said Kyle Kosche, co-owner of Light'N Up Provisioning in Morris Mountain town, Genesee County, along with a veteran. "It was easy for us to get involved because we already have many veterans coming to our store.
Not everyone can afford to access these stores. Due to the diminished availability of caregiver programs, we have found that there is a need for safe and cost-free access to marijuana among those who require it.
Cohee expects that his retail store will become a marijuana extraction point for veterans in the program.
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