Lately I have been seeing more and more patients with PTSD looking to medical marijuana as an alternative to the medications that their psychiatrists have prescribed.   Because I have an office in Long Beach next to the VA and also take care of many Marines from Camp Pendleton I am seeing more and more how cannabis is helping them.

Let me make one point that is very important for PTSD patients to understand.  Medical Marijuana is not going to cure your symptoms. You will still need ongoing therapy and psychiatric counseling to REALLY get past this time in your life.   What medical marijuana can do if help you reduce your dependence on drugs like Trazodone/Xanax/Ambien for sleep and reduce your dependence on mood stabilizers like paxil/prozac/seroquel.  Often these medications have side effects that do not justify the benefit of taking them daily.    Many of my patients tell me that one or two doses using a vaporizer when they come home from work helps them relax and get a good nights rest.

Being a combat veteran myself I understand the stresses that our veterans go though and what they experience when they get home.  I spent 9 months with an infantry unit (1/4 out of Camp Horno, 1MARDIV) in Iraq from Jan-Sept 2003.   I definitely witnessed my share of casualties and had more than one RPG sent my way.   I have lost Navy Corpsman to bullets and covered a KIA marine with a US flag in the heat of battle.   There is nothing more terrifying than the thought of being killed on a regular basis.

I do not take this medication lightly and want to make sure that our military leadership and veterans understand that medical marijuana is an option for them to consider.   It make work and it may not.  But I think it is worth discussing and you should be willing to give it a try if you are frustrated with your current treatment plan.

I have offices in Long Beach and Irvine and see patients 5 days per week.   Our office number is 877-721-0047 or contact us through the web at www.mcsocal.com

Semper fi,

Dr. Breen