Alaska Groups Give Free Cannabis to Veterans
Alaska legalized medicinal cannabis in 1998, yet there are no state-licensed dispensaries and only patients with six qualifying ailments are eligible.
To make up for the state’s lack of dispensaries, a number of non-profits have begun delivering free cannabis to veterans and others in need. Unofficially dubbed, “The Reefer Buyer’s Club,” many are praising this cannabis-version of Meals on Wheels.
One such group is the Alaska Green Angels, a Facebook group whose members share their excess cannabis with those in need. The virtual network has over 400 members; and allows you to send your extra cannabis directly to those in need, or to an admin of the page to distribute.
Green Angels Founder, Darby Andrews, attributes the lack of dispensaries and doctors as the primary obstacle for patients in need.
“It’s like [the state] said ‘sure, go ahead, you can have it but you can’t buy it, sell it, or transport it,’” said Andrews. “It’s just supposed to magically appear.”
Initially, Andrews and his co-founders supplied the lion’s share of the cannabis, and were limited to how many people they could reach. But over the last year the initiative has “taken on a life of its own.”
The medical world has also voiced their support of cannabis to treat PTSD, which is believed to be contributing to the high suicide rate amongst veterans, 22 a day.
Dakota David, a Navy veteran who suffers from Crohn’s disease, had never used cannabis before he received his first free delivery from a stranger who replied to his post.
“These guys have been helping me out tremendously,” said Davis who uses cannabis to alleviate nausea brought on by chemotherapy he undergoes for Crohn’s. He also uses it in place of opiates, which he said negatively affect his mood.
