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The world of cannabis has made no secret of its veteran patients and advocates, and veterans often make no secret of their love for cannabis, either. For many, the plant offers relief when nothing else does, whether it is psychological relief from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) or physical relief from pain. For U.S. Army veteran Matthew Kahl, cannabis was an easy choice over the parade of opioids he was prescribed, and medicating in edible form has provided tremendous relief.

“I started medicating with edibles in 2013 when I first got to Colorado,” he told CULTURE. “I served in the U.S. Army, 101st Airborne Infantry, 1/506 ‘Band of Brothers’ of miniseries fame, Alpha Company, 1st Platoon “Bastards,” from March 2007 to December 2011. I deployed twice and received a medevac from theater of operations during my second deployment with injuries to my face, head, neck, thoracic and lumbosacral spine.”

“Edibles are just as viable a medical treatment as any of the pills ever were.”

As a result of his injuries, like many other vets, Kahl was immediately prescribed a veritable cocktail of pharmaceutical drugs. “I was placed on a grueling regimen, drugs of all kinds,” he explained. “Opiates, benzos, neuroleptics, antidepressants, antipsychotics, anti-inflammatories, anti-nausea agents and even more drugs to counteract the side effects.”

After trying these drugs but disliking the side effects and not getting the desired results, Kahl decided to try cannabis. Drawn by the promise of a medicine without a lot of fine print, he began experimenting. He found relief in cannabis, and he especially enjoys the relief he receives from imbibing edibles. “I like traditional butter and oil mixtures, and I usually make my own,” he said. “I’m a traditionalist. I like brownies. I also like coconut oil extractions; usually I take those by capsule.”

Kahl explained that edibles work well for him because they provide relief from physical and mental stressors throughout the day, versus smoking or vaping. He also finds the effects of edibles to be more in line with his needs, rather than a quick rush. “Edibles provide a much more measured dose throughout the day than smoking,” he told CULTURE. “I get nerve pain relief, migraine relief, muscle spasm relief and psychological relief from the hyper vigilance and anxiety that comes with PTSD.”

“Edibles are just as viable a medical treatment as any of the pills ever were,” he added. “Absorption is similar, elimination timelines are extended, as compared to smoking.”

As a lover of edibles and a medical cannabis patient, Kahl is happy with the legalization efforts that have taken place in the U.S. so far. However, he still feels that there is a long way to go.

“Legalization has increased access for so many, but my primary bone to pick with it is the lack of home growing rights in some states, and the increased restriction of home cultivation in states where it is constitutionally guaranteed, like Colorado,” he explained. “The legalization apparatus in many states has excluded many growers from legally entering the market, which causes untold damage to social justice in America.”

Kahl also believes that more people should be able to cultivate their own cannabis, and he also doesn’t like the fact that many are shut out of the industry because of past convictions. He thinks that the industry should be more available to those who come from low-income backgrounds.

“There are many individuals with records who need not just access to cannabis, but they need access to the process of licensing a business and competing on the market with other more moneyed and well-connected interests,” he continued. “There are people who just don’t have the money to get into the industry, and laws restricting the number of licenses and raising the entry barriers to get one discriminate against the very people that kept this plant alive and advanced breeding and cultivation standards throughout 20th century prohibition.”

Many people just like Kahl consume edibles to medicate because of mental or physical wounds they obtained during their time in the service. Kahl hopes that in the future, he will be able to get edibles more freely and with fewer regulations in the way, so that others will be able to do the same.

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