Hundreds of military veterans lined up for free marijuana products in Denver on Saturday in an effort by organizers to raise awareness of the benefits of pot use to treat post-traumatic stress disorder.

The event was in response to the Colorado State Board of Health’s recent decision against including PTSD on the list of ailments eligible for medical marijuana treatment.

Veterans and their supporters get free marijuana at an event sponsored by Grow For Vets on Aug. 1 in Denver’s River North neighborhood. Medical experts say pot treats post-traumatic stress disorder, the group says, despite a recent ruling to the contrary by the Colorado Department of Health.

Photo by Ernest Luning/The Colorado Statesman

Cannabis advocates contend marijuana is a safer alternative to prescription drugs for a population that carries a high risk of suicide.

“We want to point out the unconscionable decision made by the board that represents the Department of Public Health and Environment,” said Roger Martin, an Army veteran and founder of Grow For Vets.

Martin’s organization claims to have given away hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of cannabis products to veterans. Grow For Vets started in Colorado last year and has since expanded to other states, including Oregon, California and Nevada.

Martin is critical of a July 16 decision by the health board to reject classifying PTSD as a condition eligible for medical pot treatment. The board voted 6-2 against putting PTSD on a list that includes glaucoma, cancer and HIV/AIDS.

Board members cited a lack of scientific research as reasoning for their decision. But the ruling came in spite of testimony from Dr. Larry Wolk – as director of the health department, he’s the state’s chief medical officer – and other physicians who recommended that PTSD be included on the list.

“It defies all logic to me, not just because of the testimony and the medical evidence,” Martin said.

“Dysfunctional Veteran Does Not Play Well with Others,” reads a T-shirt worn by a veteran on Aug. 1 at a Grow For Vets event in Denver’s River North neighborhood. The group makes marijuana available at no cost to veterans, touting it as a treatment for PTSD.

Photo by Ernest Luning/The Colorado Statesman

It was the third time the state health board rejected adding PTSD to the list. A legislative effort to include PTSD among ailments approved for medical marijuana use failed at the Capitol last year.

Nine other states allow medical marijuana to be used as a treatment for PTSD.

Veterans can buy marijuana through recreational sales outlets, but medical marijuana is less expensive.

“For someone like me who depends on recreational marijuana for things like sleeping and anxiety, that becomes a real money issue when I’m spending twice as much on recreational marijuana,” said Zach Davidson from Englewood, a 36-year-old Iraq War veteran.

Because PTSD is not on the approved list for medical marijuana treatment, Davidson said veterans often will tell their doctors they need the drug for something other than PTSD in order to obtain a medical pot card.

“It leads to the cycle where veterans are not being totally honest with their doctors regarding why they’re seeking treatment,” Davidson said.

Amanda Moss of Aurora, whose partner is an active service member, supervises a medical marijuana dispensary. She said veterans often come to her for advice on marijuana products to treat PTSD, but she’s unable to provide that service because it’s not an approved treatment option.

“They just want to be heard and get what they need to get through the day,” she said. “I don’t think we should deny them that.”

Todd Mitchem, co-founder and CEO of High There!, a marijuana social-networking group that helped organize Saturday’s cannabis giveaway, said he understands the frustration that’s being felt among veterans.

“I think it’s a compounding issue,” Mitchem said. “Our government in Colorado is doing a really good job in catching up with the movement. But the movement is moving really quick.

“They will come around,” he said, referring to the state health board. “But we’d rather take things into our own hands rather than get frustrated.”

Mitchem’s organization is joining Grow For Vets on a tour of other western states in an effort to raise awareness and donations so the non-profit Grow For Vets can continue providing free pot for veterans.

“We hope to raise money so we can continue to give cannabis to these folks as a way of gratitude and expressing thanks for their service,” Mitchem said.

In the meantime, veterans like Davidson hopes Colorado health officials will finally see the light on this issue.

“They say it’s all anecdotal evidence at this point, but when you have tens of thousands of veterans saying that this substance is the thing that has saved their lives, what else do you need, honestly?” he said. “And I’m one of those guys.”

– Twitter: @VicVela1