Texas made headlines last year when it took its first tiny baby steps into legalization by allowing the use and production of cannabidiol. However, the law is extremely restrictive – the only patients that qualify for the program are required to have epilepsy or a related seizure disorder that must be classified as “resistant to medication,” and the qualifying disorder must be verified by two separate physicians.
In this infuriating clip during a meeting of the Veteran Affairs Committee, a veteran attempts to make a case for the use of cannabis as treatment for post-traumatic stress disorder. Senator Donna Campbell (R-New Braunfels), who voted for Senate Bill 339 and helped pass the bill in the Texas Senate, repeatedly interrupts the veteran to smugly say, “We already legalized medical cannabis,” as if to signal that the conversation is over.
The veteran stares incredulously at the senator before stating the obvious: “Yes. But it doesn’t help veterans. It helps intractable epileptic patients only.”
With 71 percent of Texans supporting the expansion of a medical marijuana program, it seems like it’s time to consider bigger, better options for all patients.
Watch the video below. (And rise up, Texas!)
