Why Hollywood prescribes pot to its veteran characters with PTS

Feb 5, 2020 6:59 PM PST

1 minute read

SUMMARY

In recent years, the medical marijuana industry has quickly gone mainstream, as many studies have linked the active ingredient of cannabis to treating ailments like chronic pain, diabetes, and even post-traumatic stress. Due to its public…

Due to its public success, sales of state-legal marijuana have grossed over $6 billion in 2016 and are expected to exceed $24 billion by the end of 2025.

But officially, the Department of Veteran Affairs has deep concerns with the idea of veterans treating themselves with good old "Mary Jane" to relieve their PTSD symptoms.

(Source: Department of Veteran Affairs/ Screenshot)

Although the VA hasn't completed an official study of the effects of marijuana use to treat PTS, countless veterans have reported positive results after using it — and Hollywood has taken notice.

Related: The Army is relaxing its standards to get enough recruits to sign up

In the latest Netflix comedy called "Disjointed," Tone Bell plays "Carter," an Army veteran who works as a security guard in a marijuana dispensary. A veteran of the Iraq war, Carter suffered serious losses while deployed and has a tough time dealing with the stress when he returns to civilian life.

He's diagnosed with post-traumatic stress and is looking for a way to alleviate the symptoms.

Once Ruth Feldman — the dispensary owner/former lawyer/cannabis advocate played by award-winning actress by Kathy Bates — gives Carter his first hit of pot, his mind transports through a clever and well-design animated montage of how cannabis travels through the body treating the mental illness.

The medical marijuana that is sold at the fictional dispensary allows Carter to cope with his PTS from his deployment — at one point making him believe he's seeing an exaggerated gunfight between some bacon and eggs in a refrigerator.

It's hilarious and freakin' original.

Also Read: The American Legion wants medical marijuana research for veterans

Recently, WATM had the opportunity to speak with "Disjointed's" showrunner and co-creator David Javerbaum about his thoughts on veterans being treated with cannabis.

"I certainly feel that cannabis should be legal and people should have the option," David proudly states. "It's ridiculous that it's not better known as a treatment and people are such dicks about it."

Earlier in January 2018, Netflix will proudly release the show's next episodes. So stay tuned to watch Carter's transition out of the Army and back into civilian life.