Grow4Vets to give cannabis to vets this weekend

When Roger Martin first heard of Jerry Hamilton’s story, he “was outraged.”

He knew he wanted to help.

“Someone who’s served their country has to go through those battles after the war is over,” Roger Martin, executive director of Grow4Vets, said.

Hamilton is an army veteran diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder and now suffers from Tourette syndrome symptoms, facial ticks and uncontrollable body movements.

He was taking more than a dozen medications with little results.

His wife was his full-time caregiver paid by the VA.

“He would isolate, became a zombie, never had anything to do with the family at all, he slept a majority of the time,” said Cissie Hamilton, Jerry Hamilton’s wife.

They moved to Colorado to try cannabis, since Colorado is a medical marijuana state.

But after the move he was re-evaluated for the caregiver by the VA and soon after his wife lost her caregiver status.

Martin says it’s a common problem.

“I couldn’t believe they were receiving that kind of treatment. Then it occurred to me I hear stories like that daily,” he said.

He launched Grow4Vets three years ago – to help others replace pills with pot.

A VA study released this summer showed 20 percent of veterans were turning to cannabis for treatment.

Jerry Hamilton says a piece of candy he received from a medical cannabis group worked immediately.

“She gave Jerry a mint and his face relaxed within just the first five to 10 minutes,” Cissie Hamilton said.

There is no scientific proof that pot has any impact on PTSD. But Grow4Vets says it wouldn’t have hundreds lining up, if there wasn’t a benefit.

“Everybody I meet appears to be someone who has a medical need for cannabis,” Martin said.

The Grow4Vets event is Saturday at the Doubletree Hotel starting at 10am.

Veterans will enter for free.

For more information got to grow4vets.org