On Nov. 11, a large group of veterans protested in Washington, D.C. to advocate the usage of medical marijuana in treating the symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder. Currently, the Veterans Administration does not allow former servicemembers the option of medical marijuana to its patients. However, the veterans that marched on Veterans Day 2015 told Fox 5 News that they felt it was unjust to limit treatment options when an average of 22 veterans a day commit suicide.
"A patient should have the right to choose the best health care to save his life," Brandon Wyatt, an Army veteran, told The Huffington Post. "Because we hate cannabis so much, we're willing to let 22 veterans die per day? How can you ignore that?"
Wyatt and the other protestors advocate for the use of medical marijuana because of studies that have shown its effectiveness in reducing the severity of PTSD symptoms. Many of the former servicemembers also stated that they preferred the organic treatment to the heavy doses of pharmaceuticals.
After marching as a group down Pennsylvania Avenue, they stopped at the Veterans Affairs Headquarters and tossed thousands of empty pill bottles onto the ground to signify their displeasure with prescription drugs, according to The Huffington Post.