What job would you do for free?
I’d sit on my porch with friends and family, share stories…and feed our commnity with great food and love.
I’m still figuring all this out, but that’s the simple goal of smokenfocusmedia.blog.
Real People. Real Stories. Real Good.
By Greg Bicknell | Smoke-N-Focus Media
For many U.S. veterans, leaving military service does not mean leaving pain behind. Instead, the transition to civilian life often includes long-term challenges such as chronic pain, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), traumatic brain injury (TBI), anxiety, and severe sleep disruption. These conditions are commonly treated with medications that focus on symptom management rather than overall functioning or quality of life.
As frustration grows with the side effects of traditional medications — including opioids, antidepressants, anti-anxiety drugs, and sleep aids — an increasing number of veterans are exploring medical cannabis as either an alternative or a supplement to standardized treatment. While cannabis laws have expanded at the state level, its use remains legally and medically complicated at the federal level, particularly for veterans who rely on the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) for their primary care.
As federal agencies work toward cannabis rescheduling and states expand medical access, veterans remain caught between the evolving policy changes and the day-to-day realities of managing pain, sleep disruption, and post-traumatic stress.
In Florida, where medical cannabis is legal but still tightly regulated, organizations such as Veterans Cannabis Care in Casselberry have stepped up to help veterans walk through the legal process, understand potential risks, and make informed decisions about their personal use.
PTSD affects a significant portion of the veteran population but varies by service era. According to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, an estimated 11–20% of post-9/11 veterans experience PTSD in any given year (VA, National Center for PTSD, 2023).
Mental health challenges among veterans are closely linked to suicide risk. The VA’s 2022 National Veteran Suicide Prevention Annual Report documented 6,407 veteran suicides, averaging more than 17 deaths per day. Suicide remains one of the leading causes of death among veterans, particularly those under the age of 65.
Sleep disorders and chronic pain frequently co-occur with PTSD, creating a cycle of fatigue, lack of emotion regulation, strained relationships, and reduced daily functioning. Research shows that untreated sleep disruption worsens PTSD symptoms and chronic pain over time.
According to the 2022 Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration National Survey, approximately 9–12% of U.S. veterans report recent cannabis use, with significantly higher rates among those diagnosed with PTSD.
For decades, the dominant medical response to veteran pain and trauma has relied heavily on prescription medications, particularly opioids and psychotropic drugs. While these treatments can be effective for some patients, many veterans report side effects such as decreased cognitive abilities, emotional numbness, dependency, and reduced engagement with daily life activities.
Veterans frequently describe feeling that their treatment plans prioritize symptom suppression over functional recovery…the ability to work, maintain relationships, sleep consistently, and participate meaningfully in family and community life.
Though cannabis is not considered a cure-all and research remains limited, observational studies and patient-reported outcomes suggest potential benefits for chronic pain management, sleep improvement, and PTSD symptom reduction, particularly when compared to some traditional protocols.
Significant uncertainties remain. THC potency varies widely between products, dosing guidelines are inconsistent, and methods of use (inhalation, edibles, or tinctures) affect onset time and intensity. These factors complicate safe and effective use, particularly in the absence of standardized clinical guidance.
Veterans with PTSD are statistically more likely to use cannabis and more likely to experience adverse effects when use is unstructured or unsupervised. Cannabis use disorder is characterized by problematic patterns of use that interfere with daily functioning, and research indicates that individuals with PTSD are at elevated risk compared to the general population.
Florida legalized medical cannabis in 2016 for qualifying conditions, including PTSD and chronic non-malignant pain. Recreational cannabis remains illegal and recently lost its bid to be on the 2026 Florida election ballot.
Access requires a qualifying medical condition, an in-person evaluation with a certified physician, physician certification, application and fees through the Florida Office of Medical Marijuana Use, and ongoing renewals. These costs, often totaling upwards of $250–$300 annually, can be prohibitive for veterans on fixed incomes.
Even with a valid medical marijuana card, Florida law imposes strict restrictions. Approved users may legally use cannabis only on private property and transport it in its original container, inaccessible to vehicle occupants. Users may not legally use cannabis in public spaces, inside a vehicle, on federal property including VA facilities, or transport it across state lines.
These restrictions create real-world challenges for veterans whose symptoms require consistent management. Clinical research shows that abrupt cessation in individuals who rely on cannabis for symptom management can result in rebound anxiety, insomnia, irritability, or pain escalation…undermining treatment stability and participation in work, family, and social life.
Based in Casselberry, Florida, Veterans Cannabis Care works to reduce barriers to legal, informed cannabis access for veterans. The organization assists veterans by helping cover initial physician certification costs, assisting nationwide with application fees (in states where it’s legal, guiding veterans through compliance and paperwork, and providing peer-based education on dosing, methods, and legal boundaries.
Veterans Cannabis Care does not prescribe or sell cannabis. Instead, they emphasize informed choice, education, and personal responsibility.
At the federal level, cannabis remains classified as a Schedule I controlled substance alongside drugs such as LSD and heroin under the Controlled Substances Act. This classification has restricted large-scale clinical research and prevents VA providers from recommending or prescribing cannabis, even in states where medical use is legal.
Currently, VA clinicians may discuss cannabis use in the context of patient safety and overall care but are prohibited from recommending or prescribing it under federal law. While federal agencies have proposed reclassifying cannabis to Schedule III, the process remains ongoing and has not been finalized as of this reporting.
For many users, cannabis is not about recreation or ideology. It is about sleep, pain control, emotion regulation, and daily functioning. While cannabis carries real risks including dependency, current policy often fails to account for how veterans are already using it to manage complex conditions.
What remains clear is that veterans are demanding accurate information, legal clarity, and access to supportive resources. With growing advocacy from organizations such as Veterans Cannabis Care, community-based models continue to demonstrate how education, financial assistance, and guidance can bridge gaps left by policy and healthcare systems. Smoke-N-Focus will continue to advocate for future clinical research while being the bullhorn for veterans requiring a different approach.
Artificial intelligence tools were used in a limited support role during the development of this project for organizational assistance, clarity review, and editing suggestions. All reporting, factual verification, source selection, analysis, and editorial judgment were conducted by the author. Statistics and policy information were independently verified using primary sources, and all conclusions reflect the author’s original reporting and reasoning.
What major historical events do you remember?
“The Day the Sky Stopped Us All”
I still remember exactly where I was on Tuesday, January 28, 1986 — the day the Space Shuttle Challenger exploded. I was in 8th grade, out of school for a snow day. My friends and I had been running wild in a hay barn all morning, laughing and chasing each other across the top tier until I face-planted into a hay bale. We came inside to warm up and check the damage — cheeks red and scraped up, noses running, hearts still racing from play.
Then the news came on. The shuttle launch filled the screen, and in a now frozen moment in time, everything changed. I told the others to be quiet…I really didn’t know why, but something in me knew this was important, that we were watching history unfold, and not the kind that anyone celebrates.
It was the first time I remember the world stopping. A moment that shifted how I saw life…fragile, unpredictable, and sometimes painful. Even as kids in a Kentucky barn, we felt it…at least I know I did! What a day.
What are you most proud of in your life?
Today, I’m thinking about the strength of my daughters, Rylee and Karmen, and feeling an almost overwhelming sense of pride. Their strong will is not always the easiest trait to guide as a parent, but it is one of the things I admire most about them. Their determination, their fire, their refusal to back down when something matters…it is the same spirit that has fueled leaders, dreamers, and change-makers for many years gone by.
I see how each of them carry their strength in their own unique way: Rylee with her resolve and the way she stands firm in her values, and Karmen with her fierce voice, when she cranks it up, and fearless heart. I see pieces of myself in both, but better…I see the refined version that I learned the hard way. They remind me that standing your ground for the right reasons, even when it is unpopular, is not stubbornness; it is courage.
What makes me most proud is that they use their strength with compassion. They fight for fairness, they speak truth even when it shakes the room, and they keep growing into the kind of women who will not only face the world but help make it better.
Their willpower gives me hope. It tells me that the best parts of who I have tried to be are living on in them, stronger than ever.
Love you young ladies,
Dad
By Greg Bicknell • Smoke-N-Focus Media
In the quiet shipyards of Bayou La Batre, Alabama, a bold symbol of hope sits on dry land. The vessel known as GhostShip has carried veterans toward connection, purpose, and peace—far beyond the noise of daily life. Today, she needs us as much as our veterans have needed her.
💙 Donate Now Ways You Can Help
Out at sea, the pressure drops: screens go away, the wind takes over, and teams move as one. That shift—from noise to now—is where healing begins. GhostShip has hosted retreats where veterans sail, dive, fish, cook together, and share stories without judgment or rank. These trips aren’t just escapes; they’re resets.
“When she’s finished, she’ll be better than ever. But right now, the repairs are beyond what we can fund alone.”
— Capt. Perry
What started as a routine patch turned into a full-scale refit. Time, weather, and surprise setbacks have made this project bigger—and more expensive—than anyone anticipated. Capt. Perry even spent a summer captaining whale-watching trips in Alaska to raise funds, but the project still needs a final push.
This is bigger than a boat. It’s a mission platform—a place where veterans rediscover teammates, purpose, and calm. When GhostShip sails, she carries more than lines and sails. She carries stories. Transformation. Community.
No gift is too small. Every hour, every share, every dollar moves us closer to launch day.
If GhostShip’s purpose resonates with you, please share this post. Bringing one more set of hands—or one more donor—can change the timeline.
Prefer to help with materials or labor? Contact us.
Tags: #SaveGhostShip #Veterans #HealingOnTheWater #GhostShipWarriors #BayouLaBatre #SmokeNFocusMedia