Veterans

Step 1: Medical Cannabis Assessment

One of our veteran care specialists will assist you in setting up your free virtual appointment that can be completed from the comfort of your own home. We will assist you with any paperwork required to be sent to Veterans Affairs Canada.

Step 2: Education & Prescription Fulfillment

Upon completion of your appointment with the healthcare practitioner, you will get to speak one on one with an educator who will help answer any questions you have about your new medication. They will also go over your product and strain options, as well as how to properly dose. You will be registered with a Licensed Producer where you will then be able to fill your prescription online or over the phone. We are happy to assist you with filling your prescription as well, 7 days a week. 

Step 3: Ongoing Support

We take pride in ensuring our patients have support from Apollo 7 days a week to help answer any questions you have about dosing, prescription fulfillement, renewals, and billing assistance. If you ever have any questions about your prescription, please feel free to call us at 1-877-560-9195 ext. 603 or email us at Veterans@apolloresearch.ca.

1. Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)

PTSD affects roughly 20-30% of veterans, with symptoms like intrusive memories, flashbacks, and severe emotional distress disrupting daily life.

• Role of Medical Cannabis: The endocannabinoid system (ECS) plays a significant role in modulating several brain functions that align with symptom relief in post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). These include emotional responses and processing, mood, memory, sleep, stress, and even fear.
• Research and Effectiveness: Over 40 published studies exist around the use of medical cannabis for the management of PTSD and its associated symptoms. Many are observational, with a few high-quality randomized controlled trials. As PTSD shows differently in every individual, medical cannabis may help some but not others in managing things like sleep quality, mood, anxiety, nightmares, and other unwanted symptoms. Alternative medicines like medical cannabis may also assist those who are looking for alternatives to pharmaceuticals, which can have more severe side effects.

2. Chronic Pain

Chronic pain impacts over 50% of veterans over 40 years old due to injuries and conditions related to service.

• Role of Medical Cannabis: Apollo’s team of cannabinoid specialists works with patients seeking to manage chronic pain by developing personalized dosing plans that may include CBD and/or THC. THC and CBD products may be considered as part of a pain management strategy and sometimes can serve as an alternative to opioids for some patients, though individual experiences vary and more research is needed. Apollo’s healthcare team will work with each patient to determine the most appropriate options for their unique needs to manage both pain and inflammation. 
• Research and Effectiveness: Apollo conducted and published our own study on medical cannabis for pain relief that included over 700 chronic pain patients.

3. Anxiety and Depression

Anxiety and depression are common among veterans, often stemming from the stresses of military service and challenges of reintegration into civilian life.

• Role of Medical Cannabis: The endocannabinoid system plays a crucial role in mood regulation, and cannabis contains compounds that interact with this system.
• Research and Effectiveness: Research has found that the endocannabinoid system is involved in regulating emotional responses, including anxiety. This system helps maintain emotional balance and can modulate how the brain responds to stress and anxiety-provoking situations. By influencing neural circuits in areas such as the amygdala and prefrontal cortex, endocannabinoid signalling may help buffer against excessive anxiety and support stress resilience. Medical cannabis specialists often recommend CBD-rich dosages.

4. Sleep Disorders

Sleep disturbances like insomnia affect up to 50% of veterans suffering from PTSD.

• Role of Medical Cannabis: Certain compounds like cannabinoids that influence the endocannabinoid system have been shown to modulate sleep by reducing the time it takes to fall asleep and increasing overall sleep duration. There is also evidence that endocannabinoid activity may affect REM sleep, which could potentially influence the occurrence of nightmares. Individuals interested in using products that affect the endocannabinoid system for sleep-related concerns should consult a healthcare provider to ensure suitability and proper usage.
• Research and Effectiveness: The ECS, through endogenous cannabinoids like 2-arachidonoylglycerol (2-AG) and anandamide (AEA), appears to influence various stages of sleep, including slow-wave sleep (SWS) and non-rapid eye movement (NREM) sleep, as well as circadian rhythms. Phytocannabinoids, including Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD), have been investigated for their effects on sleep. Overall, the existing research highlights the ECS as a significant modulator of sleep, with potential implications for managing sleep disorders. Nonetheless, the complexity of cannabinoid effects on sleep, variability in individual responses, and the need for further investigation into optimal dosing, long-term safety, and efficacy are emphasized in the literature.

5. Secondaries

• Potential Reduced Dependence on Prescription Medications
• Enhanced Quality of Life: Veterans can look to regain daily functionality and emotional stability by addressing multiple symptoms at once