AUSTIN (KXAN) — On the job, first responders have a front row seat to traumatic situations.
“On almost every single call, that call is for somebody who is having the worst day of their life,” Austin EMS Association president Selena Xie said.
For some, these daily duties can trigger post-traumatic stress disorder.
“Most people in public safety do have PTSD undiagnosed or diagnosed,” Xie said.
To combat these consequences, a long-standing, zero-tolerance policy for drug use on the job could be coming to a close for city employees.
On Monday, the Austin Public Safety Committee explored the possibility of allowing prescribed cannabis use instead of other drugs, such as the sleep-aid Ambien.
“All city employees have alternatives that don’t have such dramatic side effects,” Xie said.
This comes after House Bill 1535 became a Texas law in September. It added post-traumatic stress disorder to a list of qualifying conditions while doubling the amount of THC allowed in cannabis products from half of a percent to 1%.
Terrence Baugh is a patient advocate with goodblend, one of only three state-licensed medical dispensaries.
“In the state of Texas, they’ve put a cap on the amount of THC you can have in a product,” he said. “It’s at 1% per weight.”
Headquartered in Austin, goodblend sells non-smokable cannabis products that are cultivated in Texas.
“Depending on your level of trauma you might need more THC,” Baugh…
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AUSTIN (KXAN) — On the job, first responders have a front row seat to traumatic situations.
“On almost every single call, that call is for somebody who is having the worst day of their life,” Austin EMS Association president Selena Xie said.
For some, these daily duties can trigger post-traumatic stress disorder.
“Most people in public safety do have PTSD undiagnosed or diagnosed,” Xie said.
To combat these consequences, a long-standing, zero-tolerance policy for drug use on the job could be coming to a close for city employees.
On Monday, the Austin Public Safety Committee explored the possibility of allowing prescribed cannabis use instead of other drugs, such as the sleep-aid Ambien.
“All city employees have alternatives that don’t have such dramatic side effects,” Xie said.
This comes after House Bill 1535 became a Texas law in September. It added post-traumatic stress disorder to a list of qualifying conditions while doubling the amount of THC allowed in cannabis products from half of a percent to 1%.
Terrence Baugh is a patient advocate with goodblend, one of only three state-licensed medical dispensaries.
“In the state of Texas, they’ve put a cap on the amount of THC you can have in a product,” he said. “It’s at 1% per weight.”
Headquartered in Austin, goodblend sells non-smokable cannabis products that are cultivated in Texas.
“Depending on your level of trauma you might need more THC,” Baugh…
