Veteran’s extreme THC regimen exposes flaws in DVA-funded cannabis program
A former army medic was prescribed dangerously high doses of medicinal cannabis by for-profit firms paid by the Department of Veterans' Affairs, leading to paranoia, addiction and a psychiatric crisis.
After returning from service as a medic in Afghanistan, veteran Steve Johnstone was diagnosed with PTSD, chronic pain and substance-use issues, qualifying him for DVA compensation. A for-profit firm, VeteranCann, used a phone call to secure a DVA-funded pain specialist who then increased his THC prescription from 25 mg to 1,220 mg per day without any in-person assessment. Over the next two years the veteran received kilograms of high-THC cannabis, leading to addiction, paranoia and a suicide attempt that resulted in a three-month psychiatric ward stay.
Billing records show Total Veteran Healthcare charged DVA for nurse check-ins and GP consultations that never occurred. DVA has since tightened rules, mandating face-to-face specialist appointments and capping the number of cannabis products. The investigation also uncovered cold-calling for esketamine treatments by companies such as Valentius and GoodMind Therapeutics, raising concerns about commercial exploitation of vulnerable veterans.
Why it matters
It reveals how profit-driven providers can misuse public funds and endanger veterans’ health.
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