{"componentChunkName":"component---common-build-tags-template-js","path":"/tag/veterans/","result":{"data":{"allArticle":{"edges":[{"node":{"id":"Article_2221-markdown","title":"Q & A: Aaron Augustis of the Veteran's Cannabis Group","slug":"q-and-a-aaron-augustis-of-the-veterans-cannabis-group","content":"Aaron Augustis is an Iraq war veteran and a Co Founder of Veteran's Cannabis Group. The group currently offers education, delivery and family support for Veterans who use medical cannabis, often for the symptoms of PTSD. His Co Founder Lynette Shaw, started the first licensed medical marijuana dispensary in CA in 1997. \n\nAaron took time to talk to HelloMD about his battle with PTSD after returning from Iraq and his journey to start Veteran's Cannabis Group.\n\n### What is the Veterans Cannabis Group?\n\nThe Veterans Cannabis Group is a veteran owned and run entity. We are a medical marijuana support group, a networking group, and a resource center for veterans and their families. We are open for anyone who supports veterans, but our mission is veteran focused. Our main goal is to be a resource center that has multiple components including education and access to medicine, but we are not just going to be handing out cannabis. \n\nFor example, we did an education event with HelloMD. We had a HelloMD doctor come and educate our members on cannabis because many veterans do not know about medical cannabis and its benefits, or they are afraid to use it because they believe they could possibly loose their VA benefits. That is another factor of education, to inform veterans that they will not lose their VA benefits if they use medical cannabis. Overall, our mission is to be an education resource for veterans who use medical cannabis. \n\n### Why did you start the Veterans Cannabis Group?\n\nBeing a veteran myself, I was trying to find a group of veterans to talk to about cannabis. I just wanted to hear what other veterans were doing and what had worked for them. There was nothing around where I lived though. I live in Marin and I did a google search and found Weed for Warriors, which I believe is out of Santa Cruz, and Grow for Vets, which is Colorado based, though they do have a chapter in Livermore, but there was nothing right around where I lived. \n\nI wanted to form a group to bring veterans together so we could share information in a safe and non-threatening environment. I think when you put veterans in a room with other veterans, they open up and share more experiences because there is more trust when you have experienced similar things. \n\nI wanted to start a place for not only myself, but for other veterans to go and talk and get access to the medicine. Many other veterans I met along the way also wanted a place where they could specifically talk to other veterans. They were tired of the grey area that marijuana has been in for a while. They want to work with people they trust and have more in common with.\n\n### How has the community reacted to your group?\n\nI think the overall reaction has been very positive because we are talking about combat veterans using cannabis for combat related PTSD. We aren’t talking about just going out and getting stoned, we are talking about real problems and real solutions. When you incorporate veterans into the situation, it is a little easier to validate because people take it more seriously, not like just a group of guys who wants to get high. \n\nWe are talking about issues like the veterans suicide epidemic and opioid overdoses. We are seeing 22 veterans commit suicide by the day, and about 20 of those are dying from opioid overdoses. To me it just makes sense. \n\nI got back from Iraq and I had these huge waves of emotion that would come on and were uncontrollable. Sometimes when you’re out of that environment your mind is still processing and  you have a lot of built up emotion that you store away when you are in a combat zone. Especially when you are in are a leadership position, which I was as a sergeant, you have to bottle that energy up when you are in the combat zone. \n\nThen when you get home, it all of the sudden starts to release and it is not necessarily in a controlled manner. You can’t just say, “I’m going to cry it all out right now”. You can be triggered by many different things like a talk show on the radio, news about soldiers being killed, or the smell of diesel fuel, which is a very common trigger for many combat veterans. \n\nNot everyone is in agreement with it, but with the veteran aspect it is hard to deny. If you have all of these veterans saying cannabis works for PTSD then you shouldn’t  push it to the side. There’s a chance that veterans using cannabis to help with PTSD could be the thing that gets the feds to reschedule. The FDA is currently doing a study, licensed by the DEA, for veterans taking cannabis for PTSD relief. The study is taking place in Baltimore, MD and Phoenix, AZ. There are 36 participants in each location, so there are 72 participants total. \n\nThis is the first study of its kind where it is actually licensed by the DEA, so that’s why I think the veterans will be such a powerful voice. The VA takes care of veterans and the VA gets its funding from the federal government, so you have all these veterans saying we need cannabis, but because the VA is federally run, the doctors can’t even right marijuana prescriptions in states where it is legal. \n\n### Does the VA support the use of cannabis?\n\nIt’s a fine line that the doctors in the VA have to walk. What I understand from talking to the VA counselors personally is that doctors are not allowed to discuss marijuana unless the veterans themselves bring it up. Then they are allowed to discuss it, but they are not allowed to write recommendations and they can’t tell you what kind of strain to take or how much to smoke. \n\nIt is still this unknown and confusing position, because the VA itself doesn’t know how to handle it. The doctors in the VA are federally employed, so legally they can’t recommend cannabis without consequences. I know when you do tell them, they say if its working then don’t stop using it. That is the attitude that they relay to you.\n\n### Does stigma keep veterans from trying cannabis?\n\nI think that one of the main issues is that veterans are either unaware or think that their VA benefits will be taken from them, because at one time that was a reality. If you tested positive then you no longer had access to your medications and VA services, but that is no longer the case. \n\nAlso, a big issue for many veterans is guns. If you have your medical marijuana card, and you are registered with the state, they can deny you your right to buy a gun. Since cannabis is a Schedule I drug and a federally illegal substance, and it is safe for them to assume if you have your state card that you are using a federally illicit substance. Therefore, they can deny you the purchase of a fire arm when they can see your name on the list. It is a big deal, because you are restricting peoples second amendment rights. \n\nIf you already have a firearm, you can keep it, but if you try to get a new one, you can get denied. Say you have cancer, if you are using marijuana oil and it is helping you maintain your life, you can get denied from buying a firearm just for taking a medication. So why aren’t we denying people who are drugs like opioids?\n\n### How would someone known I have a medical rec?\n\nIf I just have a doctor’s recommendation, for example from HelloMD, they cannot see that because HelloMD does not share my information with anyone. However, if I’m being compliant and get the state issued ID card with the state of California seal on it, then I am put on the state list. If you are on that list they can look you up and in-turn deny you to purchase a firearm. This ability to deny people the right to buy firearms based on medical marijuana cards was recently help up in federal court. \n\n### What do you say to cannabis newcomers?\n\nWell, you can’t overdose on cannabis. There has been no recorded deaths associated with cannabis. We have a veteran’s cannabis group so people can come and meet and talk to other veterans who use cannabis and get past any stigma or lack of knowledge. \n\n### How can people learn more about VCG?\n\nThe best way to learn more is to visit our the [Veteran's Cannabis Website]  (http://www.veteranscannabisgroup.com). I am always willing to talk to people and answer questions if they reach out to me. \n\nOur goal with the Veterans Cannabis group is to ultimately make it so veterans have the ability to access cannabis through the VA. The VA is where most veterans get their medication from, so they really should be able to get their doctors recommendation and medical cannabis through the VA. That is the ideal goal. The VA provides every other kind of medication, they just don’t provide medical cannabis and they should.\n\nDo you have questions about Veteran's Cannabis Group? Ask a question in [HelloMD's new Answers](https://www.hellomd.com/biz/veterans-cannabis-group) feature. \n\nIf you are new to cannabis and want to learn more, take a look at our [Cannabis 101](https://www.hellomd.com/health-wellness/cannabis-101-your-quick-guide-to-medical-marijuana) post. [HelloMD](https://www.hellomd.com/) can help you get your medical marijuana recommendation; it's 100% online, private and efficient.","image":{"childImageSharp":{"fluid":{"base64":"data:image/jpeg;base64,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","aspectRatio":1.3333333333333333,"src":"/static/c3356ac3048383be9e4c48e7dba0ed5d/14b42/5424f997e507915cb3173558c49304ff.jpg","srcSet":"/static/c3356ac3048383be9e4c48e7dba0ed5d/f836f/5424f997e507915cb3173558c49304ff.jpg 200w,\n/static/c3356ac3048383be9e4c48e7dba0ed5d/2244e/5424f997e507915cb3173558c49304ff.jpg 400w,\n/static/c3356ac3048383be9e4c48e7dba0ed5d/14b42/5424f997e507915cb3173558c49304ff.jpg 800w,\n/static/c3356ac3048383be9e4c48e7dba0ed5d/47498/5424f997e507915cb3173558c49304ff.jpg 1200w,\n/static/c3356ac3048383be9e4c48e7dba0ed5d/007d6/5424f997e507915cb3173558c49304ff.jpg 1369w","srcWebp":"/static/c3356ac3048383be9e4c48e7dba0ed5d/58556/5424f997e507915cb3173558c49304ff.webp","srcSetWebp":"/static/c3356ac3048383be9e4c48e7dba0ed5d/61e93/5424f997e507915cb3173558c49304ff.webp 200w,\n/static/c3356ac3048383be9e4c48e7dba0ed5d/1f5c5/5424f997e507915cb3173558c49304ff.webp 400w,\n/static/c3356ac3048383be9e4c48e7dba0ed5d/58556/5424f997e507915cb3173558c49304ff.webp 800w,\n/static/c3356ac3048383be9e4c48e7dba0ed5d/99238/5424f997e507915cb3173558c49304ff.webp 1200w,\n/static/c3356ac3048383be9e4c48e7dba0ed5d/728d7/5424f997e507915cb3173558c49304ff.webp 1369w","sizes":"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px"}}}}},{"node":{"id":"Article_2216-markdown","title":"Why American Veterans Aren't Allowed to Treat Their PTSD With Cannabis","slug":"why-american-veterans-arent-allowed-to-treat-their-ptsd-with-cannabis","content":"One of the most dangerous conditions currently facing American war\nveterans is [post-traumatic stress\ndisorder](http://www.ptsd.va.gov/public/PTSD-overview/basics/how-common-is-ptsd.asp).\nPTSD affects [31 percent of Vietnam veterans, 10 percent of Gulf War\nveterans, 11 percent of Afghanistan war veterans and 20 percent of Iraq\nWar\nveterans](https://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/magazine/issues/winter09/articles/winter09pg10-14.html),\nand it can have devastating repercussions that are commonly treated with\na combination of [narcotics and\ntherapy](http://www.ptsd.va.gov/public/treatment/therapy-med/treatment-ptsd.asp).\nUnfortunately, narcotics have many [side\neffects](http://www.wsj.com/articles/SB10001424052702304672404579181840055583388),\nand many veterans are looking for safer treatment options. In doing so,\nmany have turned to marijuana. While marijuana is often more efficient\nat [managing PTSD](http://www.newsweek.com/pot-and-ptsd-358139) and\nassociated conditions than a veteran's typical cocktail of narcotics and\nopioids, many veterans don't have access to marijuana as a treatment for\nPTSD.\n\n### What Is PTSD?\n\nPTSD arises after a person experiences a traumatic event. While PTSD\nisn't limited to veterans, the [occurrence rates in post-war\nveterans](http://www.veteransandptsd.com/PTSD-statistics.html) are\nhigher than those in the civilian population. When an individual\nexperiences a traumatic or life-threatening event, the mind and body go\ninto shock, creating [severe\nsymptoms](http://www.helpguide.org/articles/ptsd-trauma/ptsd-in-veterans.htm).\nThese include night terrors, flashbacks, depression, suicidal thoughts,\nirritability, anger, withdrawal and extreme emotional reactions, such as\npanic attacks and irrational fear.\n\n### How Is PTSD Treated?\n\nWhile PTSD is common (the [National Center for\nPTSD](http://www.ptsd.va.gov/) estimates that\n[7-8%](http://www.bendbulletin.com/news/1384056-151/civilians-also-struggle-with-ptsd)\nof civilians are affected), it's tough to treat. Because PTSD presents a\ncomplex set of symptoms, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA)\nhas developed a [varied treatment\nplan](http://www.ptsd.va.gov/professional/treatment/overview/clinicians-guide-to-medications-for-ptsd.asp)\nthat includes group and private therapy sessions and doses of opiates,\nantidepressants, and benzodiazepines. Unfortunately, this cocktail comes\nwith [side\neffects](http://www.nytimes.com/health/guides/disease/post-traumatic-stress-disorder/medications.html).\nThese side effects include difficulty sleeping, intense anxiety, and\nsuicidal thoughts and actions. Because of this, marijuana is being\nevaluated as an alternative option with fewer adverse effects.\n\n### Why Is Marijuana a Safer Option?\n\nMarijuana is an effective treatment option for everything from[anxiety\nto sleep\ndisorders,\nand recent scientific evidence is proving that marijuana is also an\neffective treatment for PTSD. According to [a 2014\nstudy](http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/pdf/10.1080/02791072.2013.873843)\nconducted in New Mexico and published in the *Journal of Psychoactive\nDrugs*, cannabis can reduce the symptoms of PTSD in affected veterans by\n75 percent. This is because marijuana produces an effect known as\n\"[memory\nextinction](http://www.europeanneuropsychopharmacology.com/article/S0924-977X(08)00172-7/abstract?cc=y),\"\nwhich diminishes traumatic memories. Other researchers, such as Dr.\nSuzanne Sisley (a PTSD specialist), have been emboldened by past [study\nresults](http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24935052) and are currently\nspearheading new cannabis studies in states that have legalized\nmarijuana.\n\nWhile these studies are promising, proving marijuana's effectiveness in\nPTSD treatment is only half the battle. Up until very recently, veterans\nwho expressed an interest in marijuana for PTSD treatment risked losing\ntheir other prescription drugs, because marijuana, as a Schedule I drug,\nviolates the [Opioid Pain Care\nAgreement](http://www.aspmn.org/Documents/Webinars/Taking_Opioids_Responsibly201108_FINAL.pdf).\nEven after medical marijuana was legal in many states, VA doctors were\nroutinely discouraged from talking about the treatment option with their\npatients due to the threat of [having their licenses\nrevoked](http://www.amc.edu/Academic/bioethics/documents/Geppert_Publication.pdf)\nor facing legal charges.\n\nTo answer the cry from veterans for medical marijuana and fill the\ninformation and care gaps, independent advocacy groups such as [Veterans\nfor Medical Marijuana](http://www.veteransformedicalmarijuana.org/)\n(founded by an Air Force veteran) began to spring up around the country.\nThese independent groups worked tirelessly to rally against the VA's\nstrict cannabis policy and, in time, they brought about change. In 2011,\nhowever, the VA began to [allow some breathing\nroom](https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/more-veterans-press-va-to-recognize-medical-marijuana-as-treatment-option/2014/11/15/51666986-6a7b-11e4-b053-65cea7903f2e_story.html)\nfor medical marijuana use in response to intense pressure from the\nveteran community. In addition to prohibiting doctors from revoking a\npatient's access to prescription drugs due to medical marijuana use, the\nnew VA measures also laid out monitoring programs for medical marijuana\naccess.\n\nWhile it remains difficult for veterans in states where [medical\nmarijuana](http://medicalmarijuana.procon.org/view.resource.php?resourceID=000881)\nis not legal to access life-changing, cannabis-centric PTSD treatment,\nmany veterans are hopeful that future research and changing attitudes\nabout medical marijuana can provide easier access to this life-changing\ndrug.","image":{"childImageSharp":{"fluid":{"base64":"data:image/png;base64,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","aspectRatio":1.5151515151515151,"src":"/static/0c6d3a882917f7af2f722023461ab6b8/ee604/1d81942f110cc28230631f363187b2b6.png","srcSet":"/static/0c6d3a882917f7af2f722023461ab6b8/69585/1d81942f110cc28230631f363187b2b6.png 200w,\n/static/0c6d3a882917f7af2f722023461ab6b8/497c6/1d81942f110cc28230631f363187b2b6.png 400w,\n/static/0c6d3a882917f7af2f722023461ab6b8/ee604/1d81942f110cc28230631f363187b2b6.png 800w,\n/static/0c6d3a882917f7af2f722023461ab6b8/9aa6b/1d81942f110cc28230631f363187b2b6.png 982w","srcWebp":"/static/0c6d3a882917f7af2f722023461ab6b8/58556/1d81942f110cc28230631f363187b2b6.webp","srcSetWebp":"/static/0c6d3a882917f7af2f722023461ab6b8/61e93/1d81942f110cc28230631f363187b2b6.webp 200w,\n/static/0c6d3a882917f7af2f722023461ab6b8/1f5c5/1d81942f110cc28230631f363187b2b6.webp 400w,\n/static/0c6d3a882917f7af2f722023461ab6b8/58556/1d81942f110cc28230631f363187b2b6.webp 800w,\n/static/0c6d3a882917f7af2f722023461ab6b8/32383/1d81942f110cc28230631f363187b2b6.webp 982w","sizes":"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px"}}}}},{"node":{"id":"Article_2050-markdown","title":"Veterans Deserve Medical Marijuana ― Might Get It Soon","slug":"veterans-deserve-medical-marijuana-might-get-it-soon","content":"Did you know that doctors who work for the United States Department of\nVeterans Affairs (VA) aren't allowed to prescribe medical marijuana to\nveterans? It doesn't matter if the doctors and patients live in states\nwhere medical marijuana is legal. Moreover, doctors can't even talk to\nveterans about the advantages of marijuana AT ALL! How's that for free\nspeech in America?\n\n**Congress Takes Action (Seriously)**\n\nAs you might have guessed, as a doctor, this marijuana gag order makes\nme gag. There's reason to be optimistic, though. Some of our elected\nleaders are coming around. For instance, in 2016, 21 U.S. House members\nand senators sent a letter to the VA. This group included Democrats and\nRepublicans, and the message was in favor of medical marijuana.\n\nYou see, the no-cannabis VA policy was set to expire in late January\n2016. Therefore, those lawmakers were trying to change the minds of VA\nleaders. Their letter stated that VA doctors who practice in states\nwhere medical marijuana is lawful should be able to discuss this kind of\ntherapy.\n\nThe Senate actually approved that rule change back in November 2015. At\nthe time, it was included in a funding bill. But of course, politics is\ncomplicated. The bill got rewritten, and this policy was taken out.\nTherefore, it never became law. And I thought medical school was hard!\n\n**Can the CARERS Act Save the Day?**\n\nThere's still hope for this legal change. It could become part of the\n2016 appropriations bill. If it does, though, it would need to be voted\non each year to remain law. Or it could become a separate law. If that\nwere the case, it would be a permanent statute, and Congress wouldn't\nhave to keep voting on it annually.\n\nIndeed, in March 2015, Sen. Cory Booker, D-N.J., Sen. Kirsten\nGillibrand, D-N.Y., and Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., proposed just such a law.\nIt's called the Compassionate Access, Research Expansion and Respect\nStates (CARERS) Act of 2015.\n\nIf CARERS passes, states could legalize medical marijuana as they deem\nfit. Also, medical researchers would have more freedom to study the\nbenefits of this therapy. And yes, VA doctors could finally recommend it\nto their patients as state law permits.\n\n**Battling PTSD**\n\nMany veterans who are returning from battle face special health issues.\nPost-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is one of them.\n[PTSD](https://www.hellomd.com/health-wellness/559ade1b36643300061c0000/recovery-from-trauma-the-role-of-medical-marijuana-in-ptsd-treatment)\nis a term for the depression and anxiety that happen after a trauma. The\ndisorder often involves vivid flashbacks, nightmares, social isolation\nand a tendency to become violently startled. It can also lead to\ninsomnia and extreme eruptions of anger.\n\nNaturally, the horrors of combat often bring about PTSD. However,\nscientific evidence is showing that medical marijuana can really reduce\nits effects.\n\nTake, for instance, [a\nstudy](http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2014/05/140522104850.htm)\nthat was led by Dr. George Greer of the nonprofit Heffter Research\nInstitute. Between 2009 and 2011, researchers looked at how medical\nmarijuana affected those with PTSD. The Journal of Psychoactive Drugs\n[published](http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/02791072.2013.873843)\nthe results, which were highly encouraging. The average patient who used\ncannabis had his or her PTSD effects lessened by a whopping 75 percent!\n\n**Reducing Chronic Pain**\n\nIf you're a vet, you might be dealing with chronic physical pain due to\nthe wounds you sustained when you were fighting for our country. When it\ncomes to pain relief, medical marijuana shows great promise as well.\n\nFor example, in December 2015, the [Journal of\nPain](http://www.jpain.org/article/S1526-5900(15)00837-8/abstract) put\nout the results of a major study on cannabis and chronic pain, one that\nbegan in 2004. Dr. Mark Ware of Montreal's Research Institute of the\nMcGill University Health Centre led this endeavor. (Medical marijuana is\nlegal in Canada.) Several Canadian pain treatment facilities worked\ntogether on this study. Researchers carefully followed 215 adults, each\nfor a one-year period. All of those participants had the option of\neating, smoking or inhaling their cannabis. Meanwhile, a control group\nof 216 chronic pain patients went without marijuana for a year.\n\nIt demonstrated that, while marijuana provided pain relief, it didn't\nlead to any higher rates of serious side effects. On top of that, the\ncannabis frequently put many of the patients in better moods.\n\n**Hope for Vets Who Want Medical Marijuana**\n\nFinally, remember that no VA doctor will ever be forced to prescribe\ncannabis. And no veteran should ever be pressured to take it. It'll\nsimply become another treatment option that doctors and patients should\nbe allowed to talk about in privacy. If the DEA gets their act together\nand take cannabis off of the Schedule 1 list, formal studies in the\nUnited States could finally begin in earnest. When the VA actually\nrealizes that that all studies from around the world to date show the\nenormous benefit of cannabis to treat PTSD and chronic pain, our brave\nmen and women who've served in the armed forces can get the relief they\ndeserve.\n\n[Photo Credit](https://www.flickr.com/photos/soldiersmediacenter/8958723249/in/photolist-eDDNiF-6R7toY-6R7Dhb-6RP4r7-6RK17R-6R3u8R-6R3yeK-6R3zg8-6R7rnj-6R3qvD-6R7vUq-6R7wCs-6R7BYW-6R3qcn-6R3nHn-6R3uSR-6R7D5L-6R7vb9-6R3pZc-6R7skG-7ZkGBK-wzZThs-wA7tk4-6RHwLc-7jSRoo-6KzRrX-6ZJwL2-7aG8wk-8tRr4Z-aQZTfT-8uYY6S-8uYXBh-8uVTqx-eUpwjj-8vkFVw-c3vzES-9jZf4X-aXQCZt-ppZi6S-8EGRT4-fjZ3DE-8QSLjk-8zPfCv-76Y8EM-9pnwow-8rX3tY-79xHCG-5PbtDn-9NtCVv-8uYX59)","image":{"childImageSharp":{"fluid":{"base64":"data:image/png;base64,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","aspectRatio":1.4598540145985401,"src":"/static/eb5963a64a88791cd373293480f137d1/ee604/7ba1ef38aaaa0db126654e32267ec38b.png","srcSet":"/static/eb5963a64a88791cd373293480f137d1/69585/7ba1ef38aaaa0db126654e32267ec38b.png 200w,\n/static/eb5963a64a88791cd373293480f137d1/497c6/7ba1ef38aaaa0db126654e32267ec38b.png 400w,\n/static/eb5963a64a88791cd373293480f137d1/ee604/7ba1ef38aaaa0db126654e32267ec38b.png 800w,\n/static/eb5963a64a88791cd373293480f137d1/e4889/7ba1ef38aaaa0db126654e32267ec38b.png 1081w","srcWebp":"/static/eb5963a64a88791cd373293480f137d1/58556/7ba1ef38aaaa0db126654e32267ec38b.webp","srcSetWebp":"/static/eb5963a64a88791cd373293480f137d1/61e93/7ba1ef38aaaa0db126654e32267ec38b.webp 200w,\n/static/eb5963a64a88791cd373293480f137d1/1f5c5/7ba1ef38aaaa0db126654e32267ec38b.webp 400w,\n/static/eb5963a64a88791cd373293480f137d1/58556/7ba1ef38aaaa0db126654e32267ec38b.webp 800w,\n/static/eb5963a64a88791cd373293480f137d1/4bc19/7ba1ef38aaaa0db126654e32267ec38b.webp 1081w","sizes":"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px"}}}}}]}},"pageContext":{"limit":12,"skip":0,"numPages":1,"currentPage":1,"id":5899,"name":"Veterans","slug":"veterans","country":"US"}},"staticQueryHashes":["3949754563","4179947113","4202924991"]}