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WEBVTT DYKES WALKS YOU THROUGH THE PROCESS, WITH A PATIENT, FROM THE PROBLEM, TO THE PIPE. MIKE: BEFORE ADAM ENZ EVER EXHALED A VAPOR CLOUD OF MARIJUANA, THE MONROE HIGH SCHOOL GRAD FOUGHT TO KEEP THE UNITED STATES SAFE. >> 18-YEARS-OLD, I LEFT FOR THE MARINE CORPS. DEFINITELY SAW A LOT OF COMBAT THINGS THAT YOU BRING BACK WITH YO TODD: THE THINGS ENZ SAW LED TO A MEDICAL DIAGNOSIS OF PTSD. AFTER ANTI-DEPRESSANTS AND SLEEP AIDS, ENZ DISCOVERED WHAT HE CALLS THE CURATIVE POWER OF POT. IN ORDER TO LEGALLY USE MARIJUANA, ENZ VISITED THIS ACCUDOC URGENT CARE OFFICE IN HARRISON. THAT’S WHERE HE MET DR. TRENT AUSTIN, WHO’S CERTIFIED TO RECOMMEND MARIJUANA FOR PATIENTS WITH QUALIFYING CONDITIONS, INCLUDING PTSD. MY RESEARCH FINDS THE COST OF A VISIT VARIES WIDELY, BUT CAN RUN UP TO ABOUT $300. ENZ DID HIS OWN RESEARCH, AND FOUND OUT THAT FOR VETERANS, DR. AUSTIN ONLY ASKS THAT THEY MAKE A DONATION THEY ARE ABLE TO AFFORD. >> I’M SEEING A LOT OF PEOPLE COMING BACK FROM AFGHANISTAN, IRAQ WHO HAVE EXPERIENCED DEVASTATING THINGS. TODD: SO WHAT’S THE PROCESS ONCE YOU’RE IN THE OFFICE? AUSTIN EXAMINED ENZ’S MEDICAL RECORDS, WHICH INCLUDED A PTSD DIAGNOSIS BY ANOTHER PHYSICIAN. AFTER THE CONSULTATION, WHICH LASTED ROUGHLY 20 MINUTES, AUSTIN RECOMMENDED ENZ BE APPROVED A MEDICAL MARIJUANA CARD. >> I DON’T FEEL AS MUCH OF A CRIMINAL JUST FOR GETTING THE HELP I NEED. TODD: AFTER THE DOCTOR’S OFFICE, ENZ HAD TO PAY ANOTHER FEE OF $50 TO THE STATE TO GET ON THE OHIO REGISTRY. HE RECEIVED THIS TEMPORARY CARD VIA EMAIL IN A MATTER OF MINUTES. IT’S A STEP ON A JOURNEY ENZ NEVER USED TO NEVER IMAGINE HE’D BE ON, >> I WAS USED TO WHAT THE MARINE CORPS HAD DRILLED INTO MY HEAD THAT DRUGS ARE BAD. AND THEN I STARTED TO SEE HOW IT HELPED ME, AND IT WASN’T AS BAD AS THEY WERE SAYING. TODD: THAT REACTION DOES NOT SURPRISE TRENT AUSTIN. >> A LOT OF MY PATIENTS HAVE ALREADY DONE SOME SELF-MEDICATION AND HAVE SEEN RESULTS EVEN BEFORE THEY’VE STARTED THROUGH THE PROGRAM. TODD: WITH HIS CARD IN HAND, ENZ STILL HAS HURDLES TO OVERCOME. RIGHT NOW THE CLOSEST DISPENSARY IS HOURS AWAY, LIKE THIS ONE IN EASTERN OHIO. BUT HE IS LOOKING FORWARD TO THE DAY HE CAN VISIT A LOCAL DISPENSARY, THE ONE CLOSEST TO HIM IN MONROE, VO OPTION FROM -- MANUEL OR ONE OF THE THREE SET TO OPEN IN HAMILTON COUNTY. >> I DEFINITELY AM GOING TO DO THE DISPENSARIES AS SOON AS THEY OPEN. THE CLOSEST ONE RIGHT NOW, I BELIEVE, IS THREE HOURS AWAY, SO IT’S NOT REALLY AN OPTION AS OF RI

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Before Adam Enz ever exhaled a vapor cloud of marijuana, the Monroe High School grad fought to keep the United States safe."When I graduated high school, 18 years old, I left for the Marine Corps," Enz said. "I was with 2nd Battalion, 7th Marines and I completed three tours of combat. Definitely saw a lot of combat things that you bring back with you."The things Enz saw led to a medical diagnosis of post-traumatic stress disorder. After anti-depressants and sleep aids, Enz discovered what he calls the curative power of cannabis."It helps me with my anxiety," he said. "It has just been life-changing for me."In order to legally use marijuana, Enz visited AccuDoc Urgent Care in Harrison. That's where he met Dr. Trent Austin, who's certified to recommend marijuana for Ohio patients with qualifying conditions, including PTSD.The cost of such a visit varies widely, but can run up to about $300. Enz did his own research and found out that for veterans, Austin only asks that they make a donation they are able to afford."I'm seeing a lot of people coming back from Afghanistan, Iraq who have experienced devastating things," Austin said.So what's the process once you're in the office?Austin examined Enz's medical records, which included a PTSD diagnosis by another physician. After the consultation, which lasted roughly 20 minutes, Austin recommended Enz be approved a medical marijuana card."I don't feel as much of a criminal just for getting the help I need," Enz said.After the doctor's office, Enz had to pay another fee of $50 to the state to get on the Ohio Medical Marijuana Patient Registry. He received a temporary card via email in a matter of minutes.It's a step on a journey Enz never imagined he'd be taking."I was used to what the Marine Corps had drilled into my head, that drugs are bad," Enz said. "Then I started to see how it helped me, and it wasn't as bad as they were saying."That reaction does not surprise Austin."A lot of my patients have already done some self-medication and have seen results even before they've started through the program," Austin said.With his card in hand, Enz still has hurdles to overcome. Right now, the closest dispensary is hours away. He's looking forward to the day he can visit a local dispensary, the one closest to him in Monroe, or one of three set to open in Hamilton County."I definitely am going to do the dispensaries as soon as they open," he said. "The closest one right now, I believe, is three hours away, so it's not really an option as of right now. But I'm very excited for that day."Enz is concerned about widely available marijuana products ending up in the hands of teenagers. He hopes young people understand the damage marijuana can do to the developing brain.Another issue for patients who don't live in Greater Cincinnati is the relatively small number of doctors able to recommend cannabis.Thirty-nine doctors are certified to recommend marijuana to qualifying patients in Hamilton County. Butler County has eight doctors. Warren county has one, in Mason, but in Clermont, Adams and Brown County there are none.