Veterans Turn To Marijuana To Ditch ‘Cocktail Of Drugs’ From The VA

Source: The Daily Sheeple
Published: Jul 21, 2017
Author: Steve Birr
Post Date: 2017-07-22 11:54:27 by Deckard
Views: 2122

Proposals to loosen federal restrictions on marijuana and open up access to cannabis products for veterans are gaining bipartisan traction despite uncertainty from the Trump administration.

The Senate Appropriations Committee approved a measure July 13 that would let doctors at the Department of Veterans Affairs give patients approval to access medical marijuana in states where it is legal. A proposal from Republican Rep. Matt Gaetz seeks to reschedule marijuana, currently classified as a Schedule I substance alongside heroin, as a substance recognized by the federal government as having therapeutic value, reports the Los Angeles Times.

Building bipartisan momentum for marijuana issues concerning veterans comes on the heels of American Legion, a veterans group with more than 2 million members, formally launching a campaign in May advocating the government open access to the substance for returning service members. It is unclear if the Trump administration, which has been adversarial towards legal pot, will support these efforts.

“We were hearing these compelling stories from veterans about how cannabis has made their lives better,” Joseph Plenzler, a spokesman for American Legion, told the Los Angeles Times Friday. “That they were able to use it to get off a whole cocktail of drugs prescribed by VA doctors, that it is helping with night terrors, or giving them relief from chronic pain.”

The current federal classification of marijuana greatly restricts the ability of researchers to study the medical application of cannabis with federal funding. It also prevents doctors at the VA from recommending marijuana for treatment, even if it can cut down or replace a patients daily intake of opioid painkillers.

“It is a travesty,” Republican Rep. Dana Rohrabacher, a longtime advocate for greater marijuana access, told the Los Angeles Times. “They are given opiates instead of maybe something they can derive from marijuana. … And our veterans end up killing themselves because now they are addicted to an opiate.”

A growing chorus of veteran groups are petitioning the government to ease restrictions on federal marijuana policy. Many are unable to get relief from painkillers or traditional treatments allowed under current federal law, leaving them at the mercy of their particular state’s policy.

Texans For Responsible Marijuana Policy, a veterans group, recently launched an effort to legalize medical marijuana in their state to draw attention to the daily struggles facing so many veterans.

GOP Gov. Chris Christie signed a bill last year allowing medical marijuana for the treatment of PTSD in New Jersey, which officials are currently working to implement. Of the 28 states with legal medical marijuana programs, 14 currently offer pot for treating PTSD.

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#1: nolu chan    To: Deckard (#0)

The current federal classification of marijuana greatly restricts the ability of researchers to study the medical application of cannabis with federal funding. It also prevents doctors at the VA from recommending marijuana for treatment, even if it can cut down or replace a patients daily intake of opioid painkillers.

It is illegal to possess, anywhere in the United States pursuant to Federal law.

nolu chan posted on 2017-07-22 19:01:30   Reply   Private Reply


#2: Hondo68    To: nolu chan, US gov marijuana plantations, more growers needed (#1)

It is illegal to possess, anywhere in the United States pursuant to Federal law.

Not true, the fedgov grows weed.


Cultivated marijuana is seen in this 1999 photo at the University of Mississippi. Robert Jordan/AP

For more than four decades, the University of Mississippi has had an exclusive license with the government to grow marijuana for federally sanctioned research. But this month, the Drug Enforcement Administration announced it would grant permission to other growers — an effort, it said, to expand the supply and variety of marijuana available

https://www.statnews.com/2016/08/31/marijuana-research-dea-growers-permits/

Hondo68 posted on 2017-07-22 19:34:52   Reply   Private Reply


#3: Deckard    To: nolu chan (#1)

Why do you hate Veterans?

Deckard posted on 2017-07-22 21:28:59   Reply   Private Reply


#4: Deckard    To: hondo68 (#2)

It is illegal to possess, anywhere in the United States pursuant to Federal law.

Not true, the fedgov grows weed.

Now you did it - nolu spam is going to post 50Gb of useless opinions that will claim otherwise.

Deckard posted on 2017-07-22 21:40:13   Reply   Private Reply


#5: nolu chan    To: Deckard (#3)

Why do you hate Veterans?

Are you a veteran or a bullshitter who likes to use veterans?

nolu chan, USN (Ret.)

I did my 20 years active duty. What about you?

nolu chan posted on 2017-07-24 10:47:59   Reply   Private Reply


#6: nolu chan    To: hondo68 (#2)

If it were lawful to get you more stupid than you already are, you could quit bitching about it.

It is lawful for FDA approved research programs.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cannabis_in_the_United_States

Cannabis in the United States

The use, sale, and possession of all forms of cannabis in the United States is illegal under federal law.[1] As a Schedule I drug under the federal Controlled Substances Act of 1970, cannabis (legal term marijuana) is considered to have "no accepted medical use" and have a high potential for abuse and physical and/or psychological dependence.[2] Cannabis use is illegal for any reason, with the exception of FDA-approved research programs.[3] However, states have created exemptions for various uses, mainly for medical and industrial use.[4][5]

nolu chan posted on 2017-07-24 11:04:41   Reply   Private Reply