JKilrva

washingtonpost.com


Obama Administration has officially declared that they will no longer target dispensaries/users of medical marijuana as long as they are abiding by state and local laws. However, they also said that they will continue to target people who use medical marijuana laws as a "cover up".


Let me add that many states (politicians) cite the reason for not having medical marijuana is because it's flat out illegal under federal law. Hopefully this new policy will change the way states like mine (Virginia) view the viability of medical marijuana.

haskins69

about fucking time.................gonna go smoke one right now to celibrate this milestone

LAlo_38

I am 71 years old, a 20 year veteran, retired in 1978, with a VA 50% disability rating. Since retirement the VA has provided my primary health care needs. I suffer from diabetes, hypertension, and severe chronic pain from a service incurred spinal injury that has further deteriorated with age. Neurologists at Sacramento VA gave me two options: surgery or pain medication. I have had a prescription for Vicodin years.

When prescription marijuana became available in California I informed my VA primary care doctor at the time that I applied and received a prescription. All of my VA doctors since have supported my use as long as I was registered with the state and have my permit. As a vet patient, I have used MJ for years and have never been specifically tested for MJ use.

Yesterday, the 21st of October, my current VA primary care physician informed me that he would no longer prescribe pain medication as long as I am using MJ referring to studies that claim no pain relief from MJ. Studies on MJ offer differing opinions depending on the source but the obvious trend has been more MJ friendly.

I have two different prescriptions for diabetes. Why can’t I use another medication for pain. Even if it were true that MJ is not effective pain medication, it makes me feel better. It relieves my anxiety, depression, anger, and given my family history, it has so far prevented of glaucoma. At my age I deserve all the comfort I can get. Pot doesn’t hurt me, it helps me.

Director of the VA Lutz has said, “...it is acknowledged that testing positive for marijuana in a patient, based upon a random drug screening, will not serve as a breach of the current pain management agreement if the patient submits documentation in support of the marijuana being prescribed and dispensed in conformity with state law.”

President Obama has said, "It will not be a priority to use federal resources to prosecute patients with serious illnesses or their care givers who are complying with state laws on medical marijuana."

The sudden enforcement of Federal policy at the Sacramento VA MJ seems like an arbitrary decision to contradict the current administration’s emerging MJ views. Sacramento VA will lose another vet patient, but I’m sure I can find a more compassionate care giver. I'm also a retired federal employee and I'm fortunate to have Tricare For Life, Medicare, and Federal Health Benefits Plan.

Are there any other vets with this issue?

************************************************** **************

Department of Veterans Affairs - Response to your Service Complaint [Inquiry: 091022-001011]
Thu, October 22, 2009 2:07:21 PM

From:
Dept of Veterans Affairs <iris@med.va.gov>

This confirms receipt of the electronic message you just sent to the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). The reference number for your question is '091022-001011'. You should also receive an e-mail message confirming the office to which your message was routed.

You should expect a response within 5 workdays.

************************************************** ***************************************

I wll update

LAlo_38

The director of Veterans Affairs is Gabriel Perez

1956

Isn't there another way you can approach the prescribing of MMJ for legitimate reasonss other than pain and would that bee acceptable to the VA?

5drive

Finding a doctor friendly to medical mj use is like flipping a coin. They can be in either camp-for or against. It does seem like VA doctors would be more likely to be on the same page, since they all work for the VA. If you don't have any choice over who your primary care physician is, that's a problem. It really does become random chance then. Vet A gets lucky and gets a pro mj doc, while
Vet B gets an anti mj doc and gets screwed.

__________________

024

I just hope Kevin Rudd does something like this aswell, jackass hasn't even had a toke ever.