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Sunday, October 26, 2014

Florida Veterans Need to Consider VA Rules on Medical Marijuana

I support medical marijuana and hope it passes in Florida. Many people say that "Oh, it will get abused" so they don't plan on voting for it. Common sense should have shown them a long time ago that most things offering benefits to others end up getting abused, especially things intended to be medication.

The problem I have with this is there are important questions no one seems to be asking. The biggest one is, if marijuana is still illegal in the eyes of the federal government, then what happens when a veteran gets a prescription for it from a private doctor? Will the VA view it as legal or illegal when they take blood and urine tests for other things?

There are many states where medical marijuana is legal but the VA is a federal entity and must follow rules of the federal government. I haven't read anything about this being addressed.
Viewpoint: Suffering? Don’t Move to Florida
Pensacola News Journal
Jon Mills
October 25, 2014

Retired Air Force Capt. Jeff Lahman served 25 years in the Air Force including time in special ops. He ended up with a series of injuries and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.

He and his wife, also an Air Force officer, lived in Arizona. He was prescribed a large dose of oxycodone and other pain killers. Those prescription medicines brought him to a new low. A doctor suggested he try medical marijuana. He did and it changed his life. He was himself again. His wife saw the difference. Just last year he moved to Florida. He is a strong supporter of Amendment 2 because it would allow him to legally consult a Florida doctor about using medical marijuana.

Cathy Jordan was diagnosed with ALS in 1986 and given five years to live. She and her husband, Bob, moved from Delaware to Florida hoping a milder climate would help her condition. Doctors offered every prescription possible. Nothing worked. She began hoarding drugs with thoughts of suicide. She tried medical marijuana with the help of Bob and it worked. It acts as a muscle relaxer, anti-depressant and stimulates her appetite. In 2013, six officers entered her home and confiscated her medical marijuana.

read more here
I had to do a search to find the answer. Here it is.
Department of Veterans Affairs VHA DIRECTIVE 2011-004
Veterans Health Administration
Washington, DC 20420 January 31, 2011
ACCESS TO CLINICAL PROGRAMS FOR VETERANS
PARTICIPATING IN STATE-APPROVED MARIJUANA PROGRAMS

They will not provide it or pay for it.

(2) If a Veteran presents an authorization for marijuana to a VA provider or pharmacist, VA will not provide marijuana nor will it pay for it to be provided by a non-VA entity.

One more thing, don't bring it with you on VA property.
NOTE:
Possession of marijuana, even for authorized medical reasons, by Veterans while on VA property is in violation of VA regulation 1.218(a)(7) and places them at risk for prosecution under the Controlled Substances Act.

2 comments:

  1. This report [below] does a very good job of explaining the
    method by which we have established VA medical
    marijuana policy.

    It is titled:

    Legal and Clinical Evolution of Veterans Health Administration
    Policy on Medical Marijuana --
    By Cynthia M.A. Geppert, MD, MA, PhD, MPH, MSBE

    http://www.amc.edu/Academic/bioethics/documents/Geppert_Publication.pdf

    Also from earlier this year, something we are just now beginning to get the word
    to on, is new medical marijuana guidance [handbook below] working it's way
    through the VA system. This new policy is based upon
    informed consent and replaces the old pain contract system. We
    worked very hard to get this small recognition of cannabis
    as medicine. This new policy is put forth by the VA's Ethics Committee
    together with the VA Pain directorate with input from FDA, ONDCP
    and Veterans advocates including me.

    Here is the link to this new VA handbook.

    http://www.ethics.va.gov/docs/policy/Taking_Opioids_Responsibly_for_Your_Safety_and_Safety_of_Others.pdf

    Questions?

    ReplyDelete
  2. Thank you very much for this. I am sure it will help clear things up for a lot of veterans.

    ReplyDelete

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