VA Says Pick Pot or Pain Meds, Not Both

Vietnam vet with cancer denied pain medication after testing positive for marijuana
By WSAV Staff
Published: September 9, 2015

Dixon is the latest in the growing number of veterans caught in a change nationwide within the VA.

They have to sign an ‘opiate consent’ form which outlines the negative effect of mixing pain killers and marijuana is now required.

Under the new VA guidelines, vets can get their prescriptions filled, or use marijuana, but can’t do both.

TOPEKA (KSNT) — A nationwide argument between the veterans’ administration and groups which represent the rights of veterans emerged in Topeka Tuesday.

That issue is whether veterans should be denied prescription medications because they use marijuana for physical or emotional pain even in states which allow medical marijuana use.

We found out about it when a Vietnam veteran contacted KSNT News.

“I went in to get a refill on my pain medication and they refused to let me have it, because I have marijuana in my blood,” Gary Dixon, Vietnam veteran.

Gary Dixon is a 65-year-old disabled Vietnam veteran. While in Vietnam he was exposed to Agent Orange.

“I hurt, and I hurt from something I got fighting for my country,” says Dixon.

Now he’s got stage four lung cancer, doesn’t have much time left to live and readily admits to smoking marijuana.
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