Medical Marijuana to be OKed in some VA clinics - The Firearms Forum

199er · 07-24-2010, 06:13 PM

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Wether a good or bad idea this has the potential to "up" the number of participants in the VAs Substance Abuse Training Program (SATP).

Medical marijuana to be OK in some VA clinics
Published - Jul 24 2010 04:13PM EST

By HOPE YEN - Associated Press Writer

The directive from the Veterans Affairs Department in the coming week is intended to clarify current policy that says veterans can be denied pain medication if they use illegal drugs. Veterans groups have complained for years that this could bar veterans from VA benefits if they were caught using medical marijuana.

The new guidance does not authorize VA doctors to begin prescribing medical marijuana, which is considered an illegal drug under federal law. But it will now make clear that in the 14 states where state and federal law are in conflict, VA clinics generally will allow the use of medical marijuana for veterans already taking it under other clinicians.

"For years, there have been veterans coming back from the Iraq war who needed medical marijuana and had to decide whether they were willing to cut down on their VA medications," John Targowski, a legal adviser to the group Veterans for Medical Marijuana Access, which worked with the VA on the issue.

Targowski in an interview Saturday said that confusion over the government's policy might have led some veterans to distrust their doctors or avoid the VA system.

Dr. Robert A. Petzel, the VA's undersecretary for health, sent a letter to Veterans for Medical Marijuana Access this month that spells out the department's policy. The guidelines will be distributed to the VA's 900 care facilities around the country in the next week.

Petzel makes clear that a VA doctor could reserve the right to modify a veteran's treatment plan if there were risks of a bad interaction with other drugs.

"If a veteran obtains and uses medical marijuana in a manner consistent with state law, testing positive for marijuana would not preclude the veteran from receiving opioids for pain management" in a VA facility, Petzel wrote. "The discretion to prescribe, or not prescribe, opioids in conjunction with medical marijuana, should be determined on clinical grounds."

Opioids are narcotic painkillers, and include morphine, oxycodone and methadone.

Under the previous policy, local VA clinics in some of the 14 states, such as Michigan, had opted to allow the use of medical marijuana because there no rule explicitly prohibiting them from doing so.

According to the National Conference of State Legislatures, there are 14 states and the District of Columbia with medical marijuana laws. They are: Alaska, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Maine, Maryland, Michigan, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont and Washington. New Jersey also recently passed a medical marijuana law, which is scheduled to be implemented next January.

___

Online:

Department of Veterans Affairs: http://www.va.gov/

Veterans for Medical Marijuana Access: http://www.veteransformedicalmarijuana.org/

mike howerton · 07-24-2010, 07:16 PM

i have no problem with that

rooter · 07-25-2010, 02:21 PM

I'm not sure, even though close family members have used it, and continue using it under guidelines set up by California law. During the early 1990's, our son John used it illegally....he always had a 'stash' and could, and did, replenish it at will...Along toward the end of his life (terminal AIDS) he was not only on medical pain killers, but smoked the marijuana...Currently, a grandson who lives in Southern California, uses a medical prescription for it's use for a crippled up back (so he claims). He is permitted to cultivate a crop for his own use (I think 5 plants)...I've never tried it, nor do I intend doing so. Actually I couldn't even tolerate booze...it's been more that 40 years since I tasted a beer....only minutes for coffee, however....my wife is a Mormon lady of many years so coffee is disgusting to her....I tease her if she brews a pot for me, to put on her surgical mask and gloves...It's not a look of love!!!! ONE OF THESE DAYS!!!! Remember when Jackie Gleason used to say that?
Chief

red14 · 07-25-2010, 02:39 PM

"To da Moon, Alice!" BAM!

07-24-2010, 06:13 PM	#1
199er Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Columbia SC Posts: 627	Medical Marijuana to be OKed in some VA clinics Wether a good or bad idea this has the potential to "up" the number of participants in the VAs Substance Abuse Training Program (SATP). Medical marijuana to be OK in some VA clinics Published - Jul 24 2010 04:13PM EST By HOPE YEN - Associated Press Writer The directive from the Veterans Affairs Department in the coming week is intended to clarify current policy that says veterans can be denied pain medication if they use illegal drugs. Veterans groups have complained for years that this could bar veterans from VA benefits if they were caught using medical marijuana. The new guidance does not authorize VA doctors to begin prescribing medical marijuana, which is considered an illegal drug under federal law. But it will now make clear that in the 14 states where state and federal law are in conflict, VA clinics generally will allow the use of medical marijuana for veterans already taking it under other clinicians. "For years, there have been veterans coming back from the Iraq war who needed medical marijuana and had to decide whether they were willing to cut down on their VA medications," John Targowski, a legal adviser to the group Veterans for Medical Marijuana Access, which worked with the VA on the issue. Targowski in an interview Saturday said that confusion over the government's policy might have led some veterans to distrust their doctors or avoid the VA system. Dr. Robert A. Petzel, the VA's undersecretary for health, sent a letter to Veterans for Medical Marijuana Access this month that spells out the department's policy. The guidelines will be distributed to the VA's 900 care facilities around the country in the next week. Petzel makes clear that a VA doctor could reserve the right to modify a veteran's treatment plan if there were risks of a bad interaction with other drugs. "If a veteran obtains and uses medical marijuana in a manner consistent with state law, testing positive for marijuana would not preclude the veteran from receiving opioids for pain management" in a VA facility, Petzel wrote. "The discretion to prescribe, or not prescribe, opioids in conjunction with medical marijuana, should be determined on clinical grounds." Opioids are narcotic painkillers, and include morphine, oxycodone and methadone. Under the previous policy, local VA clinics in some of the 14 states, such as Michigan, had opted to allow the use of medical marijuana because there no rule explicitly prohibiting them from doing so. According to the National Conference of State Legislatures, there are 14 states and the District of Columbia with medical marijuana laws. They are: Alaska, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Maine, Maryland, Michigan, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont and Washington. New Jersey also recently passed a medical marijuana law, which is scheduled to be implemented next January. ___ Online: Department of Veterans Affairs: http://www.va.gov/ Veterans for Medical Marijuana Access: http://www.veteransformedicalmarijuana.org/ -->

07-24-2010, 07:16 PM	#2
mike howerton Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Posts: 7	Re: Medical Marijuana to be OKed in some VA clinics i have no problem with that

07-25-2010, 02:21 PM	#3
rooter VMBB Senior Chief Of Staff Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Marty Robbins old hometown, Glendale Arizona--a suburb of Phoenix. Contributor Posts: 9,274	Re: Medical Marijuana to be OKed in some VA clinics I'm not sure, even though close family members have used it, and continue using it under guidelines set up by California law. During the early 1990's, our son John used it illegally....he always had a 'stash' and could, and did, replenish it at will...Along toward the end of his life (terminal AIDS) he was not only on medical pain killers, but smoked the marijuana...Currently, a grandson who lives in Southern California, uses a medical prescription for it's use for a crippled up back (so he claims). He is permitted to cultivate a crop for his own use (I think 5 plants)...I've never tried it, nor do I intend doing so. Actually I couldn't even tolerate booze...it's been more that 40 years since I tasted a beer....only minutes for coffee, however....my wife is a Mormon lady of many years so coffee is disgusting to her....I tease her if she brews a pot for me, to put on her surgical mask and gloves...It's not a look of love!!!! ONE OF THESE DAYS!!!! Remember when Jackie Gleason used to say that? Chief __________________

07-25-2010, 02:39 PM	#4
red14 Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: N FLA Posts: 3,915	Re: Medical Marijuana to be OKed in some VA clinics "To da Moon, Alice!" BAM! __________________ I never argue, I state my opinion, and support my position.