Groundbreaking Bill to Allow Veterans Access to Medical Marijuana

On May 21, 2015, a historic vote passed, allowing veterans access to medical marijuana. The Veterans Equal Access Amendment, which succeeded with a vote of 18 to 12 by the Senate Appropriations Committee, is the first positive legislation regarding access to marijuana granted by the U.S. Senate.

States that have passed medical marijuana rights will be allowed to utilize this ruling. Veteran Administration (VA) doctors now will be able to recommend medical marijuana. The Veterans Equal Access Amendment was sponsored by Senator Steve Daines (Rep) and Senator Jeff Merkley (Dem).

Medical Marijuana has shown to treat multiple conditions faced by veterans. Depression, PTSD, anxiety, and chronic pain are a few diseases for which veterans have sought access to medical marijuana. It is estimated that every 22 minutes, a veteran takes their own life.(Source) A study published in 2014 concluded that PTSD patients who used marijuana showed a 75% reduction in symptoms.(Source) Veterans see this as a positive step in restoring first amendment rights.(Source)

Source:

http://www.drugpolicy.org/news/2015/05/historic-vote-senate-appropriations-committee-approves-veterans-medical-marijuana-amend

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24830188

Sue Sisley

Suzanne “Sue” Sisley is at the forefront of medical marijuana research. In December 2014 Dr Sisley received a 2 million dollar grant from the Colorado Board of Health to study medical marijuana treatment for veterans with PTSD. Colorado approved $7.6 million in studies for medical marijuana becoming the largest amount granted for cannabis research from any state.

Colorado legislature created the Medical Marijuana Scientific Advisory Council to establish funds for research. This fund reserves money from marijuana sales for researching the effectiveness of marijuana for medical treatment.

Sue Sisley was previously a psychology professor at the University of Arizona. Sisley explained her study: "This is a triple-blind randomized control trial, where we're looking at 80 veterans with treatment-resistant PTSD, which means they have to have failed at least drug therapy or psychotherapy, or both."

Sue Sisley says her first problem for doing this research is procuring cannabidiol rich marijuana. Frustration from regulation has made this hard with cannabis for research only available from the University of Mississippi. Marijuana at this federally funded location does not match the high quality of medication found at local dispensaries.

Sue Sisley is dedicated to finding the benefits of medical marijuana. She states that the approval by the FDA of marijuana as medicine will allow insurance companies to pay for marijuana medications. Sisley goes on to say that grants funded by the government allows for the most unbiased research to show the benefits and risks.

Source:

http://www.dailycamera.com/marijuana/ci_27158147/researcher-sue-sisley-gets-2m-from-state-study-pots

http://www.thecannabist.co/2014/12/29/sue-sisley-op-ed/26029/

The Benefits of Cannabis and Phantom Limb Pain

Phantom Limb

Phantom Limb is the sensation of a limb that has been amputated. Nerve endings from the area of the amputation send signals to the brain. This can result in pain that is sharp or throbbing. Cannabis is unique in treating the perception of pain. (Source)

Phantom Limb Syndrome is a result of neuropathic pain. Cannabis has been shown to be a neuroprotectant and reduce nerve pain.(Source) Most phantom limb pain subsides six months after the amputation. Pain that prolongs can be more difficult to treat. Brain perception of pain has been shown to be improved with the use of cannabis.(Source)

Their is lack of substantial research to support treatment of phantom limb pain with marijuana. Research shows a variety of patient responses to different therapies. Veterans that self medicate with cannabis have been the leading advocates of the benefits of cannabis for phantom limb.

Source:

http://www.webmd.com/pain-management/guide/phantom-limb-pain

http://www.iom.edu/Reports/2011/Relieving-Pain-in-America-A-Blueprint-for-Transforming-Prevention-Care-Education-Research.aspx

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23237736

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2430692/

http://www.researchgate.net/profile/Catherine_Mercier/publication/23951085_Training_with_virtual_visual_feedback_to_alleviate_phantom_limb_pain/links/0912f50f7fc6372406000000.pdf

Testimonial - Thought I would Never Try Marijuana

Medical Marijuana Testimonial	After spending 24 years in the military I never thought I would ever use marijuana. I even voted against it. After being prescribed various medications for a number of my conditions I didn't see any improvements.I did research on all my medications and the side effects were disturbing. Read about medical marijuana, tried it and I am glad I did. It truly helps me.
Strains you Like	green crack, blue dream, fruit loops, mango kush, cotton candy, sour diesel, girl scout cookies
Conditions	Arthritis Gastrointestinal Migraine
Symptoms	Inflammation Muscle Spasms Pain: MuscleJoint Pain: Neuropathic Pain: Phantom Limb

Marijuana Treatment for Veterans

PTSD and the Military

   San Diego has one of the largest military veteran populations in the United States with a total of 265,000 veterans .(Source)    OUTCO  dispenses medical marijuana to the community of San Diego, and many of our patients are veterans suffering from a variety of medical conditions. Conditions experienced by military personnel include: traumatic brain injury,  chronic pain, insomnia, anxiety, depression and  PTSD.
 
      Medical marijuana has been shown through studies to support patients with all of these conditions.   Veterans with a medical marijuana prescription report that cannabis has fewer side effects to their treatment than other prescribed medicine.(Source) This is an excellent option for veterans. Unfortunately, the US military has a zero tolerance for marijuana use for active military, which has existed since the Reagan administration.(Source)

       Psychiatry.org has reported the need for better treatment than what is currently available to military veterans, stating :

• In 2012 there were more military suicides than death from combat
• Military suicides are at their highest rate in the last 10 years
• 8-20% of military doing tours in Iraq or Afghanistan suffer from a traumatic brain injury
• Traumatic brain injuries increase suicidal thoughts
• 20% of all suicides in the United States are from military veterans
• 300,000 veterans from the Iraq and Afghanistan wars have been diagnosed with PTSD
(Source)

Veterans and PTSD
       Increase in Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) has recently been in the forefront of news about veterans.   PTSD results in suicide making discussion for treatments a hot topic. Studies have shown that on average 11-20% of Operation Iraqi and Enduring Freedom veterans, 10% of Desert Storm veterans and 30% of Vietnam veterans suffer from PTSD.(Source)

Veterans and Suicide
     Statistics have shown a 20% increase in veteran suicide since 2007. Experts believe this is due to the increase in the use of the prescription drug Lorazepam.   This drug has been prescribed to treat depression, anxiety and insomnia with a dangerous side-effect of feelings of suicide.   Other veterans self-medicate with alcohol and prescribed medications that can lead to suicidal thoughts.(Source) Traumatic brain injury, which has been prevalent in the wars of Iraq and Afghanistan, often results in an increase of these thoughts of suicide.(Source)

Research that Show the Benefit of Cannabis for Veterans
     Research has concluded that cannabis can treat many of the conditions from which these veterans suffer.   Use of marijuana increases a cannabinoid named 2-AG.   This in turn helps to reduce swelling and toxic chemicals released during a brain injury.(Source) In 2010, a Canadian study found that smoking 3 puffs of marijuana a day relieves pain and insomnia.(Source) In 1986, it was found that cannabis affects the benzoiazepine receptors of the brain thus reducing anxiety.(Source) Research conducted at McGill University showed low doses of THC helped to relieve depression.(Source) These conditions are closely related to  PTSD  thus offering relief with marijuana in the way it effects the  CB1 and CB2 receptors of the brain.(Source)



Source:
http://www.ptsd.va.gov/public/PTSD-overview/basics/how-common-is-ptsd.asp
http://www.royalqueenseeds.com/blog-how-medical-marijuana-saves-the-lives-of-many-war-veterans--n67?utm_content=buffer68a3d&utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter.com&utm_campaign=buffer
http://www.vancnorthcounty.org/
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2950205/
http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2014/nov/6/marijuana-presents-dilemma-for-military-as-more-st/?page=all
http://psychiatry.org/mentalhealth
http://www.cbsnews.com/news/traumatic-brain-injury-may-increase-suicide-risk-for-military-personnel/
http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/000632238690003X
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/10/071023183937.htm
http://abcnews.go.com/Health/story?id=117202

Zero Tolerance for Marijuana in the Military

Veterans Equal Access Act Released Dec 3, 2014

   The U.S. Military holds a zero tolerance for marijuana use. Federal laws govern the military on cannabis use. New policies and studies from the federal government show promise of a policy shift to allowing medical-marijuana for military veterans.

   Marijuana possession is a crime under the Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ). Military personnel can be penalized with a court martial. The zero tolerance also includes military families on base. Possession can result in eviction of housing or loss of job on the base.(Source)

   There are 23 states that have legalized medical-marijuana. Military personnel in these states still have to adhere by the federal and UCMJ laws. Seventy-five percent of the soldiers were drug tested at Joint Base Lewis-McChord in Washington in 2013. Of the 30,836 soldiers tested, 250 tested positive. This is down from 2012 which had 315 testing positive. At Fort Carson in Colorado they tested all 26,000 soldiers having 254 test positive for marijuana in 2013.

   “The results of our continued drug testing demonstrate the commitment soldiers have to the Army profession, regardless of a state’s legalization of marijuana,” Army Spokesman Lt. Col. Benjamin Garrett commented on the zero tolerance for marijuana. “With 98 percent of the Army population testing negative for illicit drugs, soldiers demonstrate their ability to take responsibility for themselves, reinforcing the fact that our drug testing program is working.” (Source)

Signs of Change for the Zero Tolerance

   The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs in 2010 stated that veterans may use medical-marijuana in states where it is legal. Under federal law it remained illegal for VA doctors to recommend cannabis as treatment. Veterans wanting medical-marijuana would need to obtain the prescription from a civilian doctor. This statement allowed veterans to not fear losing benefits if they used marijuana.(Source)

   The U.S. Government in March 2014 approved to study for marijuana treatment for veterans with PTSD. The study will have 50 veterans with PTSD use different amounts of marijuana in a vapor or smoked form. This study may show a shift in federal policy with regards to marijuana and the use in the military.(Source)

   On December 3^rd, 2014 the Veterans Equal Access Act was released. It would allow VA doctors to prescribe medical marijuana for veterans.(Source) This comes at a crucial time for veterans when many suffer from PTSD and other conditions. Currently Arizona, Connecticut, Maine and New Mexico recognize cannabis as a treatment for PTSD.(Source) The VA working at a federal level may help open the doors for many other states to qualify PTSD as a condition that medical-marijuana can treat.

Source:

http://hemp.org/news/node/4293

http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2014/nov/6/marijuana-presents-dilemma-for-military-as-more-st/

http://www.cbsnews.com/news/government-approves-marijuana-study-for-treating-ptsd-in-veterans/

http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/news/military/story/2012-06-05/military-veterans-medical-marijuana/55395138/1

http://www.leafly.com/knowledge-center/medical-resources/qualifying-conditions-for-medical-marijuana-by-state

http://www.columbiatribune.com/news/new-bill-would-allow-the-va-to-recommend-medical-marijuana/article_6ce3f13f-28d7-5084-8ebf-7c9d70a74fa9.html