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Gaetz, Democratic Ally Back Veterans’ Marijuana Bills
November 15, 2018
U.S. Rep. Matt Gaetz and a Massachusetts Democrat on Wednesday introduced a package of legislation to change the Department of Veterans Affairs’ medical marijuana practices in an attempt to make cannabis a more realistic treatment option for veterans.
Gaetz, a Northwest Florida Republican, joined with U.S. Rep. Seth Moulton, D-Mass., to prepare three bills that seek to learn more about how veterans use cannabis, to prepare better medical-marijuana education for providers and to protect the benefits of veterans who use marijuana.
“Our veterans are seeking alternative options to opioids and we should be supporting their desires not to be addicted to painkillers. Let’s not kid ourselves, people are using marijuana — including our veterans,” Moulton said in a statement. “We have an obligation to regulate it and make it as safe as possible. We also have an obligation to make sure our veterans are getting the best health care in the world. We have a long road ahead of us until medicinal cannabis is fully researched and legal, but we can take a few steps now to start figuring that out.”
A 2011 study conducted by the Department of Veterans Affairs found that Veterans Health Administration patients were nearly twice as likely as the general population to die of an accidental opioid overdose, and recent survey data from the American Legion shows that veterans and their caregivers are interested in having medical marijuana as a treatment option.
One bill, according to Moulton’s office, would amend and codify an existing VA policy to protect a veterans’ benefits if they discuss their medical use of marijuana with providers. Moulton’s office said “not all health care providers respond in a standard way and veterans still fear and experience repercussions of some kind.”
“Medical cannabis has tremendous potential for veterans. It can reduce chronic pain, without the harmful side effects of opioids, and some early reports indicate that it may even have potential as a treatment for PTSD,” Gaetz said in a statement. “Unfortunately, many veterans fear discussing medical cannabis with their doctors, for fear that their benefits will be jeopardized.”
The second bill directs the VA to conduct a nationwide survey of all veterans and VA health care providers to learn more about how veterans are using marijuana.
The American Legion reported last year that 22 percent of veterans are using marijuana to treat a medical condition, and 83 percent of veteran households surveyed indicated that they think the federal government should legalize medical cannabis and 82 percent said they want to have medical cannabis as a federally-legal treatment option.
In 2016, the American Legion resolved to “urge the Drug Enforcement Agency to license privately funded medical-marijuana production operations in the United States to enable safe and efficient cannabis drug development research,” and to “urge Congress to amend legislation to remove marijuana from schedule I and reclassify it in a category that, at a minimum, will recognize cannabis as a drug with potential medical value.”
The third bill Moulton and Gaetz rolled out Wednesday would instruct the VA to partner with colleges or universities that “have incorporated medical cannabis education into their curriculum” to develop continuing education programs for VA health care providers.
Moulton’s office said the bundle of three bills has been endorsed by the Drug Policy Alliance, National Cannabis Industry Association and the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws.
by Colin A. Young, State House News Service
NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Comments
18 Responses to “Gaetz, Democratic Ally Back Veterans’ Marijuana Bills”
The citation is followed by:
There have been some early clinical trials of cannabinoids in treating cancer in humans and more studies are planned. While the studies so far have shown that cannabinoids can be safe in treating cancer, they do not show that they help control or cure the disease.
Relying on marijuana alone as treatment while avoiding or delaying conventional medical care for cancer may have serious health consequences.
Possible harms of marijuana
Marijuana can also pose some harms to users. While the most common effect of marijuana is a feeling of euphoria (“high”), it also can lower the user’s control over movement, cause disorientation, and sometimes cause unpleasant thoughts or feelings of anxiety and paranoia.
Smoked marijuana delivers THC and other cannabinoids to the body, but it also delivers harmful substances to users and those close by, including many of the same substances found in tobacco smoke.
https://www.cancer.org/treatment/treatments-and-side-effects/complementary-and-alternative-medicine/marijuana-and-cancer.html
So you pick one paragraph saying that it might possibly have some potential and ignore all the rest pointing to the known problems. Pay special attention to the part about paranoia. I have no problem with you using it to your heart’s content as long as you don’t hurt others, but there is no reason to not tell the whole story.
David for Paul Harvey
https://www.monticello.org/site/jefferson/some-my-finest-hours-have-been-spent-my-back-veranda-smoking-hemp-spurious-quotation
Those who want to believe will believe anything:
Quotation: “Some of my finest hours have been spent on my back veranda, smoking hemp and observing as far as my eye can see.”
Variations: None known.
Sources consulted: (searching on “hemp” and “smoking”)
Papers of Thomas Jefferson Digital Edition
Thomas Jefferson Retirement Papers
Ford Edition
Lipscomb-Bergh Edition (via Google Books)
Status: This statement has not been found in any of the writings of Thomas Jefferson. It appears to be of extremely recent vintage (first noticed online in 2008), and only made its way into print sources as of 2013.1
REGARDING:
“types of cancer cells growing in lab dishes. Some animal studies also suggest certain cannabinoids may slow growth and reduce spread of some forms of cancer.”
Consider the words “types,” “some,” “suggest,” “may.”
Then explain how, “Probably useful to some, comfort to some, not a cure for all, kills some quicker,” is wrong.
Many potheads want to blame Hearst for his opposition to marijuana even though he died in 1951 and strongest opposition to it came up in Nixon’s time. Paranoia — a sometimes side effect.
David for sanity
@David Huie Green & only—-You are the product of the propaganda given to the people by the likes of William Randolph Hearst. Who almost single handedly convinced the government to take up his cause to demonize marijuana. Why ? We’ll, because he owned pine plantations and paper Mills of course. At a time when hemp was being realized as easier, cheaper, faster (amoung other things) to grow to make paper. The illegality had nothing to do with the effects of smoking it. As Thomas Jefferson said, “Some of my finest moments we’re on my veranda smoking hemp”. Carry on the lie though.
@David Huie Green–Well now, infact, your wrong. ACS says:
More recently, scientists reported that THC and other cannabinoids such as CBD slow growth and/or cause death in certain types of cancer cells growing in lab dishes. Some animal studies also suggest certain cannabinoids may slow growth and reduce spread of some forms of cancer.
https://www.cancer.org/treatment/treatments-and-side-effects/complementary-and-alternative-medicine/marijuana-and-cancer.html
tabby, sounds like we need to throw away all meds and just smoke dope and we will never be sick and will live forever. what a miracle drug. also man causes global warming and the tooth fairy is real.
In fact, contemplating:
“Makes paper,” as any plant can
“biodegradable plastic” as most plants have resins which can be turned to plastics
“fuel” , which is to say it can be burned
“solvents”, ? Marijuana dissolves things?
lubricants”, which is to say it can produce oils
“industrial and consumer textiles”, as any fiber can
“building materials”, fiberboard for example, as any plant can
“It could end deforestation”, if people stopped using trees — of course, most trees affected are planted for use
“dependence on oil, gas, and coal.” As can wind, solar, nuclear
“It can be grown almost anywhere.” Because plants grow most places
These are just excuses, not wrong for the most part but not really the cure-all implied. Just let the pot-heads toke up as long as they don’t hurt others but don’t expect them to power your car or cure all ills.
David for smokeless cars
CONTEMPLATING:
“PROVEN to stop cancer growth,”
If it stopped all cancer growth, no one would ever die of cancer who used marijuana. In fact, though, “exposure to Δ-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (Δ9-THC), the major psychoactive component in marijuana, can lead to enhanced growth of tumors.”
http://www.jimmunol.org/content/174/6/3281.short
Probably useful to some, comfort to some, not a cure for all, kills some quicker.
David for truth
“We have an obligation to regulate it and make it as safe as possible.” What a joke. PROVEN to stop cancer growth, reduces neurological impairment, relaxes muscles (anti-spasmotic), prevents migraines, treats glaucoma, treats ADD/ADHD, reduces IBS/Crohn’s disease, cures epilepsy, prevents Alzheimer’s, treats PMS, anti-psychotic. Makes paper, biodegradable plastic, fuel, solvents, lubricants, industrial and consumer textiles, and building materials. It could end deforestation, dependence on oil, gas, and coal. It can be grown almost anywhere. If you only knew why its illegal.
How does the use of marijuana, and also, a diagnosis of PTSD balance against the laws governing your 2nd Amendment?
So how many millions will Gaetz make on this deal?
Thomas, no hate here, I agree with you. Nod, same here, I like Gaetz, but this one I disagree with.
I am 100% disabled vet. I have never done drugs and I will not let the VA turn me into a doper. if I had known Gaetz was a doper I would never voted for him. I know that I am in the minority on this subject now days, but I do not need a cruch..
I know I am going to be hated for this comment , this is such a mistake and is opening the door for recreational use . That is why I did not vote for Matt he is backed by big money industry for canabiss. The medical field offers a pill called marinol which is used for people with cancer under going treatment, it does the same thing as pot . When you smoke it how can that be good, really breathing in smoke that has really got to be great for your lungs. In a pill form you can control the dosage amount also instead of just getting stoned legally. I know I am old school and do not think it should be legal and I am not hating against Vets my dad is a retired Navy Master Diver who did 3 tours in Vietnam so nothing against Vets either .
Thumbs up! I just wish that instead of veteran specific pot legislation, an across the board bill would eliminate the schedule 1 classification and allow these helpful drugs in hospital pharmacies. As it stands now, no state in America allows prescriptions for medical pot to be issued by hospitals…….all hospitals, not just veteran. Currently, states are setting up separate distribution for approved medical pot, but no insurance accepted, no credit cards, and no acceptance in pharmacies as a schedule 1 drug. Why is the opioid epidemic relevant only among veterans?
it can’t be legalized until the gov figures out how to make money off of it.
I am so excited that this is being discussed. I am a veteran that falls into this category. I am 53, used to be anti weed (Drugs are bad, D.A.R.E.) and I used alchahol as a treatment. A friend introduced me to weed about 2 years ago, and it has made a difference!!! But I am fearful, as other veterans are!
Our vets deserve so, so much.