LETTER OF THE WEEK
ALLOW POT FOR PTSD
The Veterans Affairs Department recently adopted a policy prohibiting its physicians from recommending medical marijuana to their patients.
Overwhelming scientific evidence has already proved marijuana’s safety and efficacy for treating conditions like chronic pain and post-traumatic stress disorder, a condition that afflicts nearly one in five Iraq and Afghanistan veterans. Marijuana, moreover, carries none of the risks associated with prescription drugs used to treat PTSD, which have been responsible for the tragic overdose deaths of current conflict veterans.
VA claims the ban is primarily a response to threats from the Drug Enforcement Administration to prosecute VA doctors who recommend medical marijuana, even though civilian doctors who recommend marijuana to their patients are not subject to arrest.
Veterans and advocates are urging VA to stand up to the DEA’s harassment of veterans and their doctors.
Former Sen. Bob Kerrey, President, The New School
Jason Flom, Board of Directors, Drug Policy Alliance, New York City
Source: Federal Times
Pubdate: Mon, 31 May 2010