Treating PTSD: Expansion of medical marijuana to get hearing
SALEM, Ore. (AP) — When the Legislature convenes next week, a Senate committee will hear public testimony on a proposal to allow people with post-traumatic stress disorder to get medical marijuana cards.
Proponents say the drug could help veterans with PTSD manage their symptoms. They say some people with PTSD already have medical marijuana cards due to other medical conditions.
Oregon law allows people with specific medical conditions to apply for a medical marijuana card, including Alzheimer's, cancer, glaucoma and AIDS. The bill would add PTSD to the list of conditions that qualify.
Critics of the medical marijuana program have long fought expansions to the list.
Republican state Sen. Brian Boquist introduced the bill on behalf of a constituent but said he didn't have an opinion of the measure one way or the other. His constituent, Todd Dalotto of Philomath, said he sought the measure after state public health officials twice rejected requests to include PTSD in the medical marijuana program. Dalotto is a member of the Advisory Committee on Medical Marijuana, a panel created by the Legislature to advise state officials.
"The lack of recognition of PTSD as a qualifying condition...has been one of our top complaints about how patients are underserved," Dalotto said.
Michael Krawitz, director of a Virginia-based group called Veterans for Medical Cannabis Access, said marijuana can help people suffering from PTSD find balance in their lives. Military suicides reached a record 349 last year.
"It's not like we have a silver bullet in the medicine cabinet," Krawitz said. "They're struggling to treat these people."
The Senate Health Care and Human Services committee is scheduled to hold a public hearing on the measure Feb. 7 in Salem.
Copyright 2013 The Associated Press.
I'm a self-retired 12 year street medic who suffers from alcoholism. Â Would love to see this kind of thing happen. Â Peace and Light.
I've been waiting for this to happen. After spending several years in Iraq I suffer from a TBI and PTSD. The ability to get this safely would be nice. It does help.
I'm a 3 tour vet that qualifies for disability pay due to PTSD, but yet the best thing they can come up with for me is a zany bar a day and 30mg of valium. WTF... REALLY... I'm dealing with enough crap as it is, let alone dealing with the side effects of pharmaceuticals! I know there are many others out there like myself that can't even sleep for more than an occasional hour or two here and there without the help of medicinal marijuana. There's just one big problem... We don't qualify for it, but yet the most undeserving of people can surely get theres... That's effed up! I surely do hope the "legislature" can help those of us that truly could benefit from this being passed.
I've struggled with my opinions concerning marijuana, but I do believe it should be available to veterans (or anyone who is) struggling with PTSD. Even I can see where this could help. So, like @tweekingnomore , *fingers crossed*.
See I've been waiting for them to do this I have PTSD from 2years in Iraq ..Desert Storm and had to use my carpel
tunnel syndrome to get my card . but the medication helps my PTSD symptoms ten fold I don't feel like the wheels on the buss are going to fall off as much. so hell yeah please put P.T.S.D. on the list so other Vets can get some help.Â
fingers crossed!!!