Tuesday, July 21st, 2009 at 9:09 am | By: Radical Russ
Demonstrators and Protestors Needed Today @ 10:00am.
Medical Marijuana patient with AIDS is being kicked out of Spokane Veterans Home because he needs Medical Marijuana
Spokane, WA – Media Release: 07-20-09
http://www.dva.wa.gov/washington_state_veterans_homes.html
“The Washington State Department of Veterans Affairs manages three facilities throughout the state, where veterans are treated with the dignity and respect they deserve, in distinctive settings that all provide a sense of belonging unique to veterans.”
Don Varney an HIV AIDS patient is being kicked out of Spokane Veterans Home 2 weeks ahead of schedule of his physical therapy from a total hip replacement due to the fact that he has a legal Medical Marijuana recommendation in the state of Washington.
Doctors on the coast that did the surgery were insisting that Don go to the Spokane Veterans Home in Spokane because of the 2 large security dogs he had in his home, in fear that the dogs might jump on him and damage the surgery that was done for a total left hip replacement.
Had the Spokane Veterans Home known ahead of time that he had a legal Medical Marijuana Recommendation they would never have allowed him to be admitted to the Spokane Veterans Home… This statement was made by the director of Spokane Veterans Home to Don Varney and John Gervais Sr., a good friend of Don’s and fellow patient, while in a meeting to figure out how Don Varney could administer his medications while he being admitted to the Spokane Veterans Home.
On top of all this the director forced Don Varney to go off the property into the general public to medicate against state law to keep his Medical Marijuana private, even though he had previously allowed Don to have Medical Marijuana on his person while in the Spokane Veterans Home. Don was forced into the general public to administer his state recognized Medical Marijuana off of VA property. “Go out to the sidewalk. Do your medication there and then return with your medication and pipe in your pocket.” These were the director’s words.
Don Varney’s weight loss is proof of the effects of not taking or being able to take his Medical Marijuana. Don has lost 4 pounds in the week since he has been denied his legal right to use his Medical Marijuana which helps him be able to have an appetite to eat. Medical Marijuana has shown to promote weight gain and prolong the life of HIV and AIDS patients.
The outcome we want is very simple. We want the VA and all private and public hospitals to recognize the patient’s right to exercise their right to use their legal Medical Marijuana within the guidelines of the Washington State RCW69.51a.
Protesters are congregating in front of the Spokane Veterans Home on Tuesday, July 21, 2009 at 10am. A portion of the state VFW and many Veterans have been contacted for support of this issue. Verification can be run through John Gervais Sr. at 509-981-2388. For additional information please contact Melissa Leggee, Owner of CBR Medical, Inc at 509-570-2886.
Sincerely,
Melissa Leggee
President
Kevin Oliver, Executive Director
Inland Northwest NORML www.innorml.org
kevin@innorml.org
1-866-706-2013
“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed people can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.” -Margaret Mead
Gabriel Perez director of Lutz Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Saginaw Michigan recently wrote a letter to the editor of The Saginaw News to explain the VA policy regarding Medical Marijuana and Pain Management.
Editor, The News:
As a clarification to the article on medical marijuana in the VA, it is important for veteran patients and visitors of the VA medical center in Saginaw and community based outpatient clinics in Alpena, Clare, Gaylord, Oscoda and Traverse City to understand how the new law regarding the use of medical marijuana will be handled by VA medical center police and practitioners.
The legalization of medical marijuana in Michigan is acknowledged. However, pursuant to federal law, VA physicians, nurse practitioners and other licensed clinicians are not authorized or permitted to participate in the recommendation for treatment of or prescribing medical marijuana to a VA patient that would otherwise be legal in Michigan. Furthermore, the VA will not dispense, prescribe or store medical marijuana, and its possession on VA property remains illegal and a criminal offense.
However, it is acknowledged that testing positive for marijuana in a patient, based upon a random drug screening, will not serve as a breach of the current pain management agreement if the patient submits documentation in support of the marijuana being prescribed and dispensed in conformity with Michigan law.
The above withstanding, veteran patients and visitors who are registered users of medical marijuana must follow all laws and regulations for the possession and use of the medical marijuana and shall not bring medical marijuana on the grounds of the VA medical center. Possession on federal grounds remains illegal and may subject the possessor to appropriate criminal charges.
Our priority to provide quality health care to veterans remains steadfast. A veteran’s care and the right to pain management continue to be very important in enhancing the veteran’s health care outcomes.
Veterans with questions or concerns regarding their participation with medical marijuana may be directed to their primary care provider.
Gabriel Perez
director
Lutz Veterans Affairs Medical Center
Saginaw
I’m glad that Mr. Perez took the time to recognize that medical marijuana was not only legal in Michigan but that by using it, a veteran would not jeopardize his access to the other treatments that they need. This common sense approach is far better than the “deny and die” policy of such prestigious hospitals like Seattle’s Harborview Medical Center and The UCLA Medical Center who denied the transplant of a liver for Timothy Garon just because of his legitimate and legal use of marijuana.
Thursday, May 14th, 2009 at 6:20 pm | By: Radical Russ
OTTAWA — The military may strictly forbid marijuana use by its soldiers, but the federal government has decided to pay for medical cannabis for some veterans.
Veterans Affairs has reversed a previous ban, now saying it “may provide payment in relation to the associated costs of medically required marijuana to clients who have qualified.”
Payments can be made only to veterans licensed by Health Canada to possess medical marijuana, and who buy government-certified cannabis produced on contract by a firm in Flin Flon, Manitoba.
The policy change was approved last October, but is only now being communicated to veterans who require the product for pain management and other severe medical conditions.
About eight veterans licensed by Health Canada are having their medical marijuana bills picked up by taxpayers, said Janice Summerby, spokeswoman for Veterans Affairs.
Wow, a large North American country with legal medical marijuana coast to coast, extending their government-paid Universal Health Care coverage to pay for marijuana! How are the Canadians dealing with the inevitable socialism and teenage heroin addiction that’s sure to result?
Tuesday, May 5th, 2009 at 12:20 pm | By: Dudemaster
This country was founded by Hemp Farmers!
In our Declaration of Independence, Jefferson declared to the world the right to live free is self-evident and given by a power higher than the government, and it was the responsibility of the government to protect those freedoms.
According to this Founding Father, the government’s only legitimate function is to protect our freedom. It exists only to prevent one person from intruding on the freedom of another.
Don't tread on our veterans!
Our government itself now intrudes on people’s freedom and Americans legitimately live in fear of our government every day.
This is a short commentary piece I’ve written in support of all veterans, but especially those who are returning home from war right now. As a retired military combat veteran of more than 20 years of service, I’m proud of you and welcome home!
United States Navy
You’ve come home at a good time; our country is currently in crisis, but the crisis is working to bring all Americans together in peaceful resolution. For those of you with PTSD, you are going to face a challenge. I know, most of you are going to say you don’t have PTSD. You’ll deny it until someday you’ll stop and say, “I’m tired of that train wreck of an incident playing over and over in my head.” Then you’ll ask for help from the VA, and they will give you opium.
United States Army
Yes, that’s correct, the Veterans Administration passes out anti-depressants and opium (in pill form) like crazy! The only problem is, they don’t make you feel better and in fact, you might just want to kill yourself before getting better.
Or, if you live in one of the states that has Medical Marijuana, you could see a qualified doctor to help you on your recovery and he might just recommend Medical Marijuana. The catch? You can’t go back to the VA.
Thursday, March 12th, 2009 at 11:59 pm | By: Radical Russ
Letters like this one are why I put in twelve-hour days for this cause. “If my friend was prescribed some marijuana, and not anti-depressants, I do not think I would have found him dead, hanging from a cord in his room.” The refusal of our government to allow our troops to use safe, effective cannabis instead of gut-wrenching, energy-sapping, liver-destroying pharmaceuticals is like spitting in the face of those who pledged their lives and honor to defend the drafted-on-hemp-paper Constitution of this country.
Hello NORML,
I must begin by saying your website has a lot of great information, and made me feel more like a person, than a pothead, and I thank you for that.
RevRayGreen: I'll post a pic of me and my son....gimme a minute
Missippi Hippy: Guess what... I'm gonna be a new... ummmmm well, my pet piggie Ganja is in labor and they ain't mine in the same sense. See what your wife [...]
RevRayGreen: days they didn't talk back..or act disrespectful..
RevRayGreen: feel so lucky my son is 18 going 19 and my daughter 16 going on 17..relish the days that can't talk back
Urb Age: Congrats Spof thats awesome. My little Clara is about to hit 20 months. Im not the activist I used to be, but its made me a better man.
Urb Age: Heck I was gonna go up there, but just not feeling well this weekend..Dang it, I hate it when that happens..
RevRayGreen: wishing I was hanging at NORML cafe...
JohnH: Just a quick comment about tokin' and sperm motility....been tokin since age 14 and have 8 kids ranging in age from 30 to 9...(what can I say, I found 2 [...]
slash5city: really ..oprah 35 yr or more in the closet toker ...outed ....o my god !!
SneakerPimp: that would be huge news just imagen the headline
RevRayGreen: maybe Oprah smokes and keeps it on the DL...
SneakerPimp: and good afternoon
mr reuben: I could do without seeing Rob K. on tv. But Bruce and Eithan get a big thumbs up from me.
SneakerPimp: waitn for NSL and congrast for spofett.
mr reuben: I don't respect her opinion bluzguy.
Missippi Hippy: Something about the last year in a contract... folks become more ballsey... and Oprah has big ones.
Adam: Oprah won't actually go off air for over a year, 2011 sometime. Maybe with here leaving the network soon, she'll be more likely to speak out about MMJ.
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ALERT: Protest at 10am PT at Spokane Veterans Home, HIV/AIDS medical marijuana patient being kicked out
waitn for NSL and congrast for spofett.
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