The Letter For All (Pro Cannabis) Veterans - A Must Read & Share

[freemannabis]

http://www.norml.org/index.cfm?Group_ID=8266

 

http://www.veteransformedicalmarijuana.org/

 

(Thanks, guys/gals!)

 

Mr. Michael Krawitz

3551 Flatwoods Road

Elliston, VA 24087

 

Dear Mr. Krawitz:

 

This is a follow-up response to your letter requesting clarification of the

Veterans Health Administration's (VHA) policy regarding the practice of prescribing

opioid therapy for pain management for Veterans who provide documentation of the

use of medical marijuana in accordance with state law.

 

lf a Veteran obtains and uses medical marijuana in a manner consistent with

state law, testing positive for marijuana would not preclude the Veteran from

receiving opioids for pain management in a Department of Veterans Affairs (VA)

facility. The Veteran would need to inform his provider of the use of medical

marijuana, and of any other non-VA prescribed medications he or she is taking to

ensure that all medications, including opioids, are prescribed in a safe manner.

Standard pain management agreements should draw a clear distinction between the

use of illegal drugs, and legal medical marijuana. However, the discretion to

prescribe, or not prescribe, opioids in conjunction with medical marijuana, should be

determined on clinical grounds, and thus will remain the decision of the individual

health care provider. The provider will take the use of medical marijuana into account in all prescribing decisions, just as the provider would for any other

medication. This is a case-by-case decision, based upon the provider's judgment,

and the needs of the patient.

 

Should you have further questions, please contact Robert Kerns, PhD,

National Program Director, New England Healthcare System at (203) 932-5711,

extension 3841.

 

Sincerely,

 

Robert A. Petzel, M.D

 

******

 

Don't they get it, YET!? ... It's ALL "ABOUT THE PATIENT" !

 

GREAT News, for SURE! But, curiously, somehow, this letter just doesn't quite jibe with the VAs contemporary directive "2010-035".

 

What's up w/dat?!

 

Baby steps ...

 

BABY STEPS...

 

FREE The Cure!

[freemannabis]

a relative article:

 

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/dcnow/2010/07/veterans-agency-eases-penalties-on-medical-marijuana.html

 

FREE The TREE!

[MLM]

Wonderful news.

[continuobrisa]

This is great information. Just a couple of weeks ago I was talking to a Veteran about his pain and suggested he talk to his pain management Dr. about MM. He did and the Dr. handed him a new "agreement" to sign. Of course it basically stated if THC was found in his system he would be dropped as a pain management patient. Long time Dr. - Patient relationship, it would be difficult for him to create a new one.

 

Hopefully, this letter will trump the "new agreement" in his Dr. mind and work within the guidelines of the VA. Again great information!

[drtarzanmd]

Great News for Vets ...

 

Thanks " freemannabis "

[jester]

well. how very kind of the v.a. single digit salute to them!!!