MMJ In Washington for Veterans?

Hello, I came across your website and wondered if possibly you could answer a few questions for me, or maybe point me in the right direction.

I served in the United States Marine Corps from 2004 until 2009. I was in the Infantry and served in Iraq in 2005 and am a Combat Veteran. Upon my return from Iraq I started to have some major problems with PTSD. From 2006 until 2009 I recieved treatment including a inpatient program. I ended up being medically seperated earlier this year. While being treated in the military they kept prescribing me antidepressants, they did not help. I would go from Paxil to Celexa to Effexor to Prozac, and none of them helped my symptoms. Also as a result of PTSD I have sleep problems, including insomnia, interupted sleep and horrific nightmares. Sometimes I wont sleep for days at a time just to avoid the dreams. I was prescribed anything from Trazadone to Ambien to Seroquel. The only thing that would put me out was the Ambien and Seroquel. The Ambien was causing sleep walk, and I would do things and not remeber them. The seroquel which is a anti-psychotic would put me out but the next day I would be like a zombie. This medication set up was not helpful.

Basically my question is do you think I would be a candidate for Medical Marijuana. I still have symptoms related to sleep as well as anxiety, depression and hypervigilance. I do not like taking prescription pills because of the side effects they cause. I have smoked marijuana since returning to the civilan world and it has helped the symptoms. It helps tremendously with the sleep and anxiety. I have done a little research and cant find if I would be a candidate under Washington State laws. Also if you think I would have a chance can you give me contact information of those I would need to speak with? Thank you very much in advance for your help.

You might. You're really going to have to a doctor about whether they'll sign off on it. The other thing is to be careful if you're dealing with the VA hospital in Seattle. They don't want to deal with the issue.

RCW 69.51A.010
Definitions.

The definitions in this section apply throughout this chapter unless the context clearly requires otherwise.

(1) "Designated provider" means a person who:

(a) Is eighteen years of age or older;

(b) Has been designated in writing by a patient to serve as a designated provider under this chapter;

(c) Is prohibited from consuming marijuana obtained for the personal, medical use of the patient for whom the individual is acting as designated provider; and

(d) Is the designated provider to only one patient at any one time.

(2) "Medical use of marijuana" means the production, possession, or administration of marijuana, as defined in RCW 69.50.101(q), for the exclusive benefit of a qualifying patient in the treatment of his or her terminal or debilitating illness.

(3) "Qualifying patient" means a person who:

(a) Is a patient of a physician licensed under chapter 18.71 or 18.57 RCW;

(b) Has been diagnosed by that physician as having a terminal or debilitating medical condition;

(c) Is a resident of the state of Washington at the time of such diagnosis;

(d) Has been advised by that physician about the risks and benefits of the medical use of marijuana; and

(e) Has been advised by that physician that they may benefit from the medical use of marijuana.

(4) "Terminal or debilitating medical condition" means:

(a) Cancer, human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), multiple sclerosis, epilepsy or other seizure disorder, or spasticity disorders; or

(b) Intractable pain, limited for the purpose of this chapter to mean pain unrelieved by standard medical treatments and medications; or

(c) Glaucoma, either acute or chronic, limited for the purpose of this chapter to mean increased intraocular pressure unrelieved by standard treatments and medications; or

(d) Crohn's disease with debilitating symptoms unrelieved by standard treatments or medications; or

(e) Hepatitis C with debilitating nausea or intractable pain unrelieved by standard treatments or medications; or

(f) Diseases, including anorexia, which result in nausea, vomiting, wasting, appetite loss, cramping, seizures, muscle spasms, or spasticity, when these symptoms are unrelieved by standard treatments or medications; or

(g) Any other medical condition duly approved by the Washington state medical quality assurance commission in consultation with the board of osteopathic medicine and surgery as directed in this chapter.

(5) "Valid documentation" means:

(a) A statement signed by a qualifying patient's physician, or a copy of the qualifying patient's pertinent medical records, which states that, in the physician's professional opinion, the patient may benefit from the medical use of marijuana;

(b) Proof of identity such as a Washington state driver's license or identicard, as defined in RCW 46.20.035; and

(c) A copy of the physician statement described in (a) of this subsection shall have the same force and effect as the signed original.


[2007 c 371 § 3; 1999 c 2 § 6 (Initiative Measure No. 692, approved November 3, 1998).]

Notes: Intent -- 2007 c 371: See note following RCW 69.51A.005.

I'd say go for it. Don't tell the VA yet, but since Holder is laying off medical patients, etc in med state's, if it works, do it. Semper Fi. :thumbsup: