MEDICAL or RECREATIONAL

I have been looking and reading post since June 2009. Never saying a word just reading. It seems like most of you are here for recreational use only. Its likely that if you are angry at this point you are one of the ones I am talking about. I am a U.S. Army Veteran. Did 3y in Iraq as a sniper and lost many friends. I am on about 20 medications do to a road side bomb injure. Medical Marijuana isn't one of them. In NM soldiers have started using Cannabis for PTSD but is not approved by the VA. I suffer from PTSD and have lost a lot from it. Anyone that wants to spend a weekend with me to prove it then come on. I would like to meet with those of you that really use this for medical and wish to find a real Doc that isn't a Doc in the Box as you guys call it. I want to find out as much info as i can about the medical use of it. Would like to do my own study for the VA and fight my case. So if you are angry at this post or use just to get high don't reply i am not here for games or bull shit. I lost my wife and two boys due to my Nightmares from Iraq. So i am up for a fight.

This is my opinion not a fact. If everyone that use Cannabis for medical reason could find a doc and document your day to day life you might be able to get a bill passed. I have set in on 2 Court Cases and they both tried to play the medical card funny thing was there was no prof it was being used for anything other than to get high. Or if it was even working, Just that they had a medical reason.

Man, I'm really sorry to hear what your service has cost you. That's a real shame, honest.

I do wonder however what you are trying to ask with your post, are you wanting people to reevaluate their use of the medication? Perhaps many should, or at the very least fess up to taking it for recreation as well. Then again, the recreational factor is not without its healing capabilities. A person in extreme pain can benefit from escaping it for certain.

I also think the attitude of boards such as these is kept light for a reason, There are Many MANY very sick people reading everything here for entertainment and a bond with others experiencing the same sad situation. Perhaps you've misinterpreted this optimism for drug abusing enthusiasm typical of a bunch of middle schoolers..

As of yet PTSD isn't one of the symptoms covered under our Medical Marijuana law. But I'm one of those that believe for some soldiers this could be the answer to effects of PTSD. Its always been my believe that the so called high is one of the most beneficial effects of MJ. There has been some research for MJ use in PTSD but its slow coming. I know recently the VA has loosened its restrictions on MJ use for some VA patients but you'll really need to discuss this issue with your doctor at the VA.

Thank both of you. I'm not here to find out who dose and who doesn't use this for medical reason. I just want to talk to those who are willing to share the before and after. The VA put me on 8 5MG tab of Oxycodone a day and its not cut with anything. If i was to take this 8 times a day i would not be able to walk cuz im so high. Instead I suck up the pain and take when needed. I am on 70% disability from the VA and have been denied my 100% due to the med helping me and my symptoms are not getting worse. Even tho I gained 100lb which one nee blew out due to the extra lb and the the other because i was trying to not put weight on the hurt nee, and my liver is bad due to the med's. And they switch my med's up every 6months cuz my body gets use to the med's. But to the VA that is good not bad.

Hello Kyjaun,

First let me say thank you, for your honorable service to our country.
Second I am extremely sorry for all you have and are going thru.
There seems to be more PTSD cases from the Iraq/Afgani wars then any conflict that's gone on before. Maybe it's just more accepted diagnosis or more recognized now, tho I think it has more to do with the heavy burden that's been placed on our citizen soldiers, the reserves and the guard.

I served during the Korean War (police action) and returned home an angry young man. Probably a case of mild PTSD brought about by losing a close buddy while we were running for cover during a mortar attack. My first thought was thank God it was him not me, and it made me feel awefull for thinking that. I sort relief by drinking heavy and that almost cost me my family. Then one day, in a bar a police dective who was a WW2 vet got to talking to me. I told him what was burdening my heart and he reassured me that first thought, better him not me, was really normal. Even tho I had told that story to a VA shrink, who offered me nothing but barbiurates (a great combo for someone drinking heavy) it was that dective that made me feel better and helped to turn things around for me.

For the last 25 years I've been providing medical mj to patients thru a cancer group (people fighting the disease and treatments) and a hospice group (people dying...usally from cancer). About 5 yrs ago I had the privilege to meet and help a recently returned vet, who was an amputee and had been found to suffer from PTSD by the VA. Same story, they gave him all kinds of pain killers and mood altering crap and he really suffered from them. He was seeking an alternative and I provided it. He did very well with mmj, it relieved pain and also helped him mentally to get better. After a couple of years he had gotten his shit together but then hit that VA catch 22, lost part of his disability (for the PTSD). But he was happy, they couldn't take it all away because of his lost limb.

I truly wish that we were geographicly closer, I'm on the other coast in a non-med state, because I'd love to meet and try to help you. While it is against forum rules to do hookups here, I truly hope someone from these boards who is near you in Washington state that is a med user or caregiver reaches out to you.

I hope and pray that you can find some help, mmj is worth the try.
May God bless you in your time of troubles.

OM

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Originally Posted by Kyjuan

I have been looking and reading post since June 2009. Never saying a word just reading. It seems like most of you are here for recreational use only. Its likely that if you are angry at this point you are one of the ones I am talking about. I am a U.S. Army Veteran. Did 3y in Iraq as a sniper and lost many friends. I am on about 20 medications do to a road side bomb injure. Medical Marijuana isn't one of them. In NM soldiers have started using Cannabis for PTSD but is not approved by the VA. I suffer from PTSD and have lost a lot from it. Anyone that wants to spend a weekend with me to prove it then come on. I would like to meet with those of you that really use this for medical and wish to find a real Doc that isn't a Doc in the Box as you guys call it. I want to find out as much info as i can about the medical use of it. Would like to do my own study for the VA and fight my case. So if you are angry at this post or use just to get high don't reply i am not here for games or bull shit. I lost my wife and two boys due to my Nightmares from Iraq. So i am up for a fight.

This is my opinion not a fact. If everyone that use Cannabis for medical reason could find a doc and document your day to day life you might be able to get a bill passed. I have set in on 2 Court Cases and they both tried to play the medical card funny thing was there was no prof it was being used for anything other than to get high. Or if it was even working, Just that they had a medical reason.

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i really only smoke at night to help my knee pain and really bad insomnia. very little recreational. even still i fight with sleep however it is easier. oh where are my manners, a SALUTE to you good sir, i only wish that could help you. our work force today just wants to find solace in life why not marijuana. its safe, does no harm and i believe the VA changed its stance on mmj. i cant feel what your going through but i would try to leave all that medication behind that stuff will kill you. no lie. aspirin, ibuprofen, tylenol all cause cirrosis and ulcers and frequently death. imagine what your getting. find an outlet like working out or something and try like hell to get your family back, im a gonner without my kids. love heals all and i think thats what you need most and hopefully im not out of line here, just trying to help. chin up, and thank you, glad your home safe. best wishes

Thank you for your sacrifice for our safety and country. PTSD can be absolutely horrifying when attacks occur

All I can say is that even tho not a perceived reason for use, it helps me with PTSD, but I needed therapy anyway to deal with it......I almost lost my family too. I have pain issues that are the real reason for use, and yes, I used to like to get stoned, never notice it any more.

Yep, there are bunches of recreational users here, and folks trying to get rich off of selling by growing, but the smartest and 'bestest' really are in medical need.

My spouse works for the VA. They will not even let their doctors do studies, you can forget that. They have to abide by federal law, regardless! The recent changes that have accepted that some patients do use and/or are prescribed and will not loose services due to same was a tremendous step by the Feds.

Until it is legal, this is going to be the way it is.

Hello Kyjuan,

Sorry to here about all the misfortune, I too am a US Army vet. I was in the first desert storm/shield campaign nowhere near as bad as this round. I was medically discharges for a similar issue motar round hit in front of vehicle. I tried to go back in a year later when 9/11 took place but was turned down, because of medical discharge. Anyways a lot of what these guys have posted is pretty much dead on. I have spoken to VA Admin and my primary care provider, they have both told me that they could not recommend MMJ becasue they are federal and it's illegal i tried to request marinol at first and was told no. My last visit I told my primary I was using Marijuana and that I had been off of pills for the last few years,he thought it was good for me to make this decision but again they can't make notes or recommend it. Admin told me that as long as it is Legal in the state you are in you should not free losing benefits (make sure you have recommendation, if you are just using it you may have some problems). Good luck with research may be we can hook up sometime....:hippy:

Kyjuan,

I currently am a patient at the Spokane VA Medical center. With the current change of VA policy dealing with MMJ, as long as you live in a state that has MMJ laws on the books then the VA will not place punitive actions. Those actions would normally been seen as a pain medication reduction.

I am currently rated at 60% and am a MMJ cardholder. The VA staff at all levels have been very supportive. I have a number of doctors and they all state they would rather have me smoking than doing all the drugs they are loading me up with.

With that said, none of them could write me the recommendation, as it is a federal. So I was forced to go to a doc in the box. The VA can and does keep records of over the counter medicine, alcohol and drugs....if you tell them. I have seen my medical records which cleary show the doctors notes which state that I use MMJ and have seen a difference in the amount of VA medicine they prescribe. With that said, I should also clarify that I take NO pain medications, so there may be less of a concern with drug interactions.

I hope you are able to find a doctor who is able to help. But seriously, why pay for another doctor to see you, when the VA can easily document disabilities, then pay the small amount to see a doc in a box. But again, as the VA is the only health care I have, I would have to cover any other doctor visits from my own pocket.

I hope that you have filed a NOD for your 100% that was denied. Also if you have 70% with multiple ratings and at least one disability at 40% then you should also apply for Individual Unemployability. The process is long and difficult, as most things wrapped up in the government.

Best of luck,
Charles D.

Thank you all. I am in WA. Its just hard not knowing whats going on inside. And yes all they like to do is push more pills on me. I never have smoked and never thought about it till someone sent me this link.

Medical Marijuana And PTSD: VA Doctors Can't Prescribe Pot Despite New Mexico's Promising Example

The pills are bad i know but in some ways im looking like Cannabis is just like anything else once ya body gets use to it you got to go to something stronger. I here that there are different strains for different issues. I have not found much info on what strains do what. This is what my search is really about. To me it seem like taking tylenol pm for a gun shoot wound. Hope this make some since.

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Originally Posted by Kyjuan

The pills are bad i know but in some ways im looking like Cannabis is just like anything else once ya body gets use to it you got to go to something stronger. I here that there are different strains for different issues. I have not found much info on what strains do what. This is what my search is really about. To me it seem like taking tylenol pm for a gun shoot wound. Hope this make some since.

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After 40 years of smoking, I can stop any time. Yes I get grumpy for a few days, no big deal. I choose to reduce my pain and don't care, frankly, if I do get psychologically addicted.....I have to take heart meds and gut meds, etc., so WTF..What is the difference?

But each body is different how it reacts to a given species. Sometimes we change species on a daily or weekly basis to prevent such issues.

I do not find I need 'more' to get the relief. It is like there is a speed limit....you only can get so much effect. You can also eat it or make pills.

You fear addiction, but it does not addict except psychologically, so that is a personal issue, and you will need to learn the strength of what is enough. Crap, alcohol is worse for you.