Hi folks,

Several members are vets here and this was just on the news at KOB channel 4 in Albuquerque.

KOB.com - VA prohibits medical marijuana prescriptions

VA prohibits medical marijuana prescriptions

Posted at: 02/23/2010 7:08 PM | Updated at: 02/23/2010 8:04 PM
By: Jeremy Jojola, Eyewitness News 4; Taryn Bianchin, KOB.com

There are more than 1200 New Mexicans legally using medical marijuana under state law, of those, about 25 percent of them are veterans returning from war with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.

But at VA hospitals nationwide, doctors are being told not to give out prescriptions because medical marijuana is still illegal under federal law.

A memo sent out to VA doctors has stated if they were to help patients get medical marijuana by filling out forms, it â??could mean their license to prescribe drugs could be revoked and could even result in criminal charges.â??

"Unfortunately, that doesn't change the fact the federal government still has medical marijuana as an illegal substance, and there's nothing we can do about federal law," said Deborah Busemeyer of the state's Department of Health.

She says veterans with VA doctors will have to go somewhere else to get a medical cannabis prescription.

"The best our patients can do is try and find resources within the state of New Mexico to take advantage of state law," said Busemeyer.

A spokesperson for the VA hospital in Albuquerque says veterans who participate in the state's medical cannabis program won't be refused other treatment at the VA hospital.

Currently, the state says there are about five non-profits in New Mexico providing medical marijuana with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder the most common illness claimed by New Mexicans with prescriptions for the medicine.

According to the State Department of Health, cancer patients have received the second highest number of medical marijuana prescriptions with about 200 people getting them. HIV and AIDS is the third most common condition among medical marijuana users.
The newsclip can be viewed here.....

KOB.com - VA prohibits medical marijuana prescriptions

Sandia
Sandia Reviewed by Sandia on . Veterans Administration and MMJ in New Mexico Hi folks, Several members are vets here and this was just on the news at KOB channel 4 in Albuquerque. KOB.com - VA prohibits medical marijuana prescriptions The newsclip can be viewed here..... Rating: 5