Linda, Dr. Gordon, on Medical Marijuana
By Linda on Jan 7, 2011 in Interesting Stories | comments(0)
Linda’s comment: When I worked in Cancer Research, the feds gave us marijuana to give to the patients for pain and vomiting….it amazes me that the Feds are making such a big deal out of this. This was distributed through VA hospital….I know the family they pay in Tipton, Indiana to grow the Feds pot….
Dr. Gordon’s Comments: It appears that marijuana is going mainstream! This NY Times article shows that the Federal government is beginning to go with the flow. If the state permits the use of medical marijuana the VA system will no longer refuse to continue to treat the patient.
We have doctor members of FACT that report amazing cases where marijuana had stopped pain or headaches or vomiting and in some cases did more to improve the health of some patients than anything else they had tried.
Garry F. Gordon MD,DO,MD(H)
President, Gordon Research Institute
www.gordonresearch.com
Link: http://www.nytimes.com/2010/07/24/health/policy/24veterans.html?_r=1&pagewant
Excerpt:
DENVER — The Department of Veterans Affairs will formally allow patients treated at its hospitals and clinics to use medical marijuana in states where it is legal, a policy clarification that veterans have sought for several years.
A department directive, expected to take effect next week, resolves the conflict in veterans facilities between federal law, which outlaws marijuana, and the 14 states that allow medicinal use of the drug, effectively deferring to the states.
The policy will not permit department doctors to prescribe marijuana. But it will address the concern of many patients who use the drug that they could lose access to their prescription pain medication if caught.
Under department rules, veterans can be denied pain medications if they are found to be using illegal drugs. Until now, the department had no written exception for medical marijuana.
This has led many patients to distrust their doctors, veterans say. With doctors and patients pressing the veterans department for formal guidance, agency officials began drafting a policy last fall.
