WEED FOR WARRIORS FIGHTING FOR VETERANS’ RIGHT TO CANNABIS THERAPY

By Connor Bland - Nov 2, 2015

Several United States veterans have formed a coalition called Weed for Warriors with a goal to shed light on and fight for veterans’ right to choose cannabis over prescription pills. Many veterans have come forward to support the use of cannabis to treat symptoms of several conditions commonly suffered by those who have served in the military, including post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), pain, anxiety, and depression.

Amid those in the crowd at the Southwest Cannabis Expo in downtown Phoenix last week were representatives of the Weed for Warriors Project, including 27 year old Jose Martinez. Martinez, a United States veteran, lost both of his legs and his right arm in an explosion after stepping on an IED while serving in Afghanistan two years ago.

Once back in the United States, Martinez suffered extreme pain from his injuries, and found himself facing a serious addiction to pain pills prescribed to manage the pain. Martinez explained,

“Being on pills I hated the world. My struggle with opiates, I tried to commit suicide every day. I took so many pills I thought I’d never wake up again.”

Veteran Jose Martinez, who lost three limbs in Afghanistan, found relief to his pain with medical marijuana. (Shanna Hogan)

Putting an end to those dark days, Martinez found relief with cannabis, and he believes other veterans should have the same opportunity.

“We went and fought for our country. We just want to be free to medicate the way that we choose to.”

Now Martinez, along with Kevin Richardson, another veteran who battles symptoms of PTSD, is working with the Weed for Warriors Project in hopes of getting the use of cannabis legalized for veterans in every state. Richardson told the Phoenix New Times that he became addicted to the painkillers he was over prescribed by VA doctors, and as a result he almost lost his marriage.

Martinez and Richardson met at a cannabis expo in 2014 and have been working to achieve their goal of nationwide cannabis for veterans through the Weed for Warriors Project ever since. The group collects cannabis donations and distributes it to veterans who are not otherwise able to afford it.

While legislation addressing the use of medical cannabis for veterans in the United States has previously been introduced to the federal government, nothing has ever been approved by lawmakers. The Weed for Warriors project plans to make a powerful statement in Washington D.C., aiming to grab the attention of those who have vetoed such legislation in the past, by pouring a larges quantities of pain pills collected from veterans onto the lawn of the White House.

“We want to make a political statement,”

Richardson says.

“It’s going to represent over-medication of our veterans.”

The Weed for Warriors Project is not the first to address to issue of VA physicians over prescribing opiod painkillers to veterans. United States Marine, Mike Whiter, used powerful photographs of military men and women (like the one below) to express the need for veterans to have alternative treatment options, outside of pharmaceuticals.

As the push for cannabis therapy to treat PTSD continues, the Weed for Warriors Project will be right at the front of the line pushing for change. You can donate to the Weed for Warriors Project through their website by clicking here.

Phoenixnewtimes

Sorce: https://www.whaxy.com/news/weed-for-warriors-project

Camp Hill mom cries for legalization of medical pot after son dies from PTSD

POSTED 10:30 PM, JUNE 23, 2015, BY REBECCA SOLOMON

CAMP HILL, Pa. -- A mother from Camp Hill, Cumberland County, is standing up for medical marijuana. Her son suffered from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. He eventually took his own life.

Donnamarie Feedman joined dozens of supporters of the drug at a rally in Harrisburg. The drug remains illegal in the Commonwealth.

At the rally, Corporal Barrett Thompson addressed the crowd by showing pictures of depressed army veterans. He said, "These pictures represent the hell I went through and veterans go through now."

Corporal Thompson returned from serving three tours in Iraq with PTSD and over 40 prescribed medications. Unlike Thompson, Donnamarie's son will never share his story.

She says, "At the height of his sickness, the VA had him on 21 pills per day. A lot of them were black box label pills and the only thing that helped him was smoking marijuana."

When Corporal Dane Freedman no longer had access to marijuana, he died.

Donnamarie says, "He tried, and that evening he ingested a lethal dose of alcohol and he shot himself in the heart."

Dr. Sue Sisley studies the impacts medical cannabis has on veterans who suffer from depression. She traveled from Arizona to relay a message to Pennsylvania Lawmakers.

Dr. Sisley says, "I'm hoping elected officials have the good sense to allow for compassionate access, it's time for commonsense to prevail in Pennsylvania."

Doctors say veterans won't get the attention they need until state lawmakers act. The bill remains in the State House Health Committee, but State Representative, Nick Miccarelli, of Delaware County, is hoping to change that through discharge resolution.

He says, "I put a memo out to my colleagues letting them know I'm going to be putting a district discharge resolution on Friday, asking for their support to get Senate Bill 3 out to the entire House floor for vote."

Under law, 25 members need to sign the discharge resolution before it can be considered by the full House chamber. We reached out to the Health Committee Chairman who opposes the bill. Representative Matthew Baker has told FOX 43 he believes the no.n-FDA approved drug will cause more harm.

Until the vote, mom's like Donnamarie will continue to rally.

"I will fight until my last breath to legalize marijuana for medical use as I saw first hand what it did and how it helped our Dane," says Donnamarie

Source: Watch the Video