CANNAHEALTH Opioids, Veterans and Addiction | Page 52

nation's military veterans; homeless, addicted, angry and fearful of a system and/or conglomerate that they were sworn to serve? How angry do we want to make veterans?

Can Cannabis be of better use to the nation's veterans in terms of medication? Of course it can but, the VA had this to say about veterans and Cannabis use; “ in 2016 the U.S. House of Representatives and the Senate put their seal of approval on an amendment that would (prevent) the Department of Veterans Affairs from dipping into the federal budget to stop Uncle Sam’s doctors from providing patients with recommendations to use medical marijuana” (High Times, 2016).

We can’t locate funding for Cannabis care for veterans, but we have plenty of funding to fork over millions for opioids to medicate the nation's veterans while they hurry up and wait for care? Say what? The VA then focuses on a discussion pertaining to SUD or Substance Use Disorder among veterans. Remember, this is the very same system that has allowed 300,000 Veterans to die waiting to receive vital care. The VA has time for studies on SUD and Cannabis use for PTSD? I’m sorry, I’m confused and amazed that the VA has time to do anything. As a female military veteran, I’m appalled with the VA Healthcare System. Now here is a system that should be dismantled, and very quickly at that, because it seems veterans gain nothing from the VA, absolutely nothing but help in becoming addicted. Its time to take the prescription pad away and offer up Cannabis alternatives.

-Carole Shelton-Toney MS, LMMC, BA

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