PTSD, PTSD, PTSD (continued): The VA Crime Against American Veterans

Young widow of a PTSD victim veteran, Penny Coleman, lists the top 10 Reasons Why The U.S. Military Should (Officially) Use Pot.

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(MOLALLA, Ore.) - I believe I have had thousands of veterans and civilians who have read and/or responded to my articles on this subject. I am possibly obsessive-compulsive about it because I have it myself, have been mistreated for it by the VA, and I have successfully treated about 1000 veterans and others for the problem with cannabis/marijuana.

I do spend much of my time on my computer searching for new revelations about this subject. My outstanding feeling about this is that not only the VA but civilian doctors are also mistreating PTSD patients by denying them medication which really works while the standard potpourri not only doesn’t work but the adverse side effects are worse than the symptoms of PTSD.

One of my recent finds on this subject was an article by a young widow of a PTSD victim veteran who committed suicide after being totally mistreated by the VA.

Her name is Penny Coleman and she wrote: 10 Reasons Why The U.S. Military Should (Officially) Use Pot. You can find it by searching that! She has written her 10 reasons. If necessary I will make comments:

1. Until proven otherwise, marijuana is the safest (and best) thing they have in their pharmacopoeia (drug book). This is totally true.
2. Reduce our dependence on foreign opioids. I agree but opiates are from opium (like morphine). Opioids are totally synthetic, not from opium.
3. Restore the reputation of the VA among veterans. To most PTSD vets the VA is more dangerous than battle.
4. Israeli (lab) rats have less stress than American battle veterans. Cannabis canceled out symptoms in experimentally stressed-out rats.
5. And then there is Sativex. This is “liquid marijuana” sprayed under the tongue. So far it works but the FDA has not released it for use in the U.S.
6. We gave “Big pharma” 40 years of Government money to develop a medicine and they came up with zilch. This isn’t exactly true. They did develop Marinol but in adequate doses it causes panic attacks and anxiety worse than PTSD.
7. The (marijuana) growing process itself is demonstratably therapeutic. One of the best means to treat PTSD is to keep busy especially doing something one wants to do.
8. We could fill some (state & federal) budget gaps. Taxing cannabis/marijuana like tobacco and alcohol could bring in $50 billion or more in taxes. The Mexican Mafia gets this money now.
9. Suicide prevention. Current standard therapy causes not only suicidal thoughts and suicides in VA treated vets but the medications have been used to commit suicide. Cannabis/marijuana has NEVER killed anybody EVER.
10. It would bring some coherence to our nation's drug policies. At one time, cannabis-based drugs were the most widely used drugs in the U.S. and the world, for over 100 different medical problems. It is more effective, with less side effects, than any drug anybody can mention. (If you don’t believe me, I await your email).

I very highly recommend that anyone interested in PTSD therapy read the above original. You might also search PTSD Leveque.

GUNG HO!

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Dr. Phillip Leveque has degrees in chemistry, biochemistry, pharmacology, toxicology and minors in physiology and biochemistry. He was a Professor of Pharmacology, employed by the University of London for 2 years, during which time he trained the first doctors in Tanzania. After training doctors, he became an Osteopathic Physician, as well as a Forensic Toxicologist.

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kmd April 14, 2010 2:06 pm (Pacific time)

i agree. marijuana can benefit the economy and people. it is a natural medicine that grows naturally on earth and we should use this rescource like any other. and it has NEVER killed anyone. there are far worst medication such as pills in hospitals that with an overdose can kill you.and leave side effects. but weed doesnt. LEGALIZE!

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Dr. Leveque April 13, 2010 2:08 pm (Pacific time)

Here is a recent email I received: I had another one of those nightmare nights last night... That isn't really unusual. I have suffered with nightmares and interrupted sleep almost every time I have slept for more than ten years since my son's suicide. Last night was horrible. I awoke in tears and my depression is simply overwhelming. I sat at the computer to read a bit and try to clear my mind and I found your article. I have given up on finding a cure for my PTSD, and have come to the conclusion that I will live with this insanity until I die. As you wrote, nobody understands unless they suffer from it too. The shrinks and the doctors are quick to offer drugs and I believe they truly wish they could help, but they are no closer to understanding this condition than they are to understanding gravity. They only know it exists and they are helpless. The best they can offer is a shoulder to weep upon. I wish you well Doctor, and I hope you can find some sort of peace and refuge from this terrible insanity. It's going to be another tough day here...

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Anonymous April 7, 2010 8:55 am (Pacific time)

Have you ever seen studies that have followed marijuana user's diagnosed with PTSD who have incorporated this substance in their daily use, some for decades, and those who have used nothing for similar time periods? Then see who has had a higher quality of life. There are countless ways to measure different life quality attributes, but "still being alive" is not one of them in my opinion. I personally have not seen a large study in this area, just some observations on my part over many years, including talking about this subject with veterans from several different conflicts. Learning different coping strategies from different people provides both lattitude and longitude for the PTSD veteran, not just blindly following some course of action that may not have any benefit for them. I know a lot of stoners and I know a lot of PTSD veterans, there are better methods to attempt before taking any type of drug, regardless of it's historical safety.

Editor: Have you ever read our stories on this subject?  Marijuana allows people to wean themselves from hard drugs.  Can you comprehend the significance of that?  We have published many accounts of veterans in particular, absolutely raving over how marijuana allowed them to clean their act up and live again.  I think we should do a focus piece on veterans who have used marijuana for several decades and have fantastic businesses and lives, thanks for the inspiration.  People who use marijuana by the way are not properly referenced as 'stoners' any more than the average alcohol user is a stinking wife beating drunk.  It comes in all shapes and sizes, this PTSD thing, and we have plenty of testimony attesting to the positive side of the experience.  We have little from people who found their way by refusing to use pot.  Feel free to share stories about veterans who have used the 'legal' channels with great success; Dr. Leveque has been looking for one for years.  

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