The Colorado Board of Health voted 6-2 with an unpleasant setting from a full house not to add PTSD to the medical issues that can be treated under the state’s medical marijuana program.
The board voted this past Wednesday in opposition to the recommendation of the state’s chief medical officer.
A handful of veterans who added their testimony stated marijuana has saved their lives. Many stated medicine that is legally prescribed to them for post-traumatic syndrome at veterans clinics or by other medical physicians antidepressants, antipsychotics, opioids as well as others almost killed them or robbed them of the quality of life.
“It is our brothers and sisters who are committing suicide every day. We know cannabis can help. We’re not going to go away,” said John Evans, director of Veterans 4 Freedoms.
“We’ve legalized it,” Evans said. “We’ll take the tax dollars from our tourists (for recreational marijuana) before we’ll help our vets.”
The president of the nine-member board, Tony Cappello, an epidemiologist, stated he couldn’t vote to approve the use of marijuana for PTSD because the scientific evidence doesn’t support it. The majority of board members were in agreement that mountains of anecdotal evidence are not enough. One board member was absent. “I’m struggling with the science piece,” board member Dr. Christopher Stanley stated.
The American and Colorado psychiatric associations do not support the cause, stated board member Dr. Ray Estacio, the internist at Denver Health and associate professor in medicine located at the University of Colorado Denver.
However Joan Sonwinski a board member, as well as a environmental and occupational health consultant, stated the testimony delivered from veterans and various people who suffer from PTSD were very convincing as was a recent study in correlation to symptom reduction she would be able to support it. Jill Hunsaker- Ryan was the only yes vote.
“Blood is on your hands,” one person from the audience yelled after the board voted not to allow Colorado to become the 10th state to provide access to medical marijuana for people who suffer from PTSD.
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1 comment
Time for Colorado to get a new Board. Or Send this existing board to the front lines to fight ISIS. It amazes me where they get these drones that lay around the hive and never turn a tap as far as getting anything done, live off the provisions the workers supply with their sweat, blood and guts, and then get the opportunity to screw the Queen when needed. GET A NEW BOARD!