March 22, 2010 06:30 PM UTC

Co. Health Dept. Lobbying Against Veterans' Best Interests

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• by: ColoRabble

( – promoted by Colorado Pols)

My latest piece on The Huffington Post addresses the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment’s lobbying efforts against access to medical marijuana for veterans and others who suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder.

Here’s an excerpt, or you can CLICK HERE to read the entire piece:

On Monday, March 22, when the Colorado House Judiciary Committee considers a bill to regulate the distribution of medical marijuana in the state, State Rep. Sal Pace will offer an amendment to allow individuals diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder to have access to medical marijuana. Studies have found that compounds within marijuana, known as cannabinoids, can play an important role in stress-related disorders, and use of marijuana can greatly reduce the amount of stress hormone produced by the body in response to stress.

For some reason, however, the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment is actively lobbying members of the legislature to oppose the amendment. Officials are reportedly telling state legislators that allowing psychiatrists to recommend medical marijuana to PTSD patients is “like giving alcohol to an alcoholic.” Yet the sad irony is that many PTSD patients turn to alcohol to alleviate their stress, developing serious alcohol problems that worsen their overall state of health. This is particularly the case with veterans who developed the condition while serving in conflicts abroad.