Veterans with PTSD denied legal medical mj in CO

[RainDog]

17. If Vets choose to use marijuana

they can't do so via medical marijuana (which means they pay more).

More importantly, since CO does not recognize PTSD as a condition that falls under medical mj prescriptions, vets risk losing their medical treatment benefits from the VA.

For vets with injuries, etc., if they need opiods for treatment, they have to choose between marijuana and those opiods - or any other medicines.

Many vets have reported the use of mmj helps them to reduce the amt of opiods they use - and mmj helps to alleviate depression in some people - while opiods do not - and are also central nervous system depressants - which mj is not.

The VA piss tests - and people can be denied, say, heart medication if they use mj for PTSD. A few vets here have mentioned they cannot use mj or else they'll be denied other medication.

If vets test positive for mj, they can be forced into treatment programs and labeled as someone with a substance abuse problem, as well.

Krawitz, noted above, established residency in two states - VA, where he has lived for a long time, and Oregon, where his doctor can prescribe mmj. He has to deal with multiple doctors (he says 3) in order to not lose his access to VA health care.

Things have improved, actually, since 2011. Before that, vets could be denied health care if they tested positive for mj metabolites. Now, if a vet lives in a state that lists MEDICAL marijuana as treatment for PTSD, they cannot be denied other medicines via the VA.

eta - but other adults may also be prohibited from mj use if they work for a business that piss tests and mj is part of that test.