Should a Vietnam veteran be denied pain pills after testing positive for marijuana?

This is a tough issue. Pot is still illegal on the federal books. Many states have now written that it is Medically authorized (and some have even gone so far as to legalize it for recreation). I think that in some of the states that have now allowed it, we will start to see some EVIDENCE BASED medicine....studies will be done and published.

As an RN, I do not know everything. Pain is VERY subjective and varies from person to person and condition to condition. I can not tell you that you do NOT have pain.....(not ethically anyway based on my training). There appears to be the great potential that medical MJ will have positive impact. The true medical stuff has greatly reduced side effects (the HIGH/STONED), but continues to work well. You will still test positive using these refined MJ products, but Stoned and High are not great risks with them. Look at the child that is taking medical MJ for seizures....going from hundreds per day to 10s per day and now actually progressing in life.

This needs to be looked at from a medical and science base. Federal laws are not always right and sometimes need to be re-addressed. Do I agree with this situation? No. Do I disagree with this situation? No. At this time, I have not seen research to back up or refute the medical effectiveness and safety of using MJ products in health care. I am open to changes, but they must be justified.

To not dispense chronic pain meds to a stage 4 cancer patient is cruel & unusual punishment and is medically unethical! As to being asked to take a drug screen test in the first place? Seriously, that's insane. Since when did the VA turn into the Pot Police?!!

Propaganda film that relates the story, as told by high school principal Dr. Carroll to parents at a PTA meeting, of the scourge of marijuana. The tale revolves around Mae and Jack, accomplices in the distribution of marijuana, who manage to entice the local high school kids to stop by Mae's apartment to smoke reefer. The lives of all who are involved with this menace are inevitably shattered. One man becomes so addicted to the killer weed that the guilt over framing a teen for murder causes a judge to order him to be committed for life to a mental hospital! Dr. Carroll closes by advising us to not incur the same tragedy. The unspoken undercurrent of the time was exceptionally racist, with marijuana being seen as something for Mexican immigrants and Black Americans, especially those scoundrel musicians.

The foreward to the movie:
The motion picture you are about to witness may startle you. It would not have been possible, otherwise, to sufficiently emphasize the frightful toll of the new drug menace which is destroying the youth of America in alarmingly-increasing numbers. Marihuana is that drug - a violent narcotic - an unspeakable scourge - The Real Public Enemy Number One! Its first effect is sudden, violent, uncontrollable laughter; then come dangerous hallucinations - space expands - time slows down, almost stands still ....fixed ideas come next, conjuring up monstrous extravagances - followed by emotional disturbances, the total inability to direct thoughts, the loss of all power to resist physical emotions... leading finally to acts of shocking violence... ending often in incurable insanity. In picturing its soul-destroying effects no attempt was made to equivocate. The scenes and incidents, while fictionized for the purposes of this story, are based upon actual research into the results of Marihuana addiction. If their stark reality will make you think, will make you aware that something must be done to wipe out this ghastly menace, then the picture will not have failed in its purpose.... Because the dread Marihuana may be reaching forth next for your son or daughter....or yours....or YOURS!

If you've never seen this movie, you should.

COL Mikel J. Burroughs - Mikel; Somehow I can't really work up a whole lot of enthusiasm for any policy which (in effect) says "Because you are doing something that I don't approve of I am going to allow you to die in excruciation torment. Thanks for your service, now don't let the door hit you on your way out.".

If the VA is TRULY concerned about the effects of "mixing medication" then it might take a look at the actual studies which have been done. The VA could also have people sign liability waivers and consent forms acknowledging that the results of doing what they are doing are not known.

Most distressing, is the statement that it was NOT 100% certain that this person would be allowed to resume his pain medications EVEN IF HE STOPPED USING MARIJUANA!

Medicinal marijuana is not legal in Kansas. VA policy requires that in states where medicinal marijuana is LEGAL it is not allowed to hold that against them.

It is standard practice in ALL narcotics clinics to test for street drugs, as well as to ensure a proper level of the prescribed opiate, to ensure the patient is using it and not selling it on the street.

Unfortunately for Dixon, he violated state law and got caught. While I think the country needs a national policy legalizing marijuana, the law does not currently support that...

Yes - unfortunately, unless marijuana is prescribed, it's against the law, and also against the opiate abuse policy mandated by the government. Gary Dixon is making his own choice - he would rather continue to smoke than get the medication he needs for free - seems to me that anyone making that choice is saying - I don't really NEED the pills as much as I enjoy smoking pot! Continuing to offer the free meds would only be contributing to his apparent "addiction" and instead we should offer him help to go to addiction counselling.

THERE IS NO WAY HE SHOULD BE DENIED HIS MEDS HE IS IN STAGE 4 CANCER FOR GOD'S SAKE MEDICAL MARIJUANA IS OFTEN PRESCRIBED FOR VARIOUS CONDITIONS THIS VET NEEDS WHATEVER IT TAKES TO MAKE HIM AS COMFORTABLE AS POSSIBLE

Would you wanna be denied pain pills if you were injured in Afghanistan or Iraq?

Marijuana is suppose to help relax you - to help you to cope - I've never heard of weed being able to squash pain - I can always be wrong - but, i say give them their pills.

Damn shame!