Pubdate: Wed, 07 Jul 2010
Source: Billings Gazette, The (MT)
Copyright: 2010 The Billings Gazette
Contact: http://billingsgazette.com/app/contact/?contact=letter
Website: http://www.billingsgazette.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/515
Author: Dave Fox

VA VIOLATES RIGHTS WITH STANCE ON MARIJUANA

I read about the human rights violations around the world, especially
in the Third World countries. But what about the human rights here in
good ol' Montana? One group, the Veterans Administration, refuses
treatment for pain to vets who use medical marijuana. They have an
oath to "first do no harm or injustice," which is obviously
meaningless to these people. With all of the science and facts and the
millions of people who use it daily for their illness, these doctors
cannot honestly deny the medical value. If they do, they have no
business being a health care worker. They are not paying attention to
their patients.

None of us care that the federal people say it is illegal. We know
that is because of politics. They are playing politics with our
health. To allow and be complicit in the suffering is a human rights
violation. To abandon sick patients is a crime in America. A
veterinarian would not dream of letting a beloved pet suffer in pain
and neither would they. But they would turn me and hundreds of
American soldiers away because we use legal medical marijuana because
it works.

It is obvious to us that VA personnel are more concerned with the
paychecks than treating our health. They claim a concern for all the
suicides, yet when a soldier begs for help, they don't listen.

They told me, "Why don't you people just go away?" Well, I will never
go away until they start giving me the respect and treatment that they
give their dogs.

Dave Fox

Pompeys Pillar
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MAP posted-by: Matt