Pubdate: Fri, 17 Jul 2015
Source: Ottawa Citizen (CN ON)
Copyright: 2015 Postmedia Network Inc.
Contact: http://www.canada.com/ottawacitizen/letters.html
Website: http://www.ottawacitizen.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/326
Author: Chris Cobb
Page: A4

'MARIJUANA FOR THE TRAUMA' AIDS VETS

Veterans With Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Find Pot Eases Symptoms

Marijuana for Trauma, a growing movement of young volunteer Afghan 
war veterans, is setting up shop in eastern Ontario in an effort to 
reach mentally and physically injured troops still struggling in the 
aftermath of their military service.

The first branch of 'MFT' opened in the Gagetown, N.B. area in the 
spring of 2013 and began attracting veterans from out of province - 
including the Petawawa, Pembroke and Trenton areas.

Branches are also operating in Nova Scotia and Newfoundland.

The group helps veterans suffering from previously diagnosed 
post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) or chronic pain find a 
prescribing doctor, access marijuana through legal, certified 
providers and deal with Veterans Affairs and other related form filling.

"We're not pushing it on people," said Cory D'Andrea, a veteran of 
two tours of Afghanistan and MFT's Petawawa area representative. "But 
a lot of veterans have reason to use marijuana, so why hide behind 
closed doors when it's perfectly legal?"

With the help of outside specialists, MFT also teaches marijuana 
management, holds yoga and meditation sessions and social events 
where veterans meet and interact with peers.

The Ontario headquarters opened this past spring in Markham and the 
response, said MFT Ontario vice-president Andrew Brown, has been "incredible."

The majority of veterans they are seeing are from the Bosnia era.

"That's been a surprise," he said. "I guess the average age is just shy of 50."

PTSD sufferer D'Andrea, who took part MFT outreach sessions at the 
Centennial Flame on Thursday, with Brown and Ontario MFT president 
Chris Dupee, said medical marijuana had transformed him from a 
basement hermit into a functioning person.

"It's given me the motivation to do renovations and cleaning around 
the house," he said.

"I can be outside and in shopping centres and it's improved my 
domestic life. I don't abuse it. I like to be in control.

"Veterans who use medical marijuana don't get high," he added.

D'Andrea said he expects MFT will tap into a significant need around 
the Petawawa and Pembroke area where the mainstream system is missing 
many veterans in need of help.

"A lot of people stay in the area when they get out of the military,' he said.

Some veterans on prescription drugs for their mental and physical 
disabilities are finding medical marijuana a more effective 
alternative, said Dupee.

"Nobody is coming to us as a first option," he said.

"They've been doped up with pills and unable to function. Pills make 
you numb. At peer nights, guys have been telling us that the medical 
marijuana is starting to help them feel (their emotions) again."

Helping veterans with myriad paper work is proving an important and 
popular piece of MFT's work, said Brown.

"When you're in the military, all of that responsibility is taken 
away from you," he said. "Somebody fills out the forms, hands them to 
you and you sign where they tell you to sign.

"Even though it allows them to access what they are entitled to," he 
added, "injured veterans just can't or won't fill forms. We take the 
burden off them."

Key for some veterans, he said, is that "when a veteran contacts MFT, 
a veteran answers."
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom