New York veterans push for medical marijuana to treat PTSD



















Photo: John Carl D'Annibale





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Chief cultivator Chuck Schmitt examines a plant in the course of the first harvest of cannabis vegetation by Vireo Health of New York has begun at Tryon Technology Park and Incubator Center Thursday Nov. 12, 2015 in Perth, NY. Medical marijuana manufacturing licenses had been granted by the state earlier this yr. (John Carl D'Annibale / Times Union) much less

Chief cultivator Chuck Schmitt examines a plant in the course of the first harvest of cannabis vegetation by Vireo Health of New York has begun at Tryon Technology Park and Incubator Center Thursday Nov. 12, 2015 in Perth, ... extra

Photo: John Carl D'Annibale




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Greenhouse on the Vireo medical marijuana facility within the Tryon Technology Park on Wednesday, Sept. 21, 2016 in Johnstown, N.Y. (Lori Van Buren / Times Union)


Greenhouse on the Vireo medical marijuana facility within the Tryon Technology Park on Wednesday, Sept. 21, 2016 in Johnstown, N.Y. (Lori Van Buren / Times Union)


Photo: Lori Van Buren




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Etain merchandise on show throughout an Open House at their medical marijuana dispensary on Thursday, Jan. 7, 2016, in Albany, NY. (John Carl D'Annibale / Times Union archive)


Etain merchandise on show throughout an Open House at their medical marijuana dispensary on Thursday, Jan. 7, 2016, in Albany, NY. (John Carl D'Annibale / Times Union archive)


Photo: John Carl D'Annibale




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Etain merchandise on show throughout an Open House at their Albany medical marijuana dispensary Thursday Jan. 7, 2016 in Albany, NY. (John Carl D'Annibale / Times Union)


Etain merchandise on show throughout an Open House at their Albany medical marijuana dispensary Thursday Jan. 7, 2016 in Albany, NY. (John Carl D'Annibale / Times Union)


Photo: John Carl D'Annibale




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A lab employee holds a capsule of a closing product on the Vireo medical marijuana facility within the Tryon Technology Park on Wednesday, Sept. 21, 2016 in Johnstown, N.Y. (Lori Van Buren / Times Union)


A lab employee holds a capsule of a closing product on the Vireo medical marijuana facility within the Tryon Technology Park on Wednesday, Sept. 21, 2016 in Johnstown, N.Y. (Lori Van Buren / Times Union)


Photo: Lori Van Buren




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A view of a few of the medical marijuana merchandise that will likely be for sale on the Vireo Health of New York Albany medical marijuana dispensary, seen right here on Sunday, Nov. 6, 2016, in Albany, N.Y. (Paul Buckowski / Times Union) much less

A view of a few of the medical marijuana merchandise that will likely be for sale on the Vireo Health of New York Albany medical marijuana dispensary, seen right here on Sunday, Nov. 6, 2016, in Albany, N.Y. (Paul Buckowski / ... extra

Photo: PAUL BUCKOWSKI




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FILE - In this Jan. 5, 2016, file picture, packaging for medical marijuana is displayed at Vireo Health of New York, a dispensary in White Plains, N.Y. New York is loosening some restrictions in its year-old medical marijuana regulation to enhance affected person entry, however to the dismay of some pot advocates, there is no such thing as a signal the state is in any hurry to be part of seven different states in embracing full legalization. (AP Photo/Jennifer Peltz, File) ORG XMIT: NYR202 much less

FILE - In this Jan. 5, 2016, file picture, packaging for medical marijuana is displayed at Vireo Health of New York, a dispensary in White Plains, N.Y. New York is loosening some restrictions in its year-old ... extra

Photo: Jennifer Peltz



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FILE - In this Nov. 12, 2015, file picture, assistant cultivator Emily Errico examines cannabis vegetation grown by Vireo Health of New York at Tryon Technology Park and Incubator Center in Perth, N.Y. New York is loosening restrictions in its practically year-old medical marijuana regulation, however to the dismay of some pot advocates, there is no such thing as a signal the state is in any hurry to be part of eight different states in embracing full legalization. (John Carl D'Annibale/The Albany Times Union through AP, File) ORG XMIT: NYALT203 much less

FILE - In this Nov. 12, 2015, file picture, assistant cultivator Emily Errico examines cannabis vegetation grown by Vireo Health of New York at Tryon Technology Park and Incubator Center in Perth, N.Y. New York is ... extra

Photo: John Carl D'Annibale



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Horticulturalist Chuck Schmitt talks concerning the marijuana vegetation within the greenhouse on the Vireo medical marijuana facility within the Tryon Technology Park on Wednesday, Sept. 21, 2016 in Johnstown, N.Y. (Lori Van Buren / Times Union) much less

Horticulturalist Chuck Schmitt talks concerning the marijuana vegetation within the greenhouse on the Vireo medical marijuana facility within the Tryon Technology Park on Wednesday, Sept. 21, 2016 in Johnstown, N.Y. (Lori Van ... extra

Photo: Lori Van Buren




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Albany


Bob Becker nonetheless has his reservations about marijuana utilization.


But when it comes to post-traumatic stress dysfunction, a situation many of his fellow veterans live with, his views on medical marijuana have shifted.


"I have some of my friends that deal with (PTSD)," stated Becker, the legislative director of the state Council of Veterans Organizations. "... I talk to veterans all over. They tell me that they're smoking a little marijuana ... they're smoking and said, 'I feel better.'"



The Council of Veterans Organizations has lined up behind a proposal within the state Legislature that might add PTSD to the listing of qualifying situations for sufferers within the state's tightly regulated medical marijuana program. The invoice has handed the Assembly and awaits Senate approval.



Currently, there are 11 situations, starting from most cancers to continual ache, that sufferers should have so as to be licensed by a health care provider for the medical marijuana program. Medications can be found in non-smokeable kinds, equivalent to oils.


Under the PTSD laws — sponsored by Sen. Diane Savino, a Staten Island Democrat who was behind the Compassionate Care Act — that situation would merely be added to the listing of these treatable by way of use of medical marijuana. 


State Department of Health spokeswoman Jill Montag stated the DOH is monitoring the invoice intently however that the division does not touch upon pending laws.


Asked earlier this week concerning the progress of the invoice, Savino stated work continues.


PTSD — a situation not restricted to the veteran inhabitants — was treatable with medical marijuana in at the very least 23 states as of final yr, according to the Chicago Sun-Times. Among the state's which have accredited it's New Jersey, the place Gov. Chris Christie in signing laws final yr explicitly noted PTSD's prevalence amongst veterans. 



Yet there are nonetheless New York lawmakers who're unconvinced of medical marijuana's efficacy for treating PTSD.


"It would be I think premature to explore alternative treatment options that might cause damage if the diagnosis was wrong," stated Republican Sen. Tom Croci, a former Navy commander, present reservist and chair of the Senate Veterans, Homeland Security and Military Affairs Committee. "A veteran may think they have post-traumatic stress disorder, but maybe they have a traumatic brain injury. We don't know."


Croci stated he's open to various therapies and helps abstinence-based remedy approaches, equivalent to hyperbaric oxygen and equine therapies, which he believes are finest for veterans in the long run


"I am open to hearing more information about cannabinoid products and the treatment of post-traumatic stress, but I have not seen to date enough data or studies to make a determination one way or the other," he stated.


Savino's invoice sponsor's memo notes that analysis is restricted as a result of marijuana stays federally unlawful. But it does level to a 2014 study in New Mexico that checked out 80 sufferers who reported a greater than 75 % discount in PTSD signs whereas utilizing cannabis. 


"The data reviewed here supports a conclusion that cannabis is associated with PTSD symptom reduction in some patients," although extra research is warranted, researchers wrote.


The state Council of Veterans Organizations' Becker stated he actually doesn't need an open market for marijuana, however, "we're here to help people who are in need with sickness or some disease like PTSD to make them feel better, get rid of that pain ... there's nothing wrong with that."


mhamilton@timesunion.com • 518-454-5449 • @matt_hamilton10



New York veterans push for medical marijuana to treat PTSD

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