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MEDICINAL CANNABIS NOW AVAILABLE THROUGH DVAJason Frost, a former member of 2Commando Regiment, says thereluctance of some doctors toprescribe medical marijuana to veteransstruggling with crippling physical and mentalailments is costing lives. A VETERAN withfirst-hand experience using medicinalcannabis says the apparent lack of supportfor a legal drug is contributing to veteransuicides. Before seeking out cannabis, JasonFrost's post-military routine had him taking acocktail of prescription medications. Hischronic pain caused by a back condition, aswell as, his adjustment disorder with PTSDrequired him to take opiates, anti-inflammatories,diazepam, antidepressants and cortisone injections.“(There were) other medications I can't even rememberand I continued to get worse,” he said. It was during anappointment with his psychiatrist back in 2015 when hewas told about a veteran run group called WeededWarriors, which shares information about the medicinalbenefits of cannabis and alternative therapies for serviceinducedstress and chronic pain conditions. After reachingout to the group, Jason said he was able to find out moreinformation about the benefits of medicinal cannabis forhis condition and was open to exploring the option.Doctors within the State of NSW, can now legallyprescribe patients medicinal cannabis since 2016. Despitethe State and Federal Government's approval of cannabisfor medicinal purposes, although local doctors are stillreluctant to learn about its uses and write out aprescription."From what I've experienced and the feedback I havereceived from other veterans, GPs and specialists'immediate response is 'no' because as far as they areaware; this medicine is a bad drug, the harm outweighsthe benefit, and that there's not enough evidence that itworks," he said."All the negative and harmful effects are referring toexcessive use of high THC, this is not what we're gettingprescribed." The restricted access to the medicationforced him, like many others in his position, to purchasecannabis illegally. He started using cannabis for medicinalpurposes during the Christmas period of 2017 where healso experienced withdrawal symptoms from the powerfulcocktail of prescription drugs that he previously relied onfor pain management. "I had to obtain it through methodsthat I was not too happy about, but that did enable me tostart using it medicinally," he said.Unlike what most people might think, Mr Frost said itwas not as simple as buying a bag of weed to smoke andhoping for the best. He explained that there was "amethod behind the madness," which he researched ingreat detail before taking that leap.The drug proved more effective at providing relief thanthe medications prescribed in the past. Once he becameaware of Cannabis Access Clinics, Mr Frost proceeded toBy Daina OliverThis article was first published in the Wagga Timessecure State and Federal Governmentapproval to be treated with medicinalcannabis from October last year. The nearestclinic is in Sydney, which Mr Frost pays over$1000 each month because he does not havea local doctor willing to authorise hisprescription. Although the Department ofVeterans Affairs reimburses Mr Frost for theout of pocket cost, he said this was notalways the case.He said that while he waited for DVAapproval, he still was forced to source themedication illegally or stop using for a periodof time. "It was a long and complicatedprocess but the clinics have enabled me to be on themedicine now for nearly eight months straight," he said."That is where I found the most improvement - when I wasable to do it consistently. I have withdrawn off all othermedications and it has helped me commence physio -therapy, control my diet and substantially improved mymental health."Mr Frost said the Government has legalised medicalcannabis, but has "failed to educate" the public andmedical professionals about the medication. He saidveterans should not be forced to travel to "expensiveprivate clinics" when prescriptions could be given by localdoctors, who could monitor the effectiveness. It is hisbelief that the restricted access and lack of publiceducation is contributing to veteran suicides, which is onthe rise. He said people need to move beyond the stigmaattached to cannabis and recognise it for the benefits itcan bring to veterans struggling with a range of physicaland mental health conditions."I work with a number of veterans who are strung outto their eyeballs on antipsychotic medication, sleepingpills and opioids, they are hurting unnecessarily," he said."It's a cycle, when they get worse, they end up going upto a mental institution for a little while, change to newSSRIs (antidepressants), then they come back down and itstarts again. "Many who get relief from cannabis arehaving to obtain it illegally and put themselves at risk. It isexposing them to doors they shouldn't have to open.Veteran suicide is on the rise, and this medicine canhelp combat it. We have a medicine out there right nowavailable to veterans, but we can't access it. Turvey Park'sSoul Pattinson Chemist manager Monique Harry saidmedicinal cannabis is easily accessible at the pharmacy,but the problem lies with finding a local doctor willing toprovide a prescription. Ms Harry said many veterans havetried "every medicine under the sun" for mental andphysical health conditions, but medicinal cannabis is an"extremely" effective for pain management, as well as, forpeople suffering from traumatic stress. The simple solutionwould be changing people's mindsets about the medicalside of cannabis, but a fly-in-fly-out doctor, who could visitonce a month is also an option, according to Ms Harry. "Ifwe make it easier for people, they are less likely to buy offCOMMANDO ~ The Magazine of the Australian Commando Association ~ Edition 1 I 2020 37
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