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May 20, 2013 By Robert Wilder Comments 0
News
10.03.2012
9 Comments
PTSD To Be Petitioned Against As Medical Marijuana Qualifier
The outcome could disqualify nearly half of the state's medical marijuana patients.
By Joey Peters
Of the nearly 7,000 actively enrolled patients in the state's Medical Cannabis Program, roughly 40 percent of them use marijuana to treat post-traumatic stress disorder. That all could change soon as a local psychiatrist plans to petition PTSD as a legitimate qualifier for the MCP.
William Ulwelling, an assistant professor of psychiatry at the University of New Mexico School of Medicine and a distinguished fellow at the American Psychiatric Association, wrote to July 29 to MCP Interim Program Manager William "Butch" Catanech that he'll be testifying at the next Medical Cannabis Advisory Board meeting, which will reportedly occur on Nov. 7 at 1pm at the Harold Runnels Building (the Department of Health website lists that the next MCAB meeting is Wednesday, April 18—six months ago).
"There is a recognized association between PTSD and cannabis, but the primary accepted association is that PTSD sufferers have an increased vulnerability to alcohol and substance abuse disorders, and have a higher incidence of cannabis abuse," Ulwelling writes in the letter. "Offering cannabis to a PTSD sufferer increases the risk of substance abuse."
"It's the whole 'gateway drug' thing all over again," Larry Love, a medical marijuana advocate and host of MedicalMarijuanaRadio.com, tells SFR.
Studies on whether marijuana use leads to harder drugs are largely conflicting, with many discrediting the theory. Other studies have shown that medical marijuana can have a positive effect on PTSD. MCP patients in New Mexico like Krista Robbins, who has PTSD, credit medical marijuana with getting them off of more harmful prescription drugs.
"For many people it's a gateway out [of harmful drugs]," Love says.
New Mexico is one of two states with medical marijuana programs that list PTSD as a qualifying condition (California's program allows for "serious medical conditions," which PTSD falls under). Several of New Mexico's PTSD patients are also veterans.
In his letter, Ulwelling also provides a medical study linking marijuana use to psychotic disorders.
In order for the petition to succeed, the MCAP and the secretary of the Department of Health, which administers the program, would have to make the decision to pull the plug on PTSD. The outcome could take nearly half of the state's medical cannabis patients out of the program.
"It's insane," Len Goodman, Executive Director of medical cannabis producer New MexiCann Natural Medicine, tells SFR. "It's ridiculous."
Love says he's planning to ask Ulwelling to debate the issue with him on his online radio show.
"I question his motivation behind this," Love adds.
SFR will have more on this issue as it develops. Read Ulwelling's letter to petition against PTSD as a qualifier below:
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Most of the PTSD patient that use medical canibus are veterans of foregn wars. Is the Martinez administraion against us?
What kind of complete asshole tries to take pot away from ptsd-suffering vets? Ugh.
Apparently, Ulwelling misrepresented himself. He has not been associated with UNM Hospital since 2007. The date of his petition is 7/29/12. What else did he misrepresent in his petition?
I have seen my husband, who is a Vietnam Vet, go from being emotionally upset and irrational after something triggered his PTSD, to calm after 2 or 3 hits from his medical marajuana. He has been able to get off of the antidepressants and control his anger. He rarely uses it and only if he absolutely needs it. He has had the same half ounce for over 2 years now. If you take it away from the PTSD users, they will just keep doing it, but you will be making them break the law just to treat their condition. That isnt fair and its coming from some quack that has no idea the pain of war and what these poor people are going through in there minds, not to mention all the others suffering with PTSD for other reasons. What traumas, if any, has he ever suffered to be able to say what does and doesnt help someone. Marajuana does not have any physical addiction!!!!
My understanding is that 40% of the medical cannabis patients are for PTSD. This is an attempt to take them off the program so DOH doesn't have to increase the growers list. More Martinez smoke and mirrors.
I would rather have a PTSD veteran on cannabis instead of an irate PTSD veteran with an assault weapon. But that just me.
Apparently, the "complete asshole" holds a doctorate in psychology, is an assistant professor in this state's largest and most prestigious university, and holds a distinguished fellowship in the APA. Just out of curiosity, aside from being president emeritus of your local junior high's "4:20 Club", what are YOUR qualifications? What peer-reviewed studies have you conducted which lead you to believe Dr. Ulwelling is nothing but a "complete asshole"? Or is that just the Doritos talking?
The lauding of a clinician with a poor patient rating by academics in a profession that is historically rife with abuse of patients by people in power using their position to force religious and/or social opinions on the public does not make a person "credible" Zebra...... There does need to be more research on marijuana and PTSD. Many of the studies that fall on both sides of the opinion are based on case studies which are notoriously non-representative of the greater population. The fact that so many NM patients feel they are benefitting from the use of marijuana suggests a perfect population for studying this issue better. A thorough investigation of Dr. Ulwellings ties to political lobby and pharmaceutical companies must also be thoroughly and transparently conducted.
Who has the Doritos? (tummy rumbling)
I am glad that New Mexico has the sense to be a medical marijuana state, at least until marijuana is decriminalized -- it's ridiculous it's otherwise a crime. ALCOHOL is American's drug of choice; which is way more damaging and fuels the majority of violent crimes. To take pot away from our Veterans and others with PTSD wouuld be the real crime.