Each day, on average, 22 United States veterans commit suicide. These veterans suffer from depression, PTSD, traumatic brain injury, loss of limbs and other severe war-related injuries. The ones who are not at imminent risk of suicide but who are in the grips of debilitating pain are treated with high-dose opiate therapies that are themselves toxic in the long term. Cannabis provides an alternative treatment options that are much needed in this time of crisis with respects to PTSD and other war realated injuries.

Veterans for Compassionate Care (VFCC) has developed a program-driven care model that provide behavioral and medical treatment options to reduce opiate dependence, reduce pain syndromes, and provide non-opiate relief of suffering. A key component to VFCC’s medical model uses whole-plant cannabis extract. This extract, legal for use in several States, is illegal under Title 21 of the United States Code (Schedule I).

 

Our program has been shown to help the transition from narcotization to normalization.

 

We expect in the next  12  months to open two clinics in Eastern Washington State, under a licensed Medical Director and Nurse Practitioner. We are seeking DEA-licensed research funding to begin CARF-accredited opioid reduction trials.

 

Washington State provides an ideal setting in so far as its hybrid cannabis initiatives permit medical-based and non-medical based possession and production of cannabis. The State’s Liquor Control Board is staffed and funded to provide tracking, closed-system quality control, and security. Past models, such as the “harm reduction opiate programs” – using CARF standards – provide guidance in structure and dosing outlines.

 

We expect to have clinical, economic, and program results within  2 years.

 

We are asking for help. Until the federal scheduling of cannabis is changed, every aspect of this program is put into limbo. A statement of purpose from the Senate in support of Washington State’s advances in medical cannabis therapies will allow VFCC to move forward.

 

Sincerely,

SSgt Mark DiPasquale USMC Medically Retired

Co-Founder, Board Member, and Veteran Representative at VFCC

 

Vetreran Co-Founders of VFCC 

Sgt Edmond Tucker USMC Disabled

SPC Zack Lockwood USA Disabled

Cpl Sean Azzariti USMC Disabled