Here’s the latest from two advocates who don’t give up …
“Massachusetts veterans Stephen Mandile and Ellen Brown have high hopes that at the end of this legislative session, the state’s medical cannabis program list of qualifying conditions will be expanded to include ‘a medical condition that produces chronic pain’ and ‘Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.’”
“There is also language that would streamline the process for disabled veterans to become enrolled into the medical cannabis program for free: ‘the Commission may issue a medical registration card to a veteran receiving their health care at a federal Veterans Administration facility who provides official documentation from the Veterans Administration indicating a diagnosis of a debilitating medical condition, without the need for a written or electronic certification from a healthcare professional.’”
More from Mandile and Brown below …
Mr. Mandile, a US Army /Massachusetts Army National Guard Iraq War veteran, has worked tirelessly for the last decade to make these changes happen. Mr. Mandile drafted the language in 2016, and each session his bill advanced a little further in the State House. This year, when his bill “An Act further defining Eligibility for Medical use Marijuana” looked as though it wasn’t going to make it to the Governor’s desk by the end of the session, Stephen made the courageous choice to stand outside the MA State House the week leading up to Memorial Day weekend with a sign that read “Lets help veterans together Mr. Chair” hoping to bring awareness to the importance of expanding medical cannabis access for veterans.
On one of the days Mr. Mandile was standing outside the State House, his sign caught the attention of the Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey, who was speaking with veterans and their families on Boston Common. The odds of Stephen’s sign being seen by the governor were slim and the fact that she saw his sign is a testament that one person’s dedication can make a difference. Now because of Mr. Mandile’s dedication, Massachusetts will become the third state to adopt language that allows disabled veterans to submit their VA disability paperwork to become enrolled in the medical cannabis program. Illinois and North Dakota are currently the only two states that have language that streamlines the process of becoming a medical cannabis patient for disabled veterans.
The benefit of streamlining the medical cannabis patient registration process for disabled veterans and destigmatizing cannabis use for PTSD and chronic pain in the Commonwealth can’t be overstated. Throughout the years expanding the definition of the medical cannabis program to include Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and streamlining the registration process for disabled veterans has received support from numerous cannabis industry leaders including physician Dr. Peter Grinspoon, former Commissioner Kimberly Roy, researcher Dr. Marion McNabb, and educator Ellen Brown.
“As a state, Massachusetts has the ability to remove barriers to a form of harm reduction that the veteran community should have for healing and an improved quality of life for them and their families,” Mandile said in the statement.
“A legislative change is the result of countless hours—and in this case years—of advocacy. Destigmatizing cannabis use for veterans and others with PTSD will save lives,” Brown said. “These updates will improve quality of life for veterans and those in the commonwealth with PTSD and chronic pain. I’m proud that Massachusetts continues to update our medical cannabis program, current and future patients will directly benefit from these changes.”
