DVIDS – News – Legalization of medical marijuana proves problematic for Florida Guardsmen

ST. AUGUSTINE, Florida — Thirty-six states, 4 territories, and our nation’s capital have all legalized some type of marijuana. The state of Florida grew to become the twenty second state to take action in 2014, however just for medicinal functions in circumstances involving terminally in poor health sufferers. Nevertheless, it was not till the Florida State Senate handed Senate Invoice 8A, the Medical Use of Marijuana Act, in 2017 that the medical marijuana business actually took off.

This previous 12 months Florida reported practically $1.23 billion in marijuana gross sales, based on a report by Leafly and Whitney Economics. Throughout the state the variety of dispensaries have grown at an alarming charge. In downtown St. Augustine for instance, there at the moment are three working inside a one mile radius.

Regardless of our nation’s more and more pro-marijuana tradition, the Meals and Drug Administration has solely authorized a handful of cannabis-related prescribed drugs. FDA-approved drugs like Merinol and Epidiolex deal with extreme sicknesses like most cancers, losing syndrome, and acute circumstances of epilepsy. All different non-FDA-approved types of marijuana stay illicit medication beneath federal legislation.

You will need to observe that opposite to Florida’s laws to allow using medical hashish, there isn’t a “medical marijuana prescription” in Florida. It nonetheless stays federally unlawful for a doctor to prescribe a Schedule 1 drug in the US. Subsequently, no medical skilled can legally or ethically prescribe a substance which will worsen their sufferers’ well being or improve their odds of creating a marijuana use dysfunction. Additional compounding the misunderstanding is a continuous commercial marketing campaign through which numerous magazines, billboards, and social media websites proclaim the various well being advantages of tetrahydrocannabinol or THC.

“We’re seeing a pattern in using marijuana in youth and adults to deal with the stressors and nervousness of every day residing,” stated Sara Rutan, Scientific Director of EPIC Behavioral Healthcare in St. Augustine. “There’s a notion of little threat being concerned in the sort of use, nonetheless research are linking common use to will increase in nervousness, despair and psychotic episodes significantly if use begins youthful or there may be already a historical past of temper issues. These impacts can have an effect on work, household and social life creating further stressors and having a spiral impact in a person’s life, the very reverse of the specified consequence.”

Moreover, cannabidiol oil or CBD oil can now be present in a mess natural treatments and homeopathic remedies, regardless that its use continues to be prohibited by the Division of Protection. The benefit of entry to CBD oil has proved problematic for servicemembers who must learn labels extraordinarily fastidiously on every part from tea to joint ache lotions.

Mr. Albert Figueroa, the Danger Discount Coordinator with the Florida Military Nationwide Guard’s Substance Abuse Prevention and Danger Discount Program, says the power has had greater than 150 Troopers check constructive for THC throughout a urinalysis during the last two years, lots of whom declare they by no means smoked or ingested conventional types of marijuana.

“Final 12 months I had the case of a Soldier that confirmed a constructive THC outcome from having bought a CBD product marketed on-line with healing properties,” stated Figueroa. “Sadly, as this Soldier came upon, none of those merchandise are regulated, so the probabilities of developing constructive on a urinalysis are excessive, regardless of what’s marketed relating to the quantity of THC discovered via hemp merchandise.”

Even supposing by legislation CBD merchandise can have not more than 0.3 p.c THC, many tobacco retailers and web distributors promote merchandise that comprise greater than the authorized restrict and are typically laced with artificial marijuana, fentanyl or oils contaminated with pesticides, molds and heavy metals. Subsequently, members of the navy could check constructive for THC, expertise a deadly drug overdose, or some type of poisoning as a consequence of contaminants. Even CBD bought via respected sellers that comprise the authorized quantity of THC could cause a buildup of the unlawful drug within the physique that might finally set off a constructive urinalysis. Along with punitive UCMJ motion and sure dishonorable discharge, Troopers who check constructive for managed substances now face penalties that may carry over into their civilian lives. In accordance with Title 18 U.S. Code Part 922, in any other case often known as the “Brady Invoice,” the Soldier in query could not buy, possess, obtain or ship any personally owned firearms or ammunition for as much as one 12 months from the date of the constructive urinalysis.

“The only real cause I avoid THC something is just due to the ramifications that might probably spoil my profession,” stated Military Employees Sgt. Robert Gilmore, a Satellite tv for pc Communication Methods Operator-Maintainer and Unit Prevention Chief with the 146th Expeditionary Sign Battalion. “With the way in which that THC merchandise generally can be found, by way of vape, oil or smoke means it’s arduous to inform what’s what. It’s simply not price it to me to strive.”

An excessive amount of stays unknown for America’s servicemembers to threat their reputations, careers, and lives over an unproven medicinal drug that is still unlawful beneath federal legislation. In case you are at some extent the place you are feeling you could need assistance along with your bodily or psychological well being, please contact a medical or psychological well being skilled.

In a disaster, name 911 or the Veterans Disaster Hotline 1-800-273-8255, Choose 1, or textual content 838255. Florida Nationwide Guardsmen may also name 1-855-910-5000 to achieve a psychological well being coordinator. For extra details about psychological well being therapy choices in your space, contact your native Veteran’s Affairs Clinic.