Consequences of pot program cuts 'should be alarming,' says veteran with PTSD

Military veterans who smoke, eat or vapeas much as 10 grams a day ofmedical marijuana for chronic pain or PTSDare facingadramatic cutin reimbursement within days fora treatmentmany say is the only onethat works.

Nearly4,500veterans are currently reimbursed by Veterans Affairs for up to 10 grams a day of medical marijuana, but on Monday, thatwill be capped at three grams a day.

The move affects 2,578 veterans. Their coverage will be cut by as much as two-thirds.

Veterans Affairs spent $63.7 millionin 2016-17 for medical marijuana triple the amountspentthe previous year.

In a statement, Veterans Affairs Minister Kent Hehr said "this is not about dollars and cents."

He said the department isfollowing the recommendation of the College of Family Physicians of Canada that establishes three grams as the upper limit for medical cannabis while research continues toemerge.

The move has angeredFabian Henry, an Afghanistan veteran andthe founder of Marijuana for Trauma an Oromocto, N.B., company with 15 locations to help veterans access medical marijuana.

'Veterans are sitting at home in anxiety'

Henry, who was medically released from the army in 2012, said he smokes 10 grams of marijuana a day.

"A couple thousand veterans are sitting at home in anxiety right now wondering how they're going to survive on 70 per cent less medication," Henry,37, said froma hotel room in Ottawa.

The New Waterford, N.S., native just finished a five-month walk to Ottawa from New Brunswick. He plans tostage a peaceful demonstration Thursday on Parliament Hill to protest the cut to reimbursements.

The reductionmeansveterans who use medical marijuana will have to pay out of pocketfor their full dosage or medicate with less weed.

Henry said cannabis is the only thing that works to treat his post-traumatic stress disorderand tamesuicidal and violent thoughts. Anti-psychotics, benzodiazepenes and anti-depressantshave failed, he said.

Emerging research

When Hehrannounced thecutback in November, an internal department review showed a skyrocketing number of prescriptionsand the lack of a policy on reimbursement.

Hehrsaidthenew policy will be reviewed and adjusted as more scientific evidencebecomes available.

"There is sufficientanecdotalevidence from veterans that it works,which is why we continue to be the only jurisdiction in North America that reimburses," said Hehr.

Not too much pot

Henry said medical marijuanahas greatly improved hisquality of life so that he's able to work.

He said the marijuana doesn't make him stoned because of the strains he usesand the tolerance he's built up over the last six years.

New Brunswick and Nova Scotia have almost the samenumber of veterans receiving compensation for medical marijuana. More than 1,500 of them livein the two Maritime provinces that's35 per cent of all claimants across the country.

Exceptional circumstances

Veterans who have authorizationfrom a pain management specialist or a psychiatrist for more than three grams a daycan continue to receive higher compensation. So far, 46 veterans,more than half the applicants,have that approval.

But Fabian said the wait to see a specialist can take monthshis own appointment is in the fall and that lag will leave veterans in the lurch.

In response to complaints, Hehrsaid his department isworking with veterans who are having difficulties getting the paperwork together.

The department has simplified the authorization process for veterans who have both chronic pain and a psychiatric condition. Now approval from either a pain management or a psychiatrist will suffice.

'This should be alarming'

Henry is unsatisfied. He is urging the minister to hold off on the reimbursement cutback until the department finishes its own research project on the effects of marijuana on veterans.

He said the potential consequenceof having veterans run out of medication "should be alarming" to the department.

"The one medication that was working is going to be drastically reduced and potentially flare up people's PTSD," said Henry.

"I don't really know what's going to happen. I just know it ain't going to be good."

Cannabis 'cannot be the whole treatment'

MichelDoiron,the department's assistant deputy minister, saidone ofthe most effective ways of helping people in mental health distress is "engagement and support early and often."

He said cannabis may play a role in treatment"but it cannot be the whole treatment regime."

Doiron said the department provides support to accessthousands of mental health practitioners across the country, operational service injury clinicsand military family resource centres.

• Where to get mental health support in Nova Scotia