SB 281: Oregon Senator Betsy Close - Prohibitionist Against Helping Soldiers with PTSD

(SALEM) - Two combat veterans told state senators on Wednesday how marijuana has helped them cope with post-traumatic stress disorder and at times helped calmed one soldier's violent urges.

State Senator Betsy Close testified that she is against expanding the medical marijuana program.

"Marijuana does damage the body and especially the brain," she said while citing a 1979 study about the dangerous effects of marijuana. "All drugs have side effects. This drug has documented brain damage and sex damage," Close added.

Capitol Address:
900 Court St. NE, S-303
Salem, OR 97301
Capitol Phone:
503-986-1708

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Anonymous April 8, 2013 9:58 am (Pacific time)

Editor you are totally wrong, and as a combat Vietnam veteran...

Anonymous April 6, 2013 10:32 am (Pacific time)

There is no peer-reviewed scientific evidence showing that for at least "combat" veterans that have been formally diagnosed with PTSD that marijuana is some type of lifesaving remedy. There are plenty of Vietnam veterans who not only suffered from high combat stress, but also a very hateful home environment who did much better in group therapy without any type of drug, including marijuana. The suicide rate for Vietnam veterans (see CDC studies) spiked at first, then actually went below their civilian cohorts. Marijuana will be legalized so please quit using combat veterans as your "prop." In time most of you rational beings will see how legalizing drugs will cause far more harm than keeping all of them illegal. My guess is that for those of you who want drugs legalized also on average, do not do very well in the job market, nor in any type of competitive environment.

Advocating for the lives and rights of Veterans is not using them for a prop, we are responding to a large amount of input from Veterans. You can minimize the impact of suicide on Vietnam Vets, but since several years ago the suicide rate passed the 58,000 mark, it doesn't leave much to guess about. Besides, as much as we care about Viet Vets, there is a new generation. If legislators like Close want to attack the rights of Veterans then she will but we have plenty to say about it.

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