Oregon's Beloved Pot Doc Dying

As one of the last of the “old school” American doctors that truly cared, he has earned our due respect, and there’s no time like the present.

Dr. Phil "Doc" Leveque signs some of his books (Feb 2015). Photo by Bonnie King

(PORTLAND, Ore.) - Doctor Phillip Leveque has been out in front, leading the battle for the rights of all patients to make an informed consent as to the medical treatment of their own bodies for decades.

Now the old WWII soldier and Oregon doctor lies, suffering, as he has for months, in a Portland area nursing home dying of cancer with death as his only escape of pain. Fully aware of any chance of recovery, Doc called in and bid adieu to his own surviving family a couple of weeks ago.

Doc was born 92 years ago in Hood River, Oregon, and he’s always been the man out in front. Even in high school this tall handsome young man with the flaming red hair was a leader.

He was the drum major in the high school marching band, and he worked with his dad logging and falling timber. Doc was a dancer from the time he could walk. That man can dance. And the ladies knew it and he knew they did. He loves dancing.

Directed by his father away from the logging industry, Phillip Leveque went on to the U of O and became the first in Oregon to obtain a PhD in pharmacology and toxicology, and as such was better educated in the uses, positive and adverse effects of drugs and medicine than most.

A childhood wood chopping accident took an inch off his trigger finger, thus in the wisdom only the army can understand, when Phil volunteered for the army, schooled in chemical warfare, they placed him out in front, this time as a combat infantryman, a front line scout at the lead of General Patton's rush across Europe to rid the world of Hitler's death grip.

The life expectancy of a WWII infantry scout is measured in minutes, not days, but he survived.

"I walked, fought and crawled most of the way across Europe from Luxembourg to almost to Dresden, under fire daily. I spent more time on the point than anybody else in my battalion.

"I don’t have any idea how I got out of that alive. In the Army you couldn’t be an officer without a trigger finger, but you could be rifleman. Never made sense to me, then or now, but somehow I survived. Perhaps because I had good reflexes from my youth from logging and falling timber back in Oregon and I wasn't afraid to dive in the dirt."

One day, he and another scout captured 26 German officers and marched them into camp, just to discover he would be punished for doing without his tie on, as General Patton demanded that all his soldiers look and dress like proper soldiers. When Phil left for the war, he told his mother he’d be back as soon as possible. That turned out to be a twenty-year stint.

Phil found the love of his life and married Eve in England, herself a refuge and holocaust survivor. Both suffered from PTSD the rest of their lives, and self-treated themselves with old-fashioned hard work.

He was in a terrible car accident on his way home after the war and his neck and back were broken. The doctors didn’t believe he would walk again, but within 2 years, he was dancing. Still, he’s endured chronic pain in his feet all of his life due to this accident.

In addition to raising a family of five children, Eve was a nurse, and Phil went on to get his PhD, then his DO. Then the University of London recruited Dr. Leveque to go to a huge hospital the British built in Sierra Leone, West Africa as payment for their support of the British against Germany in WWII.

He took on the unique opportunity and moved there, family included, to teach medical students in the poorest of nations how to become medical doctors. After this worldly experience, the Leveque’s “came home” and set up his doctor's office practice in Molalla, OR.

Not only is Dr. Phil Leveque a tried and true friend of the Veterans, and of the sick, and the poor, but he embodies the all-important personal relationship and trust between doctor and patient.

His is a testament to a life well lived, a very “worthy” life, and the difference one person can make for others.

In the 1980's and 90's Doctor Leveque could be found on his crutches, a consequence from his earlier accident, pounding up and down the halls of Oregon's Capital in Salem leading the successful crusade for patients’ rights! The right of every person, everyone to make an informed consent as to the health and care of their own individual body.

Thus, the transition to medical marijuana was a natural one. Properly used it can reduce pain in cases where other harsher and far more expensive drugs seldom can.

Again Dr. Phil Leveque, Oregon’s Pot Doc was out in front of Oregon voters twice-approved use of medical marijuana.

He had approved applications for more than 2,000 patients when both the pharmaceutical and medical industry became alarmed that the ability of patients to grow and self-administer their own medicine could cost them the very thing that moves them, heaven, hell and earth - $$'s.

They called in their guard dogs at the Oregon Medical Board and they pulled his medical license in 2005, after a long court battle.

Dr. Phil Leveque became the first doctor in any of the states with legal medical marijuana to lose his license for confirming that the applicant was suffering from a list of ailments already approved by the State of Oregon for legal treatment with medical marijuana.

He gave his all, and he never gave up.

They falsely thought that if they got rid of the lead dog the whole sled would stall in a legal snow storm – and scare other doctors away - but the use of medical marijuana grew, and today its legal use in Oregon (for adults 21+) is days away - due in no small way to the kid with the flaming red hair from Hood River, Oregon leading the way.

Marijuana prohibition has been in effect for over 70 years in America, but that’s all changing along with an enlightened public opinion.

History will forever reflect the efforts of those behind the progress. And it will also remember those who were martyred by the system, and the administrators behind those archaic decisions based on profit and control - not patient welfare.

How ironic it is, that as Doc is leaving, legal marijuana is coming in the front door.

As one old ad man says, “the Christmas lights don't arrange themselves on the tree, so as you pass by take a moment and salute the star of patients’ rights on top, for it was this old soldier that helped put it there, Dr. Phillip Leveque, Oregon's much loved Pot Doc.”

Doc wrote a book about his life as a "Dogface" front line scout in WWII. It addresses some very difficult and many humorous events in his stint as a private in Patton’s army.

His wishes are for the newly-edited version (work in progress by Bonnie King) to be published, and all the profits from sales to go to Wounded Warriors, to help those suffering from PTSD. Get it.

Note: The Oregon Medical Board did not respond to our request for comment on this story.

THE DOGFACE

Send cards/letters to Dr. Leveque: Dr. Leveque
c/o Salem-News.com
P.O. Box 5238
Salem, OR. 97304

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Kanti April 18, 2015 7:56 pm (Pacific time)

Thank you dear Bonnie and many many benevolent prayers for the great Dr. Leveque! ❤️

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Dexter April 17, 2015 5:10 pm (Pacific time)

Even though I do not participate in the " herb " I do remember his friendly Composure towards people . The guy was like a family member , that was full of wisdom . Im rather shocked about hearing his illness . The guy always seemed alive and rather active ( considering of his age ) Anyone that is close to tim and Bonnie's family ( like he was ) is a family to me as well . I did not know him so well , but the times I saw him , he was always extremely polite , and a complete ( old school ) gentlemen . That is rare to see or hear these days . Give him my top respect .

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Tim King April 17, 2015 9:15 am (Pacific time)

I miss Doc so much, this story makes me very sad, I only know that very few people have such an impact on the world.

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One of many April 17, 2015 8:50 am (Pacific time)

There are no words for what Dr. Leveque's generosity of spirit has meant to me, and the cannabis community at large. Thank you kind sir, for all you have done, for all of your spirit and vigor! You will be remembered, always.

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