Medical Marijuana: Dr. Phil Dogface Leveque; Who is He?

Phillip Leveque has spent his life as a Combat Infantryman, Physician and Toxicologist.

(MOLALLA, Ore.) - My father was a construction gypsy. He was a Construction Superintendent for probably about 50 sawmills in the Pacific Northwest. Although he rarely worked winters, we were considered an upper class, blue collar family.

Dad told us three boys about 1940, “Don’t plan on staying in sawmill construction, we’re running out of timber.” He was correct. I became a Professor of Pharmacology at age 31 and then a Physician at 53. My brother became a Dentist. Both jobs are much nicer than heavy construction.

I lived in Klamath Falls, Oregon, a pure log and sawmill town from ages 5 to 12. I sold newspapers in the “logger’s paradise,” the red light district. I knew most of the ladies, they were my customers.

I first became acquainted with marijuana then. The Mexican kids were smoking “loco weed”. O.K. so sometimes they acted funny.

I paid my own way through college with a B.S. in Chemistry. I was deferred from the draft of World War II until I got through.

I volunteered for the Army in May 1944. I thought they could use a good chemist, but I was wrong. Instead I was dragooned into being a Battalion scout, point man and forward observer, a real “Dogface”.

For you fellow “Dogfaces” and “Grunts”, you know what that means. Pay up your life insurance and reserve your grave. You aren’t going home. I surprised myself and my sergeant and lieutenant, who both tried to get me killed it seemed. I didn’t think much of the “stripes” or the “brass”. Both should try sleeping in a muddy foxhole two or three hours a night under artillery barrages.

I am a survivor of General Patton’s Third Army. Last week on the history channel, I heard him quoted about getting to Berlin in the spring of 1945. “If we’re not victorious, let no one come back alive.” The worst thing is, he probably meant it. He probably was the most successful General but his troops had the highest casualty rate. I think the involvement bent my psyche, after working for him and “sleepwalking through hell.” Except for him, about the only thing I was afraid of was German artillery. For any World War II Combat Vet, you know what I’m saying. The projectiles were faster than sound, and if you didn’t hear them, you were probably hit and dead.

When I got home, I got back to college and during vacations worked in heavy construction, big stuff—sawmills, rock crushers, one hundred foot tall water towers, etc.

Then I got the opportunity to go to medical school for a doctorate in pharmacology and toxicology, and I became a Professor for 22 years. I was good enough to be invited by the University of London to help train the first physicians in Tanzania. After this, it became possible for me to be a full time professor while I was a full time medical student. (Don’t try it folks.) It will drive you crazy— I know.

I was also offered the position of Chief Toxicologist for Baltimore, Maryland, offered Chairman of Pharmacology in Texas and Deanship at the Osteopathic College in California. Not bad for one Oregon farm boy who wanted to stay in Oregon.

As a Toxicologist, I’ve been in court over 400 times as an expert witness. I won about 80% of my cases and angered a lot of lawyers in the process.

For me, falling into medical marijuana was almost accidental. I had studied the subject for 50 years, but I was totally unprepared to find out how effective it was for so many different diseases.

It was totally outstanding. The worst thing that has happened to me during this stage of my professional career is the “reefer madness” mindset of so many of my physician colleagues, who still think it is an addicting drug which drives the user crazy. They will learn eventually that it is the safest, most versatile drug they will ever use.

More information on the history of Leveque can be found in his book, General Patton's Dogface Soldier of Phil Leveque about his experiences in WWII. Order the book by mail by following this link: salem-news.com/pages/Dogface_soldier.

Watch for Dr. Phil Leveque's video question and answer segments about medical marijuana with Bonnie King.

Other articles and video segments about medical marijuana on Salem-News.com:

Salem-News.com Marijuana Coverage

Where and How to Smoke Legal Marijuana without Fear of Arrest in the U.S.

Eulogy of a Great Warrior: Hoss Plourde

The Ripple Effect How Marijuana Laws Are Impacting Society

Audit the Audit

Welcome Home, Tom

Comments Leave a comment on this story.

All comments and messages are approved by people and self promotional links or unacceptable comments are denied.

Greg July 21, 2007 2:00 pm (Pacific time)

If there ever was an honorable man, it's Dr. Leveque. Thank You Sir. Greg

Kina July 20, 2007 9:14 pm (Pacific time)

A good man. He was my wife's Doc. He helped to end a downward spiral of 10 years worth of dependency on prescription medication.. My wife has been free of med.s for 5 years and has never been in better mental and physical shape. She is a loving mother and wife, now free of side effects from all the medications.. I have known my wife sense she was in 3rd grade and let me just say Thank you Dr. Thank you, you saved her life and ours... You have truly changed our lives...

S.LaMarche; July 20, 2007 6:30 pm (Pacific time)

Can I get a witness!

[Return to Top]