Jacob Redmond
Well-Known Member
A former member of Canada's elite counter-terrorism unit has emerged from the shadows to promote medical marijuana for ailing veterans.
Kevin Whitenect hopes that his message promoting medical cannabis will bring hope to those former soldiers dealing with emotional or physical pain as well as reduce the stigma surrounding its use.
"I saw a value for veterans," said Whitenect, who spent most of his 17 years in the Canadian Forces with the Ottawa-based Joint Task Force 2 counter-terrorism unit. "I started speaking with veterans who were using (medical cannabis) and started hearing the great stories about how it is getting them off the mind-numbing narcotics they are being issued."
Whitenect is working as a medical marijuana "ambassador" for CannaConnect, a Toronto-based company that acts as a middleman to bring together licensed medicinal marijuana producers, doctors, and users.
Whitenect, who runs his own private security company in Toronto, isn't receiving any payment for his advocacy. Nor does he use marijuana himself.
But over the years, he has encountered a number of serving and retired military personnel who are dealing with both post-traumatic stress disorders as well as pain from physical injuries.
"I'm a 25-year combat veteran and I don't have emotional trauma," he explained. "I've been very fortunate. But I'm around men who do, and I'm around men who have chronic pain. The system should start to understand the damage that has been done to a lot of veterans."
The federal government started paying for medical marijuana for veterans in 2009 but its acceptance has been an uphill battle.
The Canadian Medical Association has argued there isn't enough research to show how much marijuana is a safe amount for a patient to take.
Former Conservative Veterans Affairs minister Julian Fantino dismissed marijuana as a serious health risk, pointing out it is not an approved drug in Canada.
Fantino's successor, Erin O'Toole, said earlier this year that marijuana is harmful and there is no proof it helps former soldiers deal with PTSD. But O'Toole, a former member of the Canadian Forces, did concede there is some evidence it can be used to treat chronic pain.
The new Liberal government has promised to legalize marijuana.
Whitenect said he decided to do his own research and talk to ailing veterans who use marijuana. They spoke highly of the results they get from cannabis.
Whitenect doesn't see medical marijuana as a cure for PTSD. But it can help.
"It's an alternative for narcotics which just knock people out, which don't actually help people be functional," he explained. "I opened my mind up and looked at it. I saw that it really does help vets."
Last month U.S. lawmakers cleared the way for doctors to authorize medical marijuana for veterans.
Before the new law came in, the U.S. Veterans Health Administration would not allow its doctors to even discuss medical marijuana as an option for patients in the states that allow its use.
Whitenect, who retired 10 years ago from the Canadian military, said he hopes to use his special forces background as a way to break down the stigma that might be associated with using medical cannabis.
Shane Urowitz, vice president of business development for CannaConnect, said having a former member of JTF2 associated with the firm is already getting attention from veterans.
"The stamp of Kevin's military pedigree is breaking down the stigma for his fellow brothers and sisters to go ahead and try the medication," he said. "They feel comfortable knowing that there's a guy who was in JTF2 endorsing what they are doing."
Whitenect wondered what the response would be from the close-knit special forces community. "I thought I would get a mixed reaction but I actually got positive responses," he said. "The community has been supportive."
News Moderator: Jacob Redmond 420 MAGAZINE ®
Full Article: Former Soldier Becomes Medical Marijuana Advocate For Veterans
Author: David Pugliese
Contact: Contact Page
Photo Credit: The Ottawa Citizen
Website: The Ottawa Citizen
Kevin Whitenect hopes that his message promoting medical cannabis will bring hope to those former soldiers dealing with emotional or physical pain as well as reduce the stigma surrounding its use.
"I saw a value for veterans," said Whitenect, who spent most of his 17 years in the Canadian Forces with the Ottawa-based Joint Task Force 2 counter-terrorism unit. "I started speaking with veterans who were using (medical cannabis) and started hearing the great stories about how it is getting them off the mind-numbing narcotics they are being issued."
Whitenect is working as a medical marijuana "ambassador" for CannaConnect, a Toronto-based company that acts as a middleman to bring together licensed medicinal marijuana producers, doctors, and users.
Whitenect, who runs his own private security company in Toronto, isn't receiving any payment for his advocacy. Nor does he use marijuana himself.
But over the years, he has encountered a number of serving and retired military personnel who are dealing with both post-traumatic stress disorders as well as pain from physical injuries.
"I'm a 25-year combat veteran and I don't have emotional trauma," he explained. "I've been very fortunate. But I'm around men who do, and I'm around men who have chronic pain. The system should start to understand the damage that has been done to a lot of veterans."
The federal government started paying for medical marijuana for veterans in 2009 but its acceptance has been an uphill battle.
The Canadian Medical Association has argued there isn't enough research to show how much marijuana is a safe amount for a patient to take.
Former Conservative Veterans Affairs minister Julian Fantino dismissed marijuana as a serious health risk, pointing out it is not an approved drug in Canada.
Fantino's successor, Erin O'Toole, said earlier this year that marijuana is harmful and there is no proof it helps former soldiers deal with PTSD. But O'Toole, a former member of the Canadian Forces, did concede there is some evidence it can be used to treat chronic pain.
The new Liberal government has promised to legalize marijuana.
Whitenect said he decided to do his own research and talk to ailing veterans who use marijuana. They spoke highly of the results they get from cannabis.
Whitenect doesn't see medical marijuana as a cure for PTSD. But it can help.
"It's an alternative for narcotics which just knock people out, which don't actually help people be functional," he explained. "I opened my mind up and looked at it. I saw that it really does help vets."
Last month U.S. lawmakers cleared the way for doctors to authorize medical marijuana for veterans.
Before the new law came in, the U.S. Veterans Health Administration would not allow its doctors to even discuss medical marijuana as an option for patients in the states that allow its use.
Whitenect, who retired 10 years ago from the Canadian military, said he hopes to use his special forces background as a way to break down the stigma that might be associated with using medical cannabis.
Shane Urowitz, vice president of business development for CannaConnect, said having a former member of JTF2 associated with the firm is already getting attention from veterans.
"The stamp of Kevin's military pedigree is breaking down the stigma for his fellow brothers and sisters to go ahead and try the medication," he said. "They feel comfortable knowing that there's a guy who was in JTF2 endorsing what they are doing."
Whitenect wondered what the response would be from the close-knit special forces community. "I thought I would get a mixed reaction but I actually got positive responses," he said. "The community has been supportive."
News Moderator: Jacob Redmond 420 MAGAZINE ®
Full Article: Former Soldier Becomes Medical Marijuana Advocate For Veterans
Author: David Pugliese
Contact: Contact Page
Photo Credit: The Ottawa Citizen
Website: The Ottawa Citizen
