Senator McCain

I am an Air Force Veteran that due to a service connected disability was forced to leave after 8 year and 11 days. Yes, I received my severance pay, but that was not what I wanted. I want to get back in the military. I remember the day you announced that you were going to be running for President in 2008. I had a huge grin and looked at my Mother and said, "Now us Disabled Veterans will have someone looking out for us." There was absolutely no way I could not support you. I am not sure if you caught that, I turned to my Mother, yes my mother was at my house helping me with dishes and laundry. This is something my mother does to assist me because of the pain I feel. I have been prescribed a multitude of medications to assist me with this pain. The side effects that I have worried about with some of these medications range from not being able to eat to being taken to the hospital because of painful headaches. These are not what some have had to deal with while on these medications. These medications have been proven to cause everything from gambling addiction to death. The worse part about these medications is the Doctor is worried about my dependence on them. It is known that these medications help me; dealing with pain makes you drained of energy. You get to this point where all you want to do is lay down and not move. How can people tell I am on medication? I am up moving around. I get projects done, the lawn is mowed and the dishes are done before my mother gets there. The Doctor told me that he is not going to prescribe anything for another month because I am too young to deal with all these medications. He wants to disregard what his duty to the patient is because of the dangers of this medication. A doctor’s job is to do a risk assessment of the medications he prescribes. Yes it is a great benefit to me to have this medication. But according to this Doctor the risk is too great also. I was reading an article over in Europe, while I was working for the Air force as a Contractor. This article was about a new study that Marijuana was found to assist people with Rheumatoid Arthritis and other Chronic Pain. I immediately asked my doctor about this finding. She referred me to a pain specialist that was a local National and he told me, "one of these weekends go to Amsterdam with your family and try it. It is legal there and I believe you will see benefit from it." Sure enough because of my position I was never used to taking vacation so I went home and decided me and my wife would take the Girls to The Netherlands and visit the beautiful country. The first day we were there I went into Amsterdam, walked to the nearest coffee shop and purchased a pre-rolled Marijuana Cigarette. I didn't know what to expect, I was scared. But sure enough within minutes the pain was lessened more than half. The Numbness in my legs turned to a tickle. The fatigue I usually feel was gone. I met up with my family and we walked around Amsterdam. The next day I went to the coffee shop again. This time I bought a cup of Tea brewed with marijuana. This time it took longer for me to feel it. I took my family to the Amusement Park over there was able to keep up with them and this time it lasted a lot longer. My wife was so happy because we didn't have to stop for me because of the pain. I didn't have to worry about being on my own because I was able to keep up. Now Senator McCain, I am back in the US. I have been a Military Member and injured my self while in service for the military. I have not gone a single day where my job has not had a direct impact on the United States Government. I have done absolutely nothing but serve this country since the Day I signed those enlistment papers. Why am I writing this? Your Website shows this "John McCain believes that America's veterans who dedicated themselves to protecting our country deserve the highest quality health care." Since I have been back in the states I have asked every VA hospital Doctor what they thought about Medical Marijuana. There have been a couple that have told me that they wish they could prescribe it since it will be a big benefit to a lot of patients. But most of them will not say anything at all because they work for the Federal Government, and they are not allowed to recommend or prescribe this medication. I have since been to civilian Doctors because they do not have to worry about the Federal Government and I have asked them. I have asked Doctors of all types, I have asked Physician Assistants, and Nurses in all types of practice and every one of them has agreed that Marijuana has some great medical uses. So Mr. McCain, I feel you have lied when you said you want the best medical care for us Disabled Veterans. You have said you do not agree with Medical Marijuana. Although Groups like, National Association for Public Health Policy, Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, American Academy of Family Physicians, American Society of Addiction Medicine and a lot more than I can name here, have all endorsed marijuana's medical capabilities. Mr. McCain, I am not asking you to legalize Medical Marijuana right now, I am asking that you do some research, talk to some Medical professionals that do not have any Federal Government affiliation and especially talk to some Medical Marijuana patients in one of the 12 states that have legalized it already. This is too important of an issue for those of us in pain for you not to do something about it. Is it important to you? As a Republican that will be voting in the Primaries, yes it is important to you. Sincerely, Andrew White Disabled Veteran