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Marijuana activist named to outreach post
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He will serve the non-profit as its Veterans Outreach Specialist.
“First of all, I want to fight to get the same rights for veterans in this state that veterans who live in other states already have,” Parks said. “We are still being penalized, and this is an injustice to veterans everywhere that we are still being denied the same benefits veterans in other states enjoy.”
He pointed out Veterans Affairs has amended its policy to withhold medications from veterans who test positive for marijuana in states where it has been approved for medical use. The legislatures of 14 U.S. states have approved the use of the natural product for medicinal use.
“I am being denied the use of what I feel to be the best medication, the least destructive to my health, not because of who I am, but because of where I live,” Parks said.
The organization’s director called attention to the state legislation that would provide for the legalization of marijuana for medicinal purposes in welcoming Parks on board.
It is named House Bill 1380, and is now in the House’s Health Committee.
“We are pleased and honored to have Mr. Perry Parks join our team as Veterans Outreach Director,” NCCPN Executive Director Jean Marlowe said in a release. “Opposition to this bill is dwindling as our lawmakers educate themselves to the science and research now available, and we are feeling a true desire in the General Assembly to pass this bill for the patients who need it.”
With over 385 members/patients from each of the state’s 100 counties, NCCPN is the largest and fastest growing medical marijuana organization in the state, the release said.
The organization believes providing safe, legal access for medical marijuana patients would benefit the state, the patients, the healthcare community and society.
She said many of the nearly 400 members and patients have a military background.
“We have a lot of Vietnam veterans and veterans of the Iraq War,” she said. “We don’t have as many World War II veterans, but there are some.”
She said many of the Vietnam veterans, especially, have long recognized the benefits of using the plant, but didn’t necessarily consider it medication.
“It’s only after research started coming out, and states started to legalize it for medicinal purposes that they realized it is a medicine,” she said. “They were just using it to go to sleep without the painful and disturbing dreams. Many of them also suffer from nerve damage and muscle spasms, and they report that it’s the only medicine that gives them any relief at all.”
Marlowe also said she recently received a phone call from a veteran who is from North Carolina but currently living in California, thanking her for her work.
“There are many veterans who want to come home, but they can’t because their medicine is illegal here and they open themselves up to not being protected equally under the law,” she said. “These men’s dignity and rights are being held hostage by our state legislators. They know the state of North Carolina distributes medical marijuana to four people in the United States, but they are not being afforded the equal protection and treatment under the law they deserve and were given in the Constitution.”
On June 18, Parks testified before the House Health Committee that the use of marijuana has allowed him to cope with a degenerative disc condition in his back more effectively than any opiate-based or synthetic pain medication he’s been prescribed by a doctor.
He has appeared in news articles from the Daily Journal and Associated Press, as well as multiple radio spots including an interview on Charlotte Talks advocating medical marijuana.
Parks was a highly decorated soldier during his 28 years of military service, earning the Distinguished Flying Cross, two Bronze Stars and four awards of the Army Commendation Medal with “V” device.
He also served as a safety professional with the National Guard, Federal Aviation Administration and Murphy Farms.
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I ask first that anonymous realize that I am speaking for patients whose doctors either have or would endorse the use of cannabis for medicinal purposes, not to defend other uses of marijuana.
In response to your question about arrest for "possession", the short answer is I was detained but never charged with "possession" in 1971 following my third return from Vietnam. Had I been charged, it could have easily destroyed a rich career as a Forest Service Pilot, yes the one who crashed in 1981 that was covered up on the front page of the journal at the time with large frameable pictures inside.
I later became a pilot for US Air Express, a pilot for a State Senator, A Designated Pilot Examiner for the FAA, and a Corporate Safety Director (CSP) along with volunteering for community causes in which I believe such as Community Concerts and the State Employees Association, where I served on the Board of Governors for several years.
Because I was not charged, it also allowed me to serve my country as a soldier for over 28 years, retiring in 2001 and declared a Disabled Veteran in 2004,. The diagnosis, PTSD is little understood and a chance for the public to better understand it will be made available to the public on Sept. 26 at the Cole auditorium
It was not without much prayer and the answers to those prayers that I "knew" in my spirit..with as much certainty an imperfect human can have, that this was an injustice I could no longer have knowledge of and remain silent. I realized this one Wednesday night at the bible study while sitting under a gifted teacher of the Word for the past 10 years. Since that time, I have tried to obey that spirit, regardless of the consequences to myself and my family. It is somewhat unfair, because they did not CHOOSE to become part of this argument, and for that I am sorry.
To be perfectly honest, I was much more concerned about my Christian testimony than the legal consequences of my decision to go public, and I pray that Christians will give me a chance to give my testimony concerning those prayers before you condemn me for what I have done. I would be happy to accommodate any church in giving my testimony in person. Please call me at (910) 995-0413. The time and location is your choice.
It was not that the legal consequences are small. In fact, before I asked the Journal about doing the article, I drove the reporter down to a small waterfall at the bottom of the hill from the house and told her that, in a nightmare situation, people have lost more than a home for lesser offenses and I hoped that she could somehow convey that this is not a slap in the face to law enforcement, but indeed, LEAP (Law Enforcement Against Prohibition) an effort to help them understand the position many otherwise law abiding citizens.
(A sneak preview of the film, "The Good Soldier" will be shown on Sept 26 at the Cole Auditorium. It is a documentary about 5 combat veterans from different wars beginning with WWII and continuing through the Gulf War. I was one of the veterans selected for the veteran's film project. The film will illustrate my years as a helicopter pilot in Vietnam through film clips from the war. It will be released nationwide later but these sneak previews are being offered in the hometowns of the veterans in the film.
Note from above: See Marijuana Rescheduling Petition; Sep. 6.1988, Docket No. 86-22. This decision was upheld by the Federal Appeals Court April 1991, Docket No. 90-120 in a unanimous decision but was reversed on a technicality. The FDA had not commented on the matter (Is Nicotine a drug?) and the economic muscle of profit squashed it from the public eye.
I ask first that anonymous realize that I am speaking for patients whose doctors either have or would endorse the use of cannabis for medicinal purposes, not to defend other uses of marijuana.
In response to your question about arrest for "possession", the short answer is I was detained but never charged with "possession" in 1971 following my third return from Vietnam. Had I been charged, it could have easily destroyed a rich career as a Forest Service Pilot, yes the one who crashed in 1981 that was covered up on the front page of the journal at the time with large frameable pictures inside.
I later became a pilot for US Air Express, a pilot for a State Senator, A Designated Pilot Examiner for the FAA, and a Corporate Safety Director (CSP) along with volunteering for community causes in which I believe such as Community Concerts and the State Employees Association, where I served on the Board of Governors for several years.
Because I was not charged, it also allowed me to serve my country as a soldier for over 28 years, retiring in 2001 and declared a Disabled Veteran in 2004,. The diagnosis, PTSD is little understood and a chance for the public to better understand it will be made available to the public on Sept. 26 at the Cole auditorium
It was not without much prayer and the answers to those prayers that I "knew" in my spirit..with as much certainty an imperfect human can have, that this was an injustice I could no longer have knowledge of and remain silent. I realized this one Wednesday night at the bible study while sitting under a gifted teacher of the Word for the past 10 years.
To be perfectly honest, I was much more concerned about my Christian testimony than the legal consequences of my decision to go public, and I pray that Christians will give me a chance to give my testimony concerning those prayers before you condemn me for what I have done. I would be happy to accommodate any church in giving my testimony in person. Please call me at (910) 995-0413. The time and location is your choice.
It was not that the legal consequences are small. In fact, before I asked the Journal about doing the article, I drove the reporter down to a small waterfall at the bottom of the hill from the house and told her that, in a nightmare situation, people have lost more than a home for lesser offenses and I hoped that she could somehow convey that this is not a slap in the face to law enforcement, but to right a wrong and protect those otherwise law-abiding-citizens with medical their medical needs. Indeed, LEAP (Law Enforcement Against Prohibition)is working for the same cause.
For those who may be interested, especially the veterans in the area, a sneak preview of the film, "The Good Soldier" will be shown on Sept 26 at the Cole Auditorium. It is a documentary about 5 combat veterans from different wars beginning with WWII and continuing through the Gulf War. I was one of the veterans selected for the veteran's film project. The film will illustrate my years as a helicopter pilot in Vietnam through film clips from the war. It will be released nationwide later but these sneak previews are being offered in the hometowns of the veterans in the film.
Note from above: See Marijuana Rescheduling Petition; Sep. 6.1988, Docket No. 86-22. This decision was upheld by the Federal Appeals Court April 1991, Docket No. 90-120 in a unamimous decision but was reversed on a technicality..The FDA had not commented on the matter (Is Nichotene a drug?) and the economic muscle of profit squashed it from the public eye.
So no, dear anonymous, most patients are too sick to get out there and stick their neck out until God's medicine gives them courage, truth and healing and then they tell everyone who will listen.
It is my prayer, that Mr. Parks and no other patient ever be arrested and thrown in jail for using cannabis for medicine.
As a veteran and cannabis smoker, I think the above is a contract violation, and can be sued upon. Most people don't realize it, but when you enlist in the military, you actually sign a CONTRACT, and on this contract are the benefits, including medicine, which you will be entitled to receive at the end of your enlistment term. "Veterans' Affairs" has no right to subsequently amend a contract after it's conditions have been fulfilled on one side. That is exactly what the above statement describes the Veterans' Affairs office as doing. One should go to a lawyer about this and mention "BREACH OF ENLISTMENT CONTRACT" if one was not drafted, and is entitled to veterans' benefits.
Draftees may have similar rights. So check with your lawyer. You can shoot the President and still get medicine from the Veterans Affairs office, but you can't get the medicine if you test positive for cannabis use. DISGUSTING!