Phil Leveque has spent his life as a Combat Infantryman, Physician and Toxicologist.
(MOLALLA,, Ore.) - It is professionally and personally distressing to read and to be subjected, along with my medical marijuana patients, to extreme vituperation, especially that of newspaper reporters such as Dennis Roler of the Grants Pass, Oregon Daily Courier.
Of course, he was basing his ignorant writings on what he got from the Oregon Board of Medical Examiners, whose misinformation was worse than his.
The Board thinks psychiatric patients shouldn't use marijuana, whereas doctors in California are using it for that. Patients in pain need marijuana as a pain killer even if they have psychiatric disorders. The Board also thinks patients with histories of drug addiction shouldn't use it. They were probably using it to get off addiction with Oxycontin, etc. It works well for this.
He/they said I signed applications for patients that would not be helped by marijuana. It is important to divulge that I did not make the list of eligible medical conditions. The State of Oregon did and if the patient had one of these medical conditions diagnosed by the patient's regular physician, not in any case by me, he would be eligible for the Oregon State Marijuana Card.
Nearly all, about 99 percent, of the patients had been given a slew of strong narcotics and strong psychotropic drugs which had unacceptable, adverse side effects.
That's why they tried marijuana before I saw them. He also said that I bragged that I had signed 4000 applications. He had asked me how many patients I had and I told him. I don't brag about taking care of sick, disabled, destitute patients that other doctors won't. It's my moral duty as a physician.
He stated I was no objective judge of whether the patients should have marijuana permits. I did not make the diagnosis and I must say that the State Medical Marijuana Office, which was monitoring me and all other doctors, never denied any of my patients a permit. Furthermore, almost every patient of mine got another doctor after my license was revoked.
I was berated for having clinics all over the state. I did this because the patients' local doctors would not sign for them for religious reasons or fear of the Oregon Medical Board, the Drug Enforcement Agency goons or George Bush. I'm not going to write about his drug problems.
I was also berated for the clinic fee of $150. I didn't get it. Each clinic had about six paid employees and we had hotel and meal charges for the employees. I ended up with about 25 dollars per patient. If Dennis Roler went to any doctor for the same services we provided, it would cost more than $150.
He implied other doctors had not examined the patients. This is viciously incorrect. The acceptable diagnosis was ALWAYS made by previous doctors.
Dennis Roler may be surprised, if not totally offended, to know that now, three years after his vituperative remarks, Oregon has about 15 thousand registered marijuana patients signed up by 2200 “misled, misinformed, gullible doctors.” Four thousand of those patients were formerly my patients.
I am proud to say as a responsible, caring physician that I led the way and I'm now being followed by 2199 doctors and 15 thousand patients.
Medical Marijuana is here to stay.
You can email your questions to the doctor: newsroom@salem-news.com
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.
If you are a World War Two history fan, you don't want to miss it.
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:Oregon Medical Marijuana Doctor Tells All: Q&A Part 6 (VIDEO)Medical Marijuana: Treatment for Marijuana DependenceMedical Marijuana Medical ConditionsMedical Marijuana Medical ConditionsConnecticut Governor Vetoes Medical Marijuana BillMedical Marijuana: PTSD Medical MalpracticeMarine Combat Vet Discusses Iraq, PTSD and Medical MarijuanaThe Most Dangerous Man in OregonMedical Marijuana: What it's AboutOregon Medical Marijuana Doctor Discusses PTSD Treatment (VIDEO)PTSD: Life-Long Challenge For Growing Number of VeteransMedical Marijuana: A California Success StoryOregon Medical Marijuana Doctor Tells All: Q&A Part 3 (VIDEO)Medical Marijuana: The Replacement for Very Dangerous DrugsOregon Toxicologist Says Treatment for PTSD Should Include CannabisMedical Marijuana Doctor Responds to Written Comments (VIDEO) (Originally titled Oregon Medical Marijuana Doctor Tells All: Q&A Part 3)Oregon Medical Marijuana Doctor Answers All (VIDEO)
Medical Marijuana: Misinformed CriticsSalem-News.com