Derek Pyrah, a returned serviceman from the Iraq war, has penned a heartfelt letter to Minister Keogh MP, the Minister of Veterans Affairs in Australia. In the letter, Derek advocates for better access to authorized Medicinal Cannabis (MC) treatments for veterans struggling with PTSD and the side effects of polypharmacy.

After years of rehabilitation using medicinal cannabis, I have found a good balance to keep me functional during the day and sleeping well at nigh. Cannabis has helped form a platform from witch to heal. My food and routine has become my medicine, every one percenter has helped me repair the injuries accrued over 16 years of military service, followed by 5 years on polypharmacy cocktails.

While medicinal cannabis is legal in Australia, many doctors don’t know enough about it to prescribe. Studies show that a huge proportion of adult-use (recreational) cannabis consumers are self medicating. A common scenario is that those who started as adult-use consumers have transitioned and are experiencing the benefits of being medicinal patients.

Professor David Healy, Medicating Normal, explains the emerging findings of permanent sexual disfunction.

Have you suffered long term side effects of polypharmacy?