Evidence of meeting #41 for Veterans Affairs in the 42nd Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was services.
A recording is available from Parliament.
5:25 p.m.
As an Individual
I'm not sure I understand the question. Are you wondering if they're taking the same method that we're taking?
5:25 p.m.
Conservative
John Brassard Conservative Barrie—Innisfil, ON
Right. Are they taking the same path that you're taking? Do you know if they're engaged in medicinal marijuana, etc.?
5:25 p.m.
As an Individual
Some have tried. Other people are totally against it. It's something that was never part of their lives. They never experimented with it.
5:25 p.m.
As an Individual
It's getting over that bridge to look at it as a medication. Once you're in the military, that's very much a no-no, so it's getting over that mindset as well.
5:25 p.m.
Conservative
John Brassard Conservative Barrie—Innisfil, ON
Yes.
One of the things, again, is that there is a big difference between recreational and medicinal.
5:25 p.m.
Conservative
John Brassard Conservative Barrie—Innisfil, ON
Also, one of the things we're finding is that it's not as is soldiers who are suffering from PTSD or OSIs are sitting around a campfire smoking joints. They are using it because they are finding symptomatic relief as a result of it.
Thank you so much.
5:25 p.m.
Liberal
5:25 p.m.
NDP
Irene Mathyssen NDP London—Fanshawe, ON
Thank you very much. I appreciate that.
I have a couple of questions. One of the things I have discovered from talking to veterans is that a veteran has to go to a psychiatrist in order to get the benefits of the treatment and the support, and that psychiatrists always resort to the opioids, the heavy drugs. A veteran who doesn't go to the psychiatrist is in trouble. The psychiatrist who doesn't believe in alternative therapies is a problem. Was that part of your experience and Marc's experience?
5:25 p.m.
As an Individual
It was until we found a different psychiatrist. We were in the hospital because he had tried to injure himself, and we met a different psychiatrist who had a different perspective and was willing to try this. I was very adamant. I had printouts of every medication he was on, with the side effects. I said, “I don't want my husband on this anymore.”
5:25 p.m.
NDP
Irene Mathyssen NDP London—Fanshawe, ON
With regard to the medical marijuana, when it was prescribed, did anyone talk about the different components? There is the medicinal part, and I can't recall the initials.
5:25 p.m.
NDP
Irene Mathyssen NDP London—Fanshawe, ON
Yes, and then there's the hallucinogenic. It's well known that the medicinal or therapeutic part is available. Did anyone ever talk to you about that?
5:25 p.m.
As an Individual
That's the nabilone. That's what the psychiatrist tried. That's a prescription form.
It took a process in order to get that approved, because it's not approved for this. There was the whole step by the psychiatrist, which took a lot of his time. The pharmacy was working filling out paperwork after paperwork for Veterans Affairs and Blue Cross to actually get it approved.
Also, while it was approved for Marc, that's not going to help another person get it approved, which is another frustrating component.
5:25 p.m.
NDP
Irene Mathyssen NDP London—Fanshawe, ON
Okay.
You said that Marc did take mefloquine, and he experienced some negative side effects. Was there anyone on the ground monitoring, keeping track, or making sure that they were watching out for the safety and health of men and women on the ground who were taking or were compelled to take mefloquine, or do you know?
5:25 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Neil Ellis
That ends the round of questioning.
I had just one clarifying question. I think somebody asked you about the amount of money you had spent out of your pocket, and you didn't have a total amount. Could you just give us an idea of what programs cost? Are they $20 or $50 or $1,000 out of your pocket? Could you just give us a base figure so we have an idea of what some of the costs are?
5:30 p.m.
As an Individual
The cost of our plane ticket out west—I live in New Brunswick—could range from $700 to over $1,000. Also, every time you'd see a naturopathic doctor for supplements, it would be $300 or $400 a month.
5:30 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Neil Ellis
Okay. That gives us an idea. If you want to add that up and send it or anything to the clerk after, we can add it to your testimony.
5:30 p.m.
Voices
Hear, hear!
5:30 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Neil Ellis
On behalf of the committee, I want to say that was just amazing. Thank you and your family for all you've done to testify here today.
With that, the meeting is adjourned.