Rockingham Perry Parks is taking his fight to use cannabis as medicine to the nations capital next week.
Parks, a retired U.S. Army helicopter pilot, is scheduled to speak at the American Legions Washington Conference on Monday, with more than 100 Legionnaires expected to attend.
The invitation comes following a teleconference earlier this month when Parks detailed his personal research and use of cannabis to treat PTSD and chronic pain.
Im starting with the background why dont you read these magazines? There are whole magazines devoted to this topic and tell you how we screwed up, he said Friday afternoon, listing events in the last century that led to the criminalization of the plant, and research into its medicinal properties.
Cannabis is classified as a Schedule I controlled substance by the federal government, which infers that it has no medical value. However, the government also holds a patent on cannabanoids. While many were hopeful late last year that it would be re-scheduled, the feds, instead, kept it there and included all extracts including oils that have been used to treat seizures in children.
Parks said he wasnt sure whether or not he would wear his uniform or not, which he has often donned when approaching politicians on the subject.
Theres a certain air of respectability that doesnt quite fit with the pot user, he said. The other thing is it calls attention to a disgraceful situation for the veterans, that if they treat their injuries with cannabis in 29 states thats cool, but in the other 21 like me theyre subject to arrest.
PATIENT, NOT A CRIMINAL
In the years that Parks has been vocal as a cannabis user and advocate, he has never had any trouble with the law.
However, that all changed late last month when he was boarding a plane at Charlotte-Douglas International Airport to visit his daughter in New York. The Transportation Security Administration searched his bags and found his medicine.
He is now facing a felony charge for possession of marijuana.
As far as Im concerned, this is not criminal activity, he said. Criminal activity, to me, has a definitionand I dont fit the definition of a criminal, I dont think. I fit the definition of a patient whos being criminalized and subjected to arrest because I choose to treat myself with this which in 1999 they said was one of the safest substances we could put in our bodies then the things that I know are killing me.
Before switching to cannabis, Parks was being prescribed 10 mg of hydrocodone and 650 mg of acetaminophen three times per day.
Thats (almost) 2,000 mg of Tylenol a day, every dayso were killing our veterans with the pills, he said. And because I refuse to take the pills that are known to cause injury to me, and because I function better and my life seems better with the cannabis, I wouldnt go back to it for anything.
The only reason Parks fears being incarcerated is because it would cut in to his income and support for his family.
Thats unfair to them, he said.
Parks is being represented by Asheville attorney Ben Scales, who specializes in medical cannabis cases.
I think most people are outraged that something like this happens, he said.
According to a slide show by the American Civil Liberties Union, 52 percent of all drug arrests were for marijuana, with law enforcement making pot busts every 37 seconds.
He says legalization, and allowing people to grow their own, would cut into the profits of the drug cartels.
MOVING UP
Parks said he hopes that his American Legion testimony will lead to an appearance with the newly formed Cannabis Caucus, a bipartisan caucus with U.S. Representatives from Oregon, California, Colorado and Alaska.
Back in North Carolina, Rep. Kelly Alexander, D-Mecklenburg, has again introduced a bill to permit medical cannabis in the Tar Heel State.
The bill, filed Wednesday, has three other primary sponsors and several other sponsors all Democrats from Mecklenburg, Wake, Durham, Forsyth and Buncombe counties.
News Moderator: Katelyn Baker
Full Article: Rockingham Veteran To Speak To American Legion On Health Benefits Of Cannabis
Author: William R. Toler
Contact: Richmond County Daily Journal
Photo Credit: None Found
Website: Richmond County Daily Journal
