Vet Gets Back on VA Program, 11 Cop Cars to Jail Patient for Growing

Laprill O’Brien is a registered medical marijuana patient who has beat cancer twice and suffers from manic bipolar disorder. On the morning of July 7, 2014, eleven police cars screeched to a halt in front of her home in Diamond Bar with police swarming over her home because they had a tip that they were growing marijuana. Her children abducted by CPS, Ms. O’Brien was held in jail for five days before being released with no charges being filed at the time.   Although they have gotten their children back, she and her husband, Rick Gromoll have been charged with illegal cultivation with their next court date set for April 23 in Pomona. As the show’s first guests, Laprill and Rick reveal the horrors that happened that day, how it has affected their family and how their court case is proceeding.   Wondering whether the VA directive stating veterans who use medicinal marijuana should not be kick out of their pain management programs is being implemented? Then meet Ken Whitmire, a veteran receiving services from the Loma Linda VA Hospital for chronic pain related to service connected injuries to his back and neck. He had been kicked out of his pain management program because of his use of medicinal marijuana.   On Monday, March 30 he went back to his pain management doctor with the new directive in hand and became the first medical marijuana veteran at the Loma Linda VA Medical Facility to be reinstated into a pain management program as a result of the new directive. What happened when Ken confronted his VA doctor is remarkable, astounding and ever so gratifying.   As an interesting aside, Ken lives in Slab City, a bohemian encampment on the east side of California’s Salton Sea. In addition to his story of success at the VA, he will be providing us with the low-down on this unusual bit of Americana.