INTERVIEW: Up-Close with Jonathan Fruchter - A Veteran Fighting for Cannabis Access

NEW YORK - June 3, 2015 - PRLog -- The High Street Journal® recently had the privilege to sit down for an up-close and personal with the veteran who brought the fight for cannabis straight to the source, the VA Hospital that houses one of only three (WRIISC) War Related Illness and Injury Study Centers, the second one being in Palo Alto, CA, and the third in DC.  The mission of the WRIISC is to develop and provide post-deployment health expertise to Veterans and their health care providers through clinical programs, research, education, and risk communication.  To date, they have refused to accept the medical efficacy of cannabis to treat post-deployment illnesses and have neglected to initiate clinical trials to confirm that cannabis would actually be able to help the Department of Defense with its upcoming shift and concentration dealing with post-deployment illnesses.  Giving up your human rights isn't part of the contract.  Isn't that what the VA is supposed to do, protect a veteran's health?  Yes, and Jonathan made sure the VA did so in this case by protecting the health of a veteran which is the oath that the agency must uphold to all veterans.

Q:  I'm sure you're aware everyone wants to know...so how did this all happen?

A:  Well, the government is compartmentalized and immense interagency strife exists that puts roadblocks in the way of getting anything done which is the reason this country is in the political and financial position that it is currently in.  I essentially explained to my department head that any urinalysis would show positive for thc, resulting from its use which enriches my life and allows me to perform at the capacity that I do everyday.  You see, with certain strains of cannabis, you can use it and go run 8 miles.  I'm serious, I've seen it happen.  This plant is a superfood, a wonder drug.  The drug companies know it, and know they can't make money off of it because it's a renewable medicine and resource.  They are holding on by their fingertips at this moment.

Q:  What do you think is the next step towards federal legalization?

A:  I definitely believe we are getting close, the house and senate are all jumping on board.  Unfortunately the federal government and DEA are blocking research trials, but a few trials are getting through, and I believe Dr. Sue Sisley is a blessing to the movement and this industry, and I'm sure will forge the path to linking the government and healthcare sides of the cannabis movement.  The DEA however, will be responsible for removing it from Schedule 1, and admitting there is a medical efficacy overall, although the government has had a medical patent on cannabinoids for its antioxidant and neuroprotectant qualities, which contradicts their current stance.  That is the duality we live in, the contradiction between state/federal law, the conflict of right vs. wrong.  But this irony is on the federal level.  You have the Patent Office essentially contradicting the DEA, welcome to the federal government.

Jonathan Fruchter, founder of The World Cannabis Club, NY's First Dispensary was recently selected to be on the speaking panel for the International Cannabis Association (ICA) at the 2nd Annual Cannabis World Congress and Business Expo to be held at the Jacob J. Javits Convention Center in New York City from June 17-19, 2015.  The presentation titled "How to Provide Veterans' Access to Cannabis Through VA Hospitals" will be given on Friday, June 19th from 3:30 p.m. until 4:10 p.m.

Q:  What are your thoughts on speaking at this year's cannabis world business expo at the Javitz, and how do you expect to impact the movement?

A:  It all really happened by accident.  As you are aware, this is a common thread in an industry full of humanitarians void of greed, we just happen to end up in the spots that we do because it's our call of duty of course. I truly believe we need to end this "alternate 1985" that we've been living in and allow the men and women who took up arms to medicate the way they see fit, and that their sacrifices so entitled them to do.  And everyone who feels they benefit from this plant, should have the right to do so and be protected as such.

What happened here proves a huge advancement concerning the government's perception of cannabis use and employee rights, especially in the federal workplace.  A veteran of the Navy's special operations air rescue swimmer (AIRR) community, Jonathan has first hand knowledge of the tremendous medical benefits of cannabis and has been working with local, state and federal governments as well as private industry to make cannabis available to veterans through VA Hospitals worldwide.

Q:  Do you think print newspapers are out of date, and online news the norm at this point?

A:  Well, it's true that the phenomenon is trekking towards digital absolutely, but I do believe there's still room for niche magazines and small weeklies or monthlies that can be utterly successful.  It's all in branding the name with the birth of an industry like this one, absolutely.

Jonathan brings to the table many years of experience of cultivation techniques and is a sought after industry consultant.  He is a caregiver at heart, having selflessly risked his life every day for others, this is what he does best.  He is an activist from the start, and is also the COO and Founder of New Jersey's 1st caregiver delivery service Natural Wellness & Edibles.  Jonathan is a member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars and The Jewish War Veterans.

Q:  Do you still work for the government?

A:  I left government service after my year appointment with the VA and time with the Navy to completely dedicate all of my time to my activism.

Natural Wellness & Edibles was founded in 2012 and is New Jersey's 1st delivery-only caregiver service of medical-grade cannabis and medicinal cannabis products. It is a passionate service dedicated to benefiting your healthy lifestyle.  Their mission is to provide members with the safest, most convenient, and most discreet way to medicate with a wide variety of choices and do it yourself ingredients.

The World Cannabis Club (http://www.worldcannabisclub.com/) was founded in 2012 as New York's First Dispensary.  The WCC is an international exchange of cannabis, camaraderie, compassion, and information about the wellness benefits of cannabis.