Category: Veterans

Veterans and Marijuana

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Lawmakers Call For Veterans Affairs Research Into Medical Marijuana

Veterans Affairs & Medical Marijuana

House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs Ranking Member Tim Walz (D-MN) and the nine other Democratic members of the committee sent a letter to the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Secretary Dr. David Shulkin urging the Veterans Health Administration Office of Research and Development to begin conducting and examining research into medical marijuana’s effects on veterans suffering from chronic pain and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

The letter notes that 13 percent of veterans prescribed opioids have formed an addiction to the drug.  As a response to the opioid epidemic, Congress passed The Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act (CARA) which directed VHA to continue its efforts to reduce VHA reliance on opioid medication for pain management.  The letter discussed concerns regarding veterans’ lack of access to alternatives to opioid-based treatments such as complementary and alternative medicine including medical marijuana and its cannabinoids.

“VA is uniquely situated to pursue research on the impact of medical marijuana on veterans suffering from chronic pain and PTSD…” reads the letter.  “VA’s pursuit of research into the impact of medical marijuana on the treatment of veterans diagnosed with PTSD who are also experiencing chronic pain is integral to the advancement of health care for veterans and the Nation.”

Read the full letter – Veterans Affairs Research Into Medical Marijuana.

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American Legion Supports Veterans Access to Medical Marijuana

American Legion

The American Legion, the nation’s largest wartime veterans service organization, has adopted a resolution urging the “United States government to permit V.A. medical providers to be able to discuss with veterans the use of marijuana for medical purposes and recommend it in those states where medical marijuana laws exist.”  The American Legion represents 2 million veterans nationwide.

Current VA policy prohibits Department of Veterans Affairs providers from completing forms seeking recommendations or providing opinions regarding a veterans participation in a state marijuana program.

Read the full text of the American Legion resolution – Resolution No. 28: Permit VA Providers to Discuss the Use of Medical Marijuana in Those States that have Legalized Marijuana.

The American Legion previously passed a resolution in 2016 to support the growth of marijuana at more locations, to remove cannabis as a Schedule I controlled substance, and to conduct more marijuana medical studies.

Veterans are increasingly turning to medical cannabis as an alternative to opioids and other conventional medications to treat conditions like chronic pain and post-traumatic stress.

Another military veterans group, American Veterans (AMVETS), passed a resolution in 2016 to “support a veteran’s right to use medical cannabis therapeutically and responsibly, in states where it is legal, if prescribed by a board certified medical professional.”  The American Veterans group has about 250,000 members.

This issue has also been raised by US Representative Earl Blumenauer who introduced the Veterans Equal Access Act, H.R.1820, in March, 2017.  The Veterans Equal Access Act provides that:

Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall authorize physicians and other health care providers employed by the Department of Veterans Affairs to —

(1) provide recommendations and opinions to veterans who are residents of States with State marijuana programs regarding the participation of veterans in such State marijuana programs; and

(2) complete forms reflecting such recommendations and opinions.