medical marijuana for veterans thesis statement

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Medical Cannabis and the VA: What Veterans Need to Know

"the va has its own healthcare program (vha) and its own set of rules when it comes to medical cannabis.".

As cannabis legalization continues to expand across the United States, millions of people living with conditions like chronic pain and PTSD are finding relief through medical cannabis. Military veterans, many of whom rely on VA medical benefits, face a complicated situation when it comes to medical cannabis access. Even though 1 in 5 veterans use state-approved medical cannabis as an alternative to pill-heavy treatments, and an overwhelming majority of veterans and their caregivers support medical cannabis research , the complex (and often contradictory) federal and state regulations surrounding medical cannabis make it difficult for them to seek medical cannabis treatments.

The federal government classifies cannabis as Schedule I Controlled Substance . The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (commonly known as the VA) is a federal agency and must abide by federal law. The VA currently serves close to nine million veterans , many of whom could potentially benefit from the regulated medical cannabis market. These veterans find themselves caught in the middle, wanting or needing to access to medical cannabis that is legal in their home state but restricted by federal law.

The VA has its own healthcare program (VHA) and its own set of rules when it comes to medical cannabis. To address widespread cannabis legalization at the state level, the VA crafted the VHA Directive 1315. The VHA Directive 1315 protects veterans from being denied VA benefits solely due to participation in a state medical cannabis program.

For veterans seeking medical cannabis, there are three key points to remember:

• A VA healthcare provider cannot make a recommendation for medical cannabis or assist you in obtaining cannabis under any circumstances, because doing so would be a violation of federal law.
• However, veterans are encouraged to discuss cannabis use with their VA healthcare provider, because having an open and honest conversation about any substances you consume (such as alcohol, recreational cannabis or other prescription medications) is crucial to developing a safe and effective treatment plan.
• There is no need to fear using cannabis legally—no one will be denied VA benefits and services because of legal cannabis use.*

Because they are a federal agency, VA physicians and other medical personnel may only prescribe medications that have been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). As of October 2019, there is only one cannabis-derived product with FDA approval (a CBD-based prescription medication used for treating severe epilepsy). There are no THC-based products that have been approved by the FDA. Without FDA approval, the VA is bound by several limitations:

• VA clinicians may not complete paperwork or forms required for veteran patients to participate in state-approved cannabis programs. If a veteran chooses to participate in a medical cannabis program, they will have to visit a non-VA physician (or other certified medical provider).
• All VA medical centers, locations and other facilities are considered to be federal property, which means the use or possession of cannabis is prohibited. Federal law, under which cannabis is illegal, is enforced at all times — regardless of the state law.
• VA pharmacies may not fill prescriptions for medical cannabis, nor can any form of VA benefits be used to pay for medical cannabis prescriptions.

Given these legal boundaries, it’s easy to see why many veterans are hesitant to be completely honest with their VA doctors when it comes to cannabis. Honesty is important, however, because doctors must consider all lifestyle choices and possible drug interactions in order to make informed decisions about a patient’s course of treatment. As with all medical information, disclosure of legal cannabis use is part of a confidential medical record that is protected under patient privacy and confidentiality laws and regulations.

If you’re a veteran and you’re interested in medical cannabis treatments, you don’t need to be afraid. If you’re still uncertain, you can reach out to one of our experts today to learn more.

*Additional limitations apply for individuals currently serving in the military:

Current members of the military are subject to the Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ), which prohibits the use and possession of marijuana at all times under the UCMJ by Section 912a, Article 112a (10 U.S.C.S. § 912a). Military personnel in active duty are subject to monthly drug-testing. The Army’s Substance Abuse Program (ASAP) is detailed in AR 600-85. Violations are punishable by military law.

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Marijuana in Veterans’ Medical Treatment

Medical cannabis as an alternative to opioids for veterans.

Like many veterans, the rigors of military service took a toll on Air Force veteran and DAV life member Jarid Watson’s body. He’s not sure when exactly it happened—perhaps during physical training or while loading and unloading cargo planes as a member of the world-famous U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds—but at some point during his nearly 12 years in uniform, a bone growth on the ball joint of his hip tore his labrum and damaged much of the surrounding cartilage.

The injury brought on chronic pain for Watson and eventually led to his medical retirement from the military in 2016. It also severely affected his sleep, which in turn negatively influenced his motivation and mood. As a father, husband, entrepreneur and student, he knew something had to be done to combat the pain and restore his ability to get a good night’s rest, for the benefit of himself, his family, his career and his studies.

For Watson, there was only one choice.

DAV calls for more research into medical cannabis as an alternative pain relief option for veterans with chronic pain, PTSD and TBIs.

Like many veterans, the rigors of military service took a toll on Air Force veteran Jarid Watson’s body. He’s not sure when exactly it happened-perhaps during physical training or while loading and unloading cargo planes as a member of the world-famous U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds… continue reading

Iraq veteran finds cannabis helpful as Washington debates how to move forward.

Like many veterans, service took a toll on Ryan Rasnick.

While he was driving in western Anbar Province in Iraq in 2009, an RKG-3—a Russian-made anti-tank hand grenade—was hurled directly in front of his vehicle. Rasnick quickly slammed on the brakes. And while the maneuver likely saved his and other lives, it violently jostled his neck causing long-term damage… continue reading

Is medical cannabis legal?

Over the past two decades, the legal status of medical marijuana in many states has evolved to reflect the shifting attitude towards cannabis as a viable medicine.

Currently, 33 states and the District of Columbia have state-approved medical marijuana programs, as do Guam, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Two additional states have passed medical cannabis legislation that is expected to be fully implemented at a later date, while seven states permit cannabinol (CBD) oil—the non-psychoactive component in cannabis—for medical purposes only.

Visit the National Conference of State Legislatures to find which states have medical marijuana programs.

However, physicians face ethical and legal barriers when deciding to recommend medical marijuana for veterans—while it may be permitted where they live, it remains a federally prohibited drug.

What types of conditions can medical marijuana treat?

The FDA notes increasing interest in the use of cannabis to treat a variety of medical conditions, including glaucoma, cancer, multiple sclerosis, chemotherapy-induced nausea, and certain seizure disorders. Of the states that allow medical marijuana, chronic pain, traumatic brain injury and post-traumatic stress disorder are often qualifying medical ailments.

What are other possible benefits?

Advocates and researchers believe that legal access to medical cannabis could potentially alleviate the opioid addiction crisis that has been reported among veterans.

According to the Department of Veterans Affairs, an estimated 65% of veterans suffer from chronic pain and are twice as likely to die from an accidental prescription opioid overdose as non-veterans. As such, many veterans are looking for alternatives to highly addictive and potentially dangerous opioid medications—like medical marijuana.

According to  USA Today , almost every VA facility has experienced a steady drop in its opioid prescription rates since 2012, with an overall decline of 41 percent. The VA is also continuing its efforts to promote safe prescribing practices and to address the broader opioid epidemic in the United States, which includes alternative therapies for its patients.

Are there efforts underway to legalize medical cannabis for veterans within VA?

VA scientists are able to conduct research on marijuana benefits and risks, and potential for abuse, under regulatory approval. Any questions related to research can be addressed to  [email protected] .

Several bills introduced in the 116 th Congress, including the  VA Medicinal Cannabis Research Act of 2018 (H.R. 5520), the  Veterans Medical Marijuana Safe Harbor Act (S. 3409), and the Veterans Equal Access Act (H.R. 1647) sought reforms concerning medical marijuana for veterans. While these bills did not ultimately make it into law, new legislation is likely to be introduced in the 117 th Congress.

What is DAV’s stance on medical cannabis for veterans?

DAV Resolution 023 , passed by DAV members in 2018, calls for research into the medical efficacy of medical cannabis for treating conditions of service-disabled veterans. Additionally, as mentioned above, DAV has supported legislation which seeks to do this. This is an important issue for many disabled veterans and DAV members—and leadership believes it is critical to enhance the base of knowledge surrounding the potential benefits and risks.

Can veterans get medical marijuana through the VA?

Currently, VA doctors cannot provide or recommend medical marijuana for veterans as the federal status for cannabis remains a Schedule 1 substance, making the drug illegal in the federal government’s eyes. Because of this, veterans should never bring any type of marijuana into a VA facility , even when provided through a state-sanctioned medical marijuana program.

However, veterans participating in a state-sanctioned medical marijuana program will not be denied VA benefits, according to the Department of Veterans Affairs. VA providers are able to discuss cannabis use with veteran patients and adjust care and treatment plans as needed. Veterans are encouraged to discuss medical marijuana use with their VA providers as part of their confidential medical record.

The VA will not pay for medical marijuana prescriptions from any source, nor will VA providers complete paperwork or forms required for a veteran to participate in a state-approved medical marijuana program.

However, anecdotal feedback from veterans shows that VA’s directives and actual patient experiences sometimes differ in cases where a prescribed medical marijuana user walks into a federal (VA) facility.

View VA’s full directive on medical marijuana here . If you have questions regarding this policy please contact  [email protected] .

Is it true that I could lose the right to buy or own firearms if I use medical cannabis?

Marijuana, despite medical and recreational legalization in some states, is still illegal under federal law.

According to the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms, “Any person who uses or is addicted to marijuana, regardless of whether his or her state has passed legislation authorizing marijuana for medicinal purposes is an unlawful user of or addicted to a controlled substance and is prohibited by Federal law from possessing firearms or ammunition.”

Some states have remedial steps to restore 2 nd  Amendment rights for registered medical marijuana users. But it is important to remember that even in states where it is legal, the federal law still applies.

What resources are available to learn more?

DAV’s NSO Locator or DAV’s TSO Locator

DAV’s Commander’s Action Network

Veterans Affairs policies on medical marijuana

National Institute of Health

FDA guidelines on marijuana

The Veterans Cannabis Project

The Cannabis Cure

Marijuana’s promising moment

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Medical Marijuana for Veterans Thesis Statement Infographics

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The topic is still controversial as of this day. The use of medical marijuana to treat certain conditions or diseases is, to put it simply, something that is the center of many debates. If you wanted more resources for a presentation about medical marijuana for veterans, we've created these infographics that will certainly complement the slides included in another of our templates. It offers you a variety of designs, diagrams, tables, graphs and more, with some illustrations of marijuana leaves.

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Marijuana and veterans issues.

Veterans consume cannabis at rates far higher than the general population, and many report using it for medical purposes

Does cannabis use modify the effect of post-traumatic stress disorder on severe depression and suicidal ideation evidence from a population-based cross-sectional study of canadians, journal of psychopharmacology, 2019, recent cannabis use among veterans in the united states: results from a national sample. addictive behaviors, 2018, iava 2019 member survey, 2019, the american legion, survey shows veteran households support research of medical cannabis, 2017, vha directive 1315, access to vha clinical programs for veterans participating in state-approved marijuana programs, december 8, 2017, many veterans report substituting medical cannabis for prescription drugs and alcohol, medicinal cannabis use and an alternative to prescription and over-the-counter medication use among us veterans, clinical therapeutics, 2023, a cross-sectional examination of choice and behavior of veterans with access to free medicinal cannabis, the american journal of drug and alcohol abuse, 2019, veterans often report using cannabis to treat symptoms of chronic pain and mood disorders, like post-traumatic stress. clinical and observational data supports the use of cannabis treatment for these indications., medical cannabis treatment for treatment-resistant combat ptsd, frontiers in psychiatry, 2023, assessment of clinical outcomes in patients with post-traumatic stress disorder: analysis from the uk medical cannabis registry, expert review of neurotherapeutics, 2023, biopsychosocial factors and health outcomes associated with cannabis, opioids and benzodiazepines use among older veterans, the american journal of drug and alcohol abuse, 2021, use of cannabinoids for the treatment of patients with post-traumatic stress disorder, journal of basic and clinical physiology and pharmacology, 2021, medical cannabis use in the united states: a retrospective database study, journal of cannabis research, 2021, long-term, prospective, therapeutic impact of cannabis on post-traumatic stress disorder, cannabis and cannabinoid research , 2020, effects of ∆ 9-tetrahydrocannabinol on aversive memories and anxiety: a review from human studies, bmc psychiatry, 2020, national academy of sciences, the health effects of cannabis and cannabinoids, january 2017, ptsd symptom reports of patients evaluated for the new mexico medical cannabis program, journal of psychoactive drugs, 2014, mitigation of post-traumatic stress symptoms by cannabis resin: a review of the clinical and neurobiological evidence, drug testing and analysis, 2012, in states where medical cannabis is legal, opioid-related mortality has fallen significantly, do medical marijuana laws reduce addictions and deaths related to pain killers journal of health economics, 2018, recreational cannabis legalization and opioid-related deaths in colorado, 2000-2015, 2017, national bureau of economic research, working paper 21345, 2015, medical cannabis laws and opioid analgesic overdose mortality in the united states, 1999-2010, jama internal medicine, 2014, studies of pain patients eligible for medical marijuana access find that most subjects significantly reduce or eliminate their use of opioids following cannabis therapy, minnesota department of health, intractable pain patients in the minnesota medical cannabis program: experience of enrollees during the first five months, 2018, epidemiological characteristics, safety and efficacy of medical cannabis in the elderly, european journal of internal medicine, 2018, associations between medical cannabis and prescription opioid use in chronic pain patients: a preliminary cohort study, plos one, 2017, substitution of medical cannabis for pharmaceutical agents for pain, anxiety, and sleep, journal of psychopharmacology, 2017, medical cannabis use is associated with decreased opiate medication use in a retrospective cross-sectional survey of patients with chronic pain, journal of pain, 2016, the effect of medicinal cannabis on pain and quality-of-life outcomes in chronic pain: a prospective open-label study, clinical journal of pain, 2016, share this:, contact to listing owner.

Legal Weed as Medical Treatment for Veterans

How it works

I think it would be good for it to be legalized. It would help a lot of soldiers that are going through a lot of personal issues. Most people really need a helping hand to get a better feeling and that’s why soldiers would be able to use medical weed as there fix to solutions. Others see weed as a bad thing, but scientific facts show that it helps a lot of people pull through hard situations or help with life issues.

The effects of medical marijuana on veterans in pain and “”the relationship between treatment programs involving medical marijuana that are approved by States, the access of veterans to such programs, and a reduction in opioid abuse among veterans.”” The bill allocates $15 million for the research. It helps a lot of people, but the problem is people do like it people make it seem like people are bad for it but the reason they do it is very big. A lot of people don’t realize weed calms people down in so many ways. Instead of judging the person right away think on what they probably went through before they started smoking weed and using it as an escape route from all their problems.

I just feel like this is a very good decision that they are making but I feel like if they do that for the army their going to have to do it for other government jobs. This will cause people to protest the situation and just cause a big problem and then they will realize they have to make it equal for everyone. Just a lot of consequences come from making that decision and it will just be very wild.

Several states in the U.S. have approved the use of marijuana for medical and/or recreational use. Veterans should know that federal law classifies marijuana including all derivative products as a Schedule One controlled substance. This makes it illegal in the eyes of the federal government. I just don’t see what is wrong with people smoking weed now a lot of places are legalized and a lot are so close to having it finalized. You just got to take it in consideration that a lot of people look forward to this becoming legal but at the same time you got a variety of people that don’t want it to be legal because a lot of people can buy very easy now. But at the same time, I feel like if they make it legal they should release a lot of people that went to jail for if they’re allowing soldiers to be able to smoke it.

I believe this is very good for a lot of people in the army because a lot of them suffer from PTSD and a lot more and it could really be a help for them. I just feel like people just go along with this, so it could help soldiers live life better and give them the same access to things people have. Its only right if soldiers can have the opportunity to have a vote or something to get weed legalized for them so they can release some stress by smoking or doing whatever people be doing that involves weed. I know for a fact that %90 of the soldiers in the U.S military would love for them to legalize weed, so they can have something to really help them then getting prescribed some meds. But its all up to if they’re going to legalize it and give soldiers a thing they can lean to when there not feeling right because it helps a lot with problems soldiers go through daily.

“”Some of the local growers along the coast here see it as an act of medical compassion: Donating part of their crop of high-potency medical marijuana to ailing veterans, who line up by the dozens each month in the echoing auditorium of the city’s old veterans’ hall to get a ticket they can exchange for a free bag.””

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The Use of Medicinal Marijuana for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder: A Review of the Current Literature

Affiliation.

• 1 Department of Psychiatry, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut.
• PMID: 26644963
• PMCID: PMC4578915
• DOI: 10.4088/PCC.15r01786

Background: Medicinal marijuana has already been legalized in over 23 states with more considering legalization. Despite the trend toward legalization, to date, there has been no systematic review of the existing literature for the efficacy of medicinal marijuana for many of the conditions for which it is proposed to treat. This study seeks to understand the current literature regarding the use of medicinal marijuana in the treatment of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

Data sources: PubMed and PsycINFO databases were searched until April 2014 for articles outlining outcomes of case files, control studies, and observational studies regarding the efficacy of medicinal marijuana in treating PTSD. Various combinations of the following search terms were used: marijuana, medicinal marijuana, cannabis, cannabinoid, PTSD, efficacy, trial, and neurobiology.

Study selection: Full text of each article was reviewed, and those directly addressing the question of efficacy of medicinal marijuana on PTSD symptomatology were included. Data were extracted from a total of 46 articles.

Results: Analysis revealed that most reports are correlational and observational in basis with a notable lack of randomized, controlled studies. Many of the published studies suggest a decrease in PTSD symptoms with marijuana use. Though the directionality of cannabis use and PTSD could not be fully differentiated at this time, there appears to also be a correlation between PTSD and problematic cannabis use. Despite this finding, there is a growing amount of neurobiological evidence and animal studies suggesting potential neurologically based reasons for the reported efficacy.

Conclusions: Posttraumatic stress disorder is 1 of the approved conditions for medicinal marijuana in some states. While the literature to date is suggestive of a potential decrease in PTSD symptomatology with the use of medicinal marijuana, there is a notable lack of large-scale trials, making any final conclusions difficult to confirm at this time.

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The Evidence—and Lack Thereof—About Cannabis

Research is still needed on cannabis’s risks and benefits. 

Lindsay Smith Rogers

Although the use and possession of cannabis is illegal under federal law, medicinal and recreational cannabis use has become increasingly widespread.

Thirty-eight states and Washington, D.C., have legalized medical cannabis, while 23 states and D.C. have legalized recreational use. Cannabis legalization has benefits, such as removing the product from the illegal market so it can be taxed and regulated, but science is still trying to catch up as social norms evolve and different products become available. 

In this Q&A, adapted from the August 25 episode of Public Health On Call , Lindsay Smith Rogers talks with Johannes Thrul, PhD, MS , associate professor of Mental Health , about cannabis as medicine, potential risks involved with its use, and what research is showing about its safety and efficacy. 

Do you think medicinal cannabis paved the way for legalization of recreational use?

The momentum has been clear for a few years now. California was the first to legalize it for medical reasons [in 1996]. Washington and Colorado were the first states to legalize recreational use back in 2012. You see one state after another changing their laws, and over time, you see a change in social norms. It's clear from the national surveys that people are becoming more and more in favor of cannabis legalization. That started with medical use, and has now continued into recreational use.

But there is a murky differentiation between medical and recreational cannabis. I think a lot of people are using cannabis to self-medicate. It's not like a medication you get prescribed for a very narrow symptom or a specific disease. Anyone with a medical cannabis prescription, or who meets the age limit for recreational cannabis, can purchase it. Then what they use it for is really all over the place—maybe because it makes them feel good, or because it helps them deal with certain symptoms, diseases, and disorders.

Does cannabis have viable medicinal uses?

The evidence is mixed at this point. There hasn’t been a lot of funding going into testing cannabis in a rigorous way. There is more evidence for certain indications than for others, like CBD for seizures—one of the first indications that cannabis was approved for. And THC has been used effectively for things like nausea and appetite for people with cancer.

There are other indications where the evidence is a lot more mixed. For example, pain—one of the main reasons that people report for using cannabis. When we talk to patients, they say cannabis improved their quality of life. In the big studies that have been done so far, there are some indications from animal models that cannabis might help [with pain]. When we look at human studies, it's very much a mixed bag. 

And, when we say cannabis, in a way it's a misnomer because cannabis is so many things. We have different cannabinoids and different concentrations of different cannabinoids. The main cannabinoids that are being studied are THC and CBD, but there are dozens of other minor cannabinoids and terpenes in cannabis products, all of varying concentrations. And then you also have a lot of different routes of administration available. You can smoke, vape, take edibles, use tinctures and topicals. When you think about the explosion of all of the different combinations of different products and different routes of administration, it tells you how complicated it gets to study this in a rigorous way. You almost need a randomized trial for every single one of those and then for every single indication.

What do we know about the risks of marijuana use?  

Cannabis use disorder is a legitimate disorder in the DSM. There are, unfortunately, a lot of people who develop a problematic use of cannabis. We know there are risks for mental health consequences. The evidence is probably the strongest that if you have a family history of psychosis or schizophrenia, using cannabis early in adolescence is not the best idea. We know cannabis can trigger psychotic symptoms and potentially longer lasting problems with psychosis and schizophrenia. 

It is hard to study, because you also don't know if people are medicating early negative symptoms of schizophrenia. They wouldn't necessarily have a diagnosis yet, but maybe cannabis helps them to deal with negative symptoms, and then they develop psychosis. There is also some evidence that there could be something going on with the impact of cannabis on the developing brain that could prime you to be at greater risk of using other substances later down the road, or finding the use of other substances more reinforcing. 

What benefits do you see to legalization?

When we look at the public health landscape and the effect of legislation, in this case legalization, one of the big benefits is taking cannabis out of the underground illegal market. Taking cannabis out of that particular space is a great idea. You're taking it out of the illegal market and giving it to legitimate businesses where there is going to be oversight and testing of products, so you know what you're getting. And these products undergo quality control and are labeled. Those labels so far are a bit variable, but at least we're getting there. If you're picking up cannabis at the street corner, you have no idea what's in it. 

And we know that drug laws in general have been used to criminalize communities of color and minorities. Legalizing cannabis [can help] reduce the overpolicing of these populations.

What big questions about cannabis would you most like to see answered?

We know there are certain, most-often-mentioned conditions that people are already using medical cannabis for: pain, insomnia, anxiety, and PTSD. We really need to improve the evidence base for those. I think clinical trials for different cannabis products for those conditions are warranted.

Another question is, now that the states are getting more tax revenue from cannabis sales, what are they doing with that money? If you look at tobacco legislation, for example, certain states have required that those funds get used for research on those particular issues. To me, that would be a very good use of the tax revenue that is now coming in. We know, for example, that there’s a lot more tax revenue now that Maryland has legalized recreational use. Maryland could really step up here and help provide some of that evidence.

Are there studies looking into the risks you mentioned?

Large national studies are done every year or every other year to collect data, so we already have a pretty good sense of the prevalence of cannabis use disorder. Obviously, we'll keep tracking that to see if those numbers increase, for example, in states that are legalizing. But, you wouldn't necessarily expect to see an uptick in cannabis use disorder a month after legalization. The evidence from states that have legalized it has not demonstrated that we might all of a sudden see an increase in psychosis or in cannabis use disorder. This happens slowly over time with a change in social norms and availability, and potentially also with a change in marketing. And, with increasing use of an addictive substance, you will see over time a potential increase in problematic use and then also an increase in use disorder.

If you're interested in seeing if cannabis is right for you, is this something you can talk to your doctor about?

I think your mileage may vary there with how much your doctor is comfortable and knows about it. It's still relatively fringe. That will very much depend on who you talk to. But I think as providers and professionals, everybody needs to learn more about this, because patients are going to ask no matter what.

Lindsay Smith Rogers, MA, is the producer of the Public Health On Call podcast , an editor for Expert Insights , and the director of content strategy for the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health.

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