Why it matters: The US Senate Appropriations Committee has passed an amendment as part of the approved legislation that will allow doctors at the US Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to recommend medical cannabis for treatment to patients in legal states. This will financially cover the VA for the 2024 fiscal year, allowing veterans to opt out of using opiate painkillers and experiment with an alternative method for treating PTSD, depression, anxiety and other conditions.
What they are saying: “The more recent measure that just passed in The Senate Appropriations Committee “simply says, in states that have a medical cannabis program, that a veteran’s doctor can talk to their veteran patient about the pros and cons of medical cannabis and fill out related paperwork should a veteran decide to participate in a state program where such paperwork is required,” said Democratic Senator Jeff Merkley, who sponsored the amendment.
The big picture: For decades, veterans have called for medicinal cannabis as an option for treating unseen wounds and injuries sustained through sickness, and many non-profit veterans service groups, like Veterans Appreciation, agree that medical cannabis should be rescheduled as a safe and effective alternative treatment. With several bills currently making their way through Congress, bipartisan support for veterans access to medical marijuana is on the rise in the US.
What to watch: Federal research into cannabis still faces bureaucratic hurdles that hinder researchers, putting the efficacy of medicinal cannabis treatment for veterans with chronic pain, PTSD, and Traumatic Brain Injuries under question. Therefore, it will be critical for all research to be thoroughly conducted to continue to improve the efficacy of cannabis treatments for veterans.
My take: While veterans should not have to struggle just to get a doctor to talk to them about medical marijuana, caution must be addressed when prescribing any type of drug. With safety in mind, various studies testifying to the efficacy of medical marijuana in treatment have led to refiled bills looking to legalise medical cannabis for military veterans on a federal level. It is the best way to ensure that veterans can suffer less from opiate addiction and its fatal consequences, and instead use a safer and harm-reduction path to treating pain.
