Medical Marijuana — CBD For Veterans — Information & Research — DAV

DAV requires more research into medical cannabis as an alternative pain relief alternative for veterans with persistent pain, PTSD and TBIs.
Like lots of veterans, the rigors of military service took a toll on Air Force veteran Jarid Watson’s body. He’s not exactly sure when exactly it happened-perhaps throughout physical training or while filling and dumping freight airplanes as a member of the world-famous U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds … continue checking out
Cannabis’s appealing moment
Iraq veteran finds cannabis useful as Washington arguments how to move on.
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 tossed directly in front of his vehicle. Rasnick quickly knocked on the brakes. And while the maneuver most likely conserved his and other lives, it violently jostled his neck triggering longterm damage … continue checking out
Is medical cannabis legal?
Over the past twenty years, the legal status of medical cannabis in lots of states has developed to show the moving mindset towards cannabis as a viable medicine.
Currently, 33 states and the District of Columbia have state-approved medical cannabis programs, as do Guam, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Two additional states have passed medical cannabis legislation that is anticipated to be completely executed at a later date, while 7 states permit cannabinol (CBD) oil-the non-psychoactive element in cannabis-for medical functions only.
Visit the National Conference of State Legislatures to discover which states have medical cannabis programs.
However, doctors face ethical and legal barriers when choosing to suggest medical cannabis for veterans-while it might be allowed where they live, it stays a federally prohibited drug.
What kinds of conditions can medical cannabis treat?
The FDA notes increasing interest in using cannabis to deal with a range of medical conditions, consisting of glaucoma, cancer, multiple sclerosis, chemotherapy-induced nausea, and specific seizure conditions. Of the states that enable medical cannabis, persistent discomfort, terrible brain injury and post-traumatic stress disorder are frequently certifying medical disorders.
What are other possible advantages?
Advocates and researchers believe that legal access to medical cannabis might possibly reduce the opioid addiction crisis that has actually been reported among veterans.
According to the Department of Veterans Affairs, an estimated 65% of veterans experience persistent pain and are twice as likely to die from an unintentional prescription opioid overdose as non-veterans. As such, many veterans are trying to find options to highly addicting and potentially unsafe opioid medications-like medical cannabis.
According to USA Today, almost every VA facility has experienced a consistent drop in its opioid prescription rates since 2012, with a total decrease of 41 percent. The VA is likewise continuing its efforts to promote safe prescribing practices and to attend to the wider opioid epidemic in the United States, that includes alternative treatments for its patients.
Exist efforts underway to legalize medical cannabis for veterans within VA?
VA researchers have the ability to carry out research study on cannabis benefits and dangers, and potential for abuse, under regulatory approval. Any questions connected to research study can be dealt with to VHABLRD-CSRD@va.gov.
Several bills introduced in the 116th Congress, consisting of 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 worrying medical cannabis for veterans. While these bills did not ultimately make it into law, new legislation is most likely to be presented in the 117th Congress.
What is DAV’s position on medical cannabis for veterans?
DAV Resolution 023, passed by DAV members in 2018, calls for research study into the medical effectiveness of medical cannabis for treating conditions of service-disabled veterans. Additionally, as pointed out above, DAV has actually supported legislation which seeks to do this. This is an essential issue for many disabled veterans and DAV members-and management believes it is critical to boost the base of understanding surrounding the possible benefits and threats.
Can veterans get medical cannabis through the VA?
Currently, VA doctors can not offer or recommend medical cannabis for veterans as the federal status for cannabis stays a Schedule 1 compound, making the drug unlawful in the federal government’s eyes. Because of this, veterans should never ever bring any type of cannabis into a VA facility, even when provided through a state-sanctioned medical cannabis program.
However, veterans participating in a state-sanctioned medical cannabis program will not be rejected VA advantages, according to the Department of Veterans Affairs. VA companies have the ability to discuss cannabis usage with veteran patients and adjust care and treatment plans as required. Veterans are motivated to talk about medical cannabis use with their VA service providers as part of their confidential medical record.
The VA will not pay for medical cannabis prescriptions from any source, nor will VA providers complete paperwork or forms needed for a veteran to take part in a state-approved medical cannabis program.
However, anecdotal feedback from veterans reveals that VA’s regulations and actual patient experiences often differ in cases where a proposed medical cannabis user walks into a federal (VA) facility.
View VA’s complete instruction on medical cannabis here. If you have concerns concerning this policy please contact population.health@va.gov.
Is it real that I could lose the right to purchase or own guns if I utilize medical cannabis?
Cannabis, despite medical and recreational legalization in some states, is still unlawful under federal law.
According to the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms, «Any person who uses or is addicted to cannabis, regardless of whether his or her state has passed legislation licensing cannabis 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 actions to restore 2nd Amendment rights for authorized medical cannabis users. But it is essential to keep in mind that even in states where it is legal, the federal law still applies.