It took some research for the retired Army sergeant first class to determine he could actually tell the VA he was using cannabis, but even then his doctors couldn’t tell him how to use it safely and effectively.
Millions of veterans are self-medicating their war-caused ailments with marijuana, and they are frustrated the VA continues to dismiss the drug’s possible benefits.
The federal government may be resistant not just because research could open the door to cannabis use by veterans — but lead to wider legalization.
Lou Correa has introduced a bill that would instruct the VA to study cannabis for PTSD, depression and a number of other diseases vets often suffer from, just one of multiple proposals in the House and Senate that would expand research into cannabis for vets.
Correa’s bill, which advanced out of the House Veterans’ Affairs Committee on Thursday, is just one of multiple proposals in the House and Senate that would expand research into cannabis for vets.
Calls to the Veterans Crisis Line, which is operated by the VA, increased by six percent in the weeks immediately following the U.S.
Advocates, Hill aides and former VA staff told POLITICO the VA defers on this issue to the Justice Department, which classifies cannabis as a Schedule I drug under the Controlled Substances Act.
Official guidance states that veterans can talk to their VA doctor about their cannabis use without repercussions, but many vets say they fear mentioning it because it is still federally illegal.
An average of 18 veterans a day committed suicide in 2018, according to data from the VA.
According to the VA, a number of studies have indicated that both PTSD and battlefield trauma contribute to a higher rate of suicidal ideation — and exposure to suicide, such as a friend or family member, can in turn contribute to PTSD.
It testified before the House VA Committee in October that it is studying synthetic CBD as a treatment for PTSD, when used alongside psychotherapy.
“I think sometimes on something controversial, agencies want to make sure they have legal cover,” said Sullivan, who cosponsors the bill with Sen.
“It drives me crazy,” said Rep.
Gruber received approval from the FDA for a cannabis study in 2014, but says the DEA turned around and denied the study proposal, and it was another three and a half years before she finally received approval.
She said that cannabis can be a panacea for some — helping with sleep, PTSD and more — but it also has the potential to be a problem for others, especially veterans with a family history of certain mental health disorders.
But a Schedule I drug has “no medical use,” and therein lies the hangup: If the VA researches cannabis for medical purposes, like the NIH proposes, they could run into conflict with the DOJ’s definition of a Schedule I drug.