A recent study has revealed that 40 percent of military veterans dealing with chronic pain use marijuana to manage their symptoms. The study highlighted that many veterans turn to cannabis for relief from pain, mobility issues, and sleep disturbances. Additionally, a significant number of participants indicated that marijuana helps with conditions such as PTSD, anxiety, and stress. Nearly all of the veterans involved in the survey—98 percent—believe that healthcare providers should discuss the use of natural products like cannabis with their patients.
The findings were published in the journal Global Advances in Integrative Medicine and Health. The report stated that the survey showed a common use of multiple natural products, with some veterans using them as substitutes for prescribed medications. Cannabis, including both CBD- and THC-dominant varieties, was identified as the third most frequently used natural product among the participants, following vitamin D and multivitamins.
Among the 21 veterans who reported using cannabis, most preferred products that combined cannabidiol (CBD) and tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). The primary reasons for using cannabis included pain or mobility relief (81 percent), improved sleep (62 percent), and managing PTSD or anxiety (43 percent). The survey sample consisted of 52 veterans enrolled in the Veterans Health Administration (VA) primary care program. This study received support from the Office of Dietary Supplements and the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health, both part of the National Institutes of Health.
The authors from the University of California, San Francisco, and Yale University suggested that the percentage of veterans reporting cannabis use might be underestimated due to the VA’s prohibition on cannabis prescribing, as it operates within the federal healthcare system. Interestingly, only about half of the respondents said they had discussed the use of natural products with their healthcare providers. The authors noted that many clinicians and pharmacists lack sufficient knowledge about natural products, which may lead to fewer discussions with patients.
While most natural products are considered generally safe, the research team cautioned that some could be mislabeled, contain harmful substances, or interact poorly with other medications, particularly for veterans taking multiple prescriptions. This study, initially highlighted by the advocacy group NORML, is part of ongoing efforts to ensure that veterans have access to marijuana for medicinal use.
At a recent joint hearing, two veterans service organizations expressed their support for broader access to plant-based medicines, including marijuana and psychedelics. Allison Jaslow, CEO of Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America (IAVA), stated that veterans in states where cannabis is legal still cannot obtain prescriptions for it through the VA. She emphasized the importance of reintroducing the bipartisan Marijuana Safe Harbor Act, which would allow veterans to legally possess and use cannabis under federal law based on their doctors’ recommendations.
The ongoing advocacy also includes other veterans-focused cannabis measures currently proposed in the 119th Congress, including a bill sponsored by Rep. Brian Mast (R-FL), co-chair of the Congressional Cannabis Caucus.
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