MARIJUANA FOR PAIN RELIEF: PROS AND CONS FOR VETERANS & THE VA'S THOUGHTS
Marijuana has been around for millions of years, but it’s recently become a hot topic throughout America. Legal marijuana dispensaries are now common throughout the U.S., and even in states where marijuana is not legalized, strains such as Delta 8 can be legal. Active military personnel cannot use marijuana, medically or recreationally, but can Veterans use medical marijuana? The answer is yes! Veterans can use medical marijuana. With the legalization of medical marijuana in 39 states, many Veterans may be asking, “Can I use medical marijuana for pain relief?” or Googling “marijuana for pain relief: pros and cons.” While it’s now legal for Veterans to use medical marijuana and still remain eligible for their benefits (meaning that Veterans can use medical marijuana for things like chronic pain management or PTSD management), there are still pros and cons to this topic. Let’s dive into some of them, as well as the VA’s official thoughts on the use of medical marijuana. See also:Does Delta 8 Show Up on a Drug Test?
Marijuana for Pain Relief: Pros and Cons
Pros
- Pain management: In a medical marijuana study including 948 chronic pain patients, two-thirds of them reported pain relief as the main benefit of medical marijuana usage.
- Sleep aid: In the same study, the patients reported better sleep as the second highest benefit of medical marijuana usage.
- Opioid alternative: It can be used as an alternative to opioids. Marijuana can still provide similar benefits as opioids, such as pain management, but it also has a significantly lower mortality rate.
- Not at risk of losing benefits: Veterans can use medical marijuana without the risk of losing their benefits.
Cons
- Not a lot of research: The research is still ongoing. Because the use of medical marijuana is still a relatively recent topic, many of the studies have smaller sample sizes and have not been able to factor in the long-term effects of medical marijuana usage. The research being done for medical marijuana for chronic pain, as well as medical marijuana and PTSD management, is still ongoing.
- Drug tests: Regardless of whether or not medical marijuana is legalized in your state, many employers will still drug test (including the VA).
- Not free: Medical marijuana is not covered by insurance, meaning many Veterans will have to pay out-of-pocket for their medical marijuana.
Medical Marijuana and PTSD Management
Medical marijuana has also been known to help with PTSD management due to the anti-anxiety and anti-psychoactive properties of CBD. However, as mentioned previously, there’s still more research being done to continue to solidify what’s been reported by patients. Current studies have shown that medical marijuana has helped with PTSD, but they’ve also shown that marijuana usage can become problematic for some patients with PTSD. In all cases regarding medical marijuana usage, it’s important to discuss your usage with your doctor.
The VA’s Thoughts on Medical Marijuana
The VA does not allow VA doctors to prescribe a medical marijuana card, so there’s no such thing as a Veterans medical marijuana card through the VA. However, that doesn’t mean you can’t obtain a medical marijuana card; you’ll just have to go outside of the VA to do so. Many doctors will prescribe a medical marijuana card to you; some even provide a free medical marijuana card for Veterans. Because of the handful of states that have not legalized the use of medicinal marijuana, marijuana is still illegal on a federal level, meaning that the VA cannot legally prescribe it to patients, and Veterans cannot bring or use marijuana at VA medical centers. With that being said, in states where medical marijuana is legal, Veterans are allowed to use medical marijuana without the threat of their benefits being taken away. Veterans are encouraged to disclose their marijuana usage to their VA doctors, but keep in mind that VA doctors are not allowed to recommend, prescribe, or assist Veterans in obtaining medical marijuana. With the recent popularity and normalization of medical marijuana, Veterans are able to get access to medical marijuana without the threat of any benefits being taken away. The list of marijuana for pain relief pros and cons is extensive, but if you’ve weighed them and still want to try medical marijuana, it’s available for you. Check this out:Return to Base Podcast Ep. #8: William Branum: Let’s Get N.A.K.E.D.