“Until cannabis is removed from Schedule I and Committee on Veterans’ Affairs, I’ve heard from many elevated as a health policy issue where it can be treated veterans, both with physical and invisible wounds, as medicine, we’re going to be stuck in this legal gray who believe medical cannabis could benefit them.” zone,” Etten said. Additionally, the Veterans Medical Marijuana Safe The federal government, however, maintains that Harbor Act (S. 3409) would empower VA physicians more research into the efficacy of medical marijuana to issue medical cannabis recommendations in needs to be conducted before it’s declassified and accordance with the laws of states where it’s legal. made available to service-connected disabled veterans This legislation would also require the VA to through the VA. conduct studies on “the effects of medical marijuana “Our members passed DAV Resolution 023 this year on veterans in pain” and “the relationship between in support of additional research in the use of medical treatment programs involving medical marijuana cannabis,” said National Adjutant Marc Burgess, noting that are approved by States, the access of veterans that DAV’s call for more research—rather than outright to such programs, and a reduction in opioid abuse legalization—reflects the need to know more about both among veterans.” the potential benefits and risks associated with medical According to a 2014 study by the Journal of the marijuana. “As veterans, we don’t want to be prescribed American Medical Association, states with medical a new form of treatment marijuana laws without studies showing had a 25 percent it’s safe and effective.” lower average The VA Medicinal annual opioid Cannabis Research overdose death rate Act of 2018 compared to states (H.R. 5520), a without such laws. bipartisan bill “If veterans introduced by House can ease some of Veterans’ Affairs the chronic pain Committee Chairman or symptoms of Phil Roe and ranking injuries or illness member Tim Walz— they have received —Nick Etten, Veterans Cannabis Project founder and which has support through service and executive director in the Senate—would to our country promote scientific without turning and medical research into the safety and efficacy of to opioids, the VA has a responsibility to research it,” medicinal cannabis usage on veterans diagnosed with said Sen. Jon Tester, ranking member of the Senate PTSD, TBI, chronic pain, and other illnesses and Committee on Veterans’ Affairs. injuries by clarifying that research into medicinal Despite the criticisms of medical cannabis use, cannabis is well within the authority of the VA. Watson believes that as it becomes increasingly “We have all heard the stories of veterans who have accepted, no other demographic stands to benefit as used cannabis medicinally to cope with physical and much from its use and legality as America’s veterans. psychological injuries sustained during their service to “I was hesitant at first to be open about it because of our country,” said Walz. “In fact, 22 percent of veterans the stigma that’s still associated with it,” said Watson. report using cannabis as a safer and more effective “But eventually, you get to the point where you realize alternative to opioids and drug cocktails currently how much it helps, and you feel guilty for not sharing prescribed by VA for medical conditions such as that information with others. PTSD or chronic pain.” “Veterans organizations like DAV are exactly what “As a physician, I am keenly aware of the need to look medical cannabis users like myself need to be the for opioid alternatives to treat patients’ chronic pain,” catalyst for making medical cannabis available for said Roe. “Since serving as chairman of the House veterans everywhere.” n “Sixty percent of what the VA treats can fall into the category of chronic pain, and the system was not designed to do much more than push pills , and those pills aren’t working” 22 DAV MAGAZINE NOVEMBER | DECEMBER 2018