Medical cannabis authorized for US veterans

The U.S. Senate passed an amendment that allows doctors in the Department of Veterans Affairs to recommend medical marijuana to their patients in the American states where medical cannabis is legal.

«Veterans should be treated like any other resident and should be able to discuss cannabis with their doctor,» said Michael Collins, director of national affairs for the Drug Policy Alliance. «It doesn’t make sense that a veteran can’t use medical cannabis if it helps them and it’s legal in their state.»

The Veterans Equal Access Amendment was sponsored by Republican Senator Steve Daines of Montana and Democratic Senator Jeff Merkley of Oregon. It passed with 18 votes in favor and 12 against in a bipartisan vote.

Prior to this, the Department of Veterans Affairs specifically prohibited its doctors from responding to patients seeking advice on participating in medical cannabis programs. The Daines–Merkley amendment now allows healthcare professionals to provide recommendations to veterans who wish to enroll in a medical cannabis program.

Medical studies have shown that cannabis can help treat symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder and traumatic brain injuries, conditions that often affect veterans. A 2014 study shows that people with PTSD who use cannabis experience a 75% reduction in their symptoms compared to when they were not using cannabis.