Congress wants VA to study medical marijuana as PTSD treatment
September 09, 2018
A bipartisan bill introduced in the House of Representatives calls on the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to research the efficacy of marijuana for treating PTSD.
In the spring, 25 members of Congress filed the Medical Cannabis Research Act of 2018. One of the lawmakers, Rep. Matt Gaetz, R –Fla., explained the need for research into this issue.
“Cannabis reform has always faced a ‘catch 22’ in Congress,” said Gaetzat a press conference announcing the bill. “But, often times we cannot perform research without changing the law. Our bill ends this logjam, by opening access to cannabis research and pursuing potential cures wherever we may find them.”
Because of the limited scientific studies on how marijuana can treat PTSD, advocates for exploring its therapeutic properties cite anecdotal evidence from veterans who rely on medical marijuana to combat their symptoms.
Due to federal law that classifies the use of cannabis as illegal, the VA will not recommend medical marijuana to patients and often declines to study the potential advantages of the drug. However, about 30 states have enacted laws that permit patients to use medical marijuana in some way.
Moreover, a survey by the VA estimates almost a million veterans may be using medical marijuana. Veterans groups like The American Legion and Veterans of Foreign Wars also support additional research.