THE VOCAL VETERAN: Group seeks federal OK on medical cannabis for vets

By CHUCK N. BAKER

Can Veterans Administration providers discuss marijuana use with veterans? Although marijuana remains illegal under federal law and VA pharmacies cannot prescribe it, providers can and do discuss marijuana use with veterans as part of comprehensive care planning. They can also adjust treatment plans as necessary. Veterans will not be denied VA benefits because of marijuana use, and they are encouraged to discuss marijuana use with their VA providers.

But at least one group is working to change VA rules and is working tirelessly to make it happen. The Veterans Action Council (VAC) says it is an all-volunteer group of international veterans and venerated professionals in their respective fields. Founded on a buddy check during quarantine in July, 2020, it promotes and coordinates efforts on issues facing veterans’ access to alternative treatments and therapies, and promotes the physical and mental health of veterans and their families. On the forefront of its activities is attempts at legislation to have the VA recognize medical cannabis. Although legal in Nevada and many other states, cannabis remains illegal under federal law.

Lennora Kelly is the Southern Nevada representative for the VAC. She promotes medical cannabis to veterans “as an adjunct treatment that provides better relief with less reliance on pharmaceutical pills in many patients, making it a harm reduction agent.”

Writing in Politico, journalist Bruce Kennedy said that as far back as 2016 the American Legion, the nation’s largest veterans organization and a group known for its conservative politics, urged Congress to remove marijuana from its list of prohibited drugs. It also called on the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency to allow privately funded medical marijuana producers to take part in “safe and efficient cannabis drug research development.” Currently, a handful of bills that would promote veterans’ access to medical marijuana have passed the House.

Kennedy explained that veterans are “a group in crisis.” A 2012 report by the Department of Veterans Affairs found that up to 22 veterans were dying by suicide daily. While the VA has since lowered that statistic, some veterans’ advocacy groups say that number is probably much higher — closer to 50 a day — when opioid overdoses and despair over opioid addiction are taken into account.

Patrick Seifert, a Marine Corps veteran who founded the Twenty22Many advocacy group, said VA and lawmakers need to understand how important cannabis is to veterans. “There’s no demographic that benefits more from cannabis,” he said.

Kelly said that Canada recognizes cannabis use for its veterans. “We demand that any future legislation filed in Congress include provisions for our military veterans to receive their medicine through the VA benefits system as veterans do now in Canada,” Kelly said.

Kelly can be contacted at (702) 561-5979.