A recent study has revealed that four in every ten U.S. military veterans suffering from chronic pain use cannabis to manage their symptoms. Published in the journal Global Advances in Integrative Medicine and Health, the study found that 40% of veterans turn to marijuana to alleviate issues related to pain, sleep disturbances, and mobility challenges.
Additionally, a significant number of veterans reported using cannabis to cope with stress, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The study also highlighted the overwhelming support for open discussions about natural remedies in healthcare, with 98% of surveyed veterans stating that medical providers should educate patients about the potential benefits and drawbacks of natural products (NPs), including cannabis.
The research found that a large portion of the veteran community in the U.S. regularly incorporates natural products into their healthcare routines, often using them alongside or as substitutes for prescribed medications. While cannabis reform in many states has made access to the plant easier, veterans have been self-medicating with marijuana for therapeutic purposes for years.
Research into marijuana’s medical applications may still be developing, but existing studies suggest that cannabis may help manage conditions such as insomnia, chronic pain, depression, stress, and PTSD. These issues are particularly prevalent among veterans, making them more likely to seek alternative treatments like cannabis.
Many veterans perceive marijuana as a safer alternative to traditional pharmaceuticals, which often come with severe side effects. Prescription painkillers, for instance, can lead to addiction, overdose, and even death, while antidepressants frequently cause adverse effects that diminish quality of life such as sexual dysfunction, weight gain, and gastrointestinal issues.
The study found that veterans using marijuana for medical reasons preferred strains that contained both THC (psychoactive) and CBD (non-psychoactive) compounds. Cannabis ranked as the third most commonly used natural product among veterans, following multivitamins and vitamin D supplements.
According to the study’s findings: 81% of veterans reported using cannabis for pain or mobility-related reasons, 72% used it to aid sleep, 43% turned to cannabis for PTSD or anxiety relief, 43% used it to manage stress, and 29% relied on cannabis to cope with depression.
The study authors note that veterans may have underreported their cannabis use due to marijuana’s continued classification as a controlled substance at the federal level. Additionally, the study’s sample size was relatively small, with only 52 participants, all of whom suffered from chronic pain and were enrolled in Veterans Health Administration (VA) primary care.
Despite these limitations, the study provides valuable insight into the growing role of cannabis in veteran healthcare and underscores the need for more comprehensive research on the plant’s potential therapeutic benefits.
The findings of this study are unlikely to surprise medical marijuana companies like Verano Holdings Corp. (Cboe CA: VRNO) (OTCQX: VRNOF) that have been providing medical cannabis products tailored to address the different symptoms that people face.
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