March 20, 2018

Reps. Correa & Walz Call For Cannabis Research Funding For Veterans

Washington DC—Congressman Lou Correa (CA-46) and Veterans’ Affairs Ranking Member Tim Walz (MN-01) called for funding to research the safety and effectiveness of medical cannabis in treating veterans diagnosed with PTSD/chronic pain.

Rep. Lou Correa said, “It is imperative to the health and safety of our veterans that we find alternative treatments for chronic pain and service-related injuries. Throughout my district, I meet veterans who depend on cannabis to manage their pain. Numerous veterans attest to the treatment benefits of medical cannabis. It’s time the VA did a formal study.

Rather than risk becoming dependent on opioids, these veterans find relief in medical cannabis. Opioid prescriptions for veterans have increased by 270 percent since 2003, resulting in 68,000 veterans developing an opioid addiction and a two-fold increase in accidental opioid overdose deaths. This is unacceptable.

I am willing to try anything that will bring these brave men and women the relief they deserve. It is time the US government performed research on medical cannabis, which so many veterans depend on. Our veterans risk everything for us. We need to do everything we can to help them once they are home.”

Rep. Tim Walz, Ranking Member for the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs, said, “For far too long, we’ve known medicinal cannabis can have life-saving effects on veterans suffering from chronic pain and PTSD, and yet, there has been a severe lack of research studying the drug’s full effect on these veterans. That is why I am proud to join my friend and colleague Representative Correa in sending this letter. There is no department or organization better suited to conduct this critically important research than VA, and there has never been a better time to act. I stand with the 92% of veterans who support VA research into medicinal cannabis as a way to treat veterans suffering from physical and psychological injuries of war.”

The appropriations letter asked the MilCon/VA Subcommittee to include language in its report that urges the VA to research the safety and effectiveness of medical cannabis in treating veterans diagnosed with PTSD/chronic pain.