Author Topic: Pot is a top treatment for veterans’ pain, PTSD; but cost is barrier  (Read 171 times)

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American Military News by  Susan Spencer 2/6/2020

Military veterans are using marijuana to treat chronic pain, post-traumatic stress disorder, anxiety and depression, among other ailments, according to recently released survey data.

But the cost of medical marijuana, which isn’t covered by insurance, is a barrier, even if cannabis is used as an alternative to pharmaceuticals.

Final results from the 2019 Veterans Health and Medical Cannabis Study, which looked at 201 veterans in Massachusetts and 565 respondents nationwide, were presented at the Cannabis Advancement Series held Wednesday at Babson College in Wellesley.

The study, which was done March 3 through Dec. 31, was conducted by Marion McNabb, a public health researcher and CEO of Worcester-based Cannabis Community Care and Research Network; Steven White, professor of management and marketing at University of Massachusetts-Dartmouth; Stephen Mandile of Uxbridge, an Iraq War veteran and cannabis advocate; and Ann Brum, CEO of Joint Venture & Co.

More than half of the 201 Massachusetts veterans who completed the survey through outreach by veterans groups, social media sites and marijuana dispensaries were age 50 or older. Most, 54%, had served in the Army. The sample was overwhelmingly male, 90%, and 84% were white, non-Hispanic.

Chronic pain, PTSD and anxiety were the top medical conditions facing veterans. Nearly one in three, 30%, of veteran respondents were currently or had been homeless in the past.

Ninety-one percent of respondents reported using medical marijuana. Recreational marijuana was used by 59%.

A large majority of veterans who responded to the survey reported that cannabis provided relief for their major medical troubles. In fact, 77% reported actively trying to reduce the use of over-the-counter or prescription medications with medical cannabis.

More: https://americanmilitarynews.com/2020/02/pot-is-a-top-treatment-for-veterans-pain-ptsd-but-cost-is-barrier/