Indopedia All Things Marijuana
A Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) letter made public Tuesday made clear that the department would not take a proactive stance on the value of medical marijuana in the United States. This is just the latest in a seemingly never-ending story between state-legal programs and federal law.
Though the VA has never been a bastion of hope on the medical marijuana front, many believed the department would come around and see the light following expanded state-level legalization around the United States. This is not the case.
A letter from VA Secretary David Shulkin to U.S. House Rep. Tim Walz (D-MN) from late December was made public Tuesday, detailing the frustrating ways in which the VA would skirt the responsibility of finding a non-addictive alternative to opioids.
“VA is committed to research and developing effective ways to help veterans cope with post-traumatic stress disorder and chronic pain conditions,” Shulkin penned to Walz. “However, federal law restricts VA’s ability to conduct research involving medical marijuana, or to refer veterans to such research projects.”
Though the VA does allow its doctors some leeway with respect to discussing medical…
