The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) says it will not conduct research into the effects of medical cannabis on post-traumatic stress disorder and chronic pain, some of the very ailments veteran patients rely on the drug to treat. In a Dec. 21 letter to Minnesota Democrat Rep. Tim Walz, VA Secretary David Shulkin said that the department is unable to research medical cannabis due to federal restrictions. Dr. Shulkin says 'federal law restricts VA's ability to conduct research involving medical marijuana, or to refer veterans to such projects.' For more information, visit the Task and Purpose website.
For more on veteran benefits, visit the Military.com Benefits Center.
