Medical Cannabis and Veterans: Survey Finds Reported Quality-of-Life Gains and Reduced Medication Use
A survey of 510 U.S. military veterans who used medical cannabis found that many participants viewed it as an alternative or supplement to prescription and over-the-counter medications. The findings, published in 2023 in Clinical Therapeutics, describe veterans’ experiences—but do not establish that cannabis caused improvements in health or quality of life.
In the study of self-reported medicinal cannabis use among U.S. veterans, data were collected through an anonymous survey conducted between March 3 and December 31, 2019. Most respondents used cannabis daily: 343 participants, or 67 percent, reported daily use.
The veterans reported a range of health concerns, with chronic pain and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) among the most common. Thirty percent said they used cannabis to reduce their use of over-the-counter medications. Twenty-five percent reported reducing their use of antidepressants, while 17 percent reported reducing anti-inflammatory medications. In addition, 21 percent said they used fewer opioids as a result of their cannabis use.
The strongest reported benefit involved quality of life. A total of 463 respondents—91 percent of those surveyed—said medical cannabis helped them experience a greater quality of life. Participants who were Black, female, had served in active combat, or lived with chronic pain were more likely to report wanting to reduce their use of prescription medications. Women and daily cannabis users were also more likely to say they were actively using cannabis to replace or reduce prescription drugs.
These results should be interpreted cautiously. The study was cross-sectional, meaning it captured participants’ experiences at one point rather than tracking outcomes over time. It also relied entirely on self-reported information and surveyed veterans who already used cannabis. There was no comparison group of veterans who did not use cannabis, and the study did not test whether cannabis directly improved symptoms or enabled participants to safely discontinue other medications.
The researchers described the findings as evidence that medicinal cannabis may have a potential harm-reduction role, particularly for veterans seeking alternatives to unwanted medications or opioids. However, that interpretation remains provisional. Recruitment and support for the project involved organizations with an interest in cannabis, which may have influenced who participated or how the findings were reported.
The question is especially important for veterans, who experience elevated rates of chronic pain, PTSD, depression, and other conditions that can require complex treatment. Yet evidence for cannabis as a treatment for PTSD remains limited. The Department of Veterans Affairs’ National Center for PTSD says current research does not support cannabis as an effective PTSD treatment, and the 2023 VA/Department of Defense clinical practice guideline recommends against using cannabis or cannabis derivatives to treat PTSD.
VA policy also limits how its health care system can handle medical cannabis. Veterans are encouraged to discuss cannabis use with their VA clinicians, who can consider it when planning care. But because cannabis remains subject to federal restrictions, VA clinicians cannot recommend it, complete state medical-cannabis certification forms, prescribe it, or pay for it. The VA explains these rules in its guidance on marijuana and veteran health care.
The survey adds useful information about why veterans use cannabis and how they perceive its effects. It does not, however, show that cannabis is a proven replacement for antidepressants, anti-inflammatory drugs, opioids, or PTSD treatment. Larger prospective studies and randomized clinical trials are needed to determine which cannabis products, doses, and delivery methods might be beneficial—and which risks may outweigh the reported advantages.
