Introduction
The hope of medical cannabis has been a lifeline and a legal minefield to the millions of U.S. military veterans who now live with chronic pain, PTSD, traumatic brain injuries, and anxiety. Although there is an increasing amount of evidence to support its use and medical cannabis has been legalized in 38 states and Washington, D.C., these veterans under the care of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) are still under the old limitations of the federal system. The result? The veterans lack access to non-narcotic, plant-based therapies that will change their quality of life.
Veterans still have to cope with a complicated environment in which state and federal regulations contradict and interfere with one another. A large number of them are located in areas where medical cannabis is easily available. However, their primary healthcare system, the VA, cannot be entirely involved in their care if cannabis is included in their treatment plan. This produces discontinuous care streams whereby veterans are left to self-administer dosing, source, and safety without regular medical attention.
Here in this blog, we untangle the practical effects of federal cannabis policy on the veterans and provide an idea of the immediate reforms that will bring relief, respect, and viable choices to those who have served.
The Federal Blockade: Schedule I and the VA Wall
Cannabis is still under Schedule I of the Controlled Substances Act, thus categorized equally with heroin and LSD. According to this classification, cannabis is not accepted as medically useful, and it has a high risk of being abused, even though it has been proven to be incorrect over decades, and even legalized in most states.
The Schedule I label not only limits clinical interactions, but it also highly restrains federally funded research opportunities in the VA. Researchers interested in researching cannabis are faced with big bureaucracies, complicated hierarchies, and limitations in obtaining study-grade cannabis. This decelerates the speed with which scientific discovery occurs, but at the time, states discover things at an accelerated rate. Meanwhile, veterans rely on anecdotal reports, peer groups, or commercial sources of advice that might not be scientifically rigorous. The fact that the VA cannot formally be involved in patient education, dose schedules, or monitoring leads to safety lapses that can be prevented. In the end, veterans are the ones who suffer the most due to the lack of connection between science and policy.
Such a schedule does not allow VA physicians to prescribe, or even recommend cannabis, in the states where medical marijuana is legalized fully. Consequently, VA clinicians are regulated, and veterans are left to face disjointed non-VA systems of care with no coordinated assistance. Veterans are paying out of pocket with no reimbursement, usually, and no means of getting their treatment to be included in their VA medical records.
Veterans Pay the Price: The Human Toll of Restrictive Policy
Federal policy doesn’t just create legal obstacles—it creates suffering. Veterans experience disproportionately high rates of chronic pain, insomnia, and treatment-resistant PTSD. The medications traditionally offered through the VA, opioids, benzodiazepines, and antidepressants, carry risks of addiction, side effects, and reduced quality of life.
Medical cannabis, meanwhile, has shown potential in:
- Reducing opioid dependency
- Alleviating chronic inflammation and neuropathic pain
- Calming anxiety and PTSD symptoms
- Improving sleep quality
But without federal reform, veterans are left choosing between staying within VA care or pursuing cannabis treatment independently with little guidance, support, or safety assurances. The consequences are far-reaching. Many veterans describe feeling forced to choose between relief and the continuity of their VA healthcare relationships. Some avoid telling their VA doctors about cannabis use entirely, fearing stigma or misunderstanding, which further fragments their care. Others rely on unregulated dispensary advice that varies widely in quality. Financial strain adds another layer, as cannabis products, especially those designed for chronic conditions, can be expensive and are not covered under any federal benefit. This financial burden pushes some veterans toward riskier or less effective pharmaceuticals simply because insurance covers them.
Veterans Want Change
Numerous surveys and reports show overwhelming veteran support for medical cannabis access. According to the American Legion, 92% of veteran households support medical cannabis research, and 83% believe it should be federally legal for medicinal use. Yet, legislative change has lagged behind public opinion and scientific research.
The disconnect between what veterans need and what federal policy allows has created a system where:
- Veterans are penalized for participating in legal state programs
- Doctors are silenced from providing honest medical advice
- Promising therapies remain sidelined by bureaucracy
Recent Legislative Momentum: A Glimmer of Hope
In July 2025, the U.S. House passed an amendment to the VA’s fiscal 2026 budget, enabling VA doctors to recommend cannabis in states where it is legal. This policy, drawn from the Veterans Equal Access Act, is the most significant federal shift on the issue to date. If passed by the Senate, it would mark the first time VA doctors could engage in cannabis-related care without fear of disciplinary action.
This amendment also halts enforcement of Veterans Health Directive 1315, which forbade VA clinicians from assisting veterans in state medical marijuana programs.
What Still Needs to Change?
While the amendment is a meaningful step, it is not a full solution. True reform requires:
- Descheduling Cannabis: Removing cannabis from Schedule I would open the door for VA research, physician education, and federal patient access.
- National VA Guidelines: Veterans deserve consistent, science-based protocols that integrate cannabis into pain, PTSD, and palliative care strategies.
- Insurance and Reimbursement: Veterans using cannabis in legal states should not shoulder all the financial burden. Cannabis coverage should be considered as an alternative to high-cost pharmaceuticals.
- Veteran-Centric Clinical Trials: We need federally funded, VA-administered trials to evaluate efficacy, dosage, and treatment outcomes specifically for veteran populations.
- Protecting Doctor-Patient Relationships: Physicians must be free to discuss all legal treatment options without jeopardizing their careers.
Why Mendry Supports DOs in Cannabis Care
Mendry exists to connect veterans with osteopathic physicians who understand the value of cannabis-inclusive care. DOs are particularly well-suited to lead in this space due to their training in whole-body medicine and preventive care. In states where cannabis is legal, DOs can offer a middle path: they honor science, respect veteran experience, and seek personalized, non-addictive solutions.
With the VA amendment enabling cannabis conversations, osteopathic doctors in the Mendry network are now better positioned to:
- Guide veterans through treatment options safely and legally
- Reduce reliance on narcotics and psychotropic drugs
- Advocate for broader inclusion of cannabis within VA protocols
The Role of Membership Platforms Like Mendry
Because the VA still does not coordinate cannabis care, veterans need a reliable, HIPAA-free, community-driven platform to find the right providers. Mendry offers this connection—free for veterans, and open to DOs who support cannabis as part of a veteran-focused care model.
Our work ensures that:
- Veterans don’t feel abandoned or alone
- Osteopathic doctors find patients who value their guidance
- The broader healthcare system sees veterans not as liabilities, but as pioneers of patient-driven reform
Final Thoughts: A Moral Imperative
When federal policy lags behind science and the lived experience of our veterans, it creates not just inconvenience but injustice. Denying safe, effective therapies to those who have risked their lives for our country is a failure of policy and principle.
Change is coming—but not fast enough. It’s time to correct the record, update the law, and build a system where medical cannabis is a respected option, not a last resort.
At Mendry, we stand with veterans who want choice, doctors who provide compassionate care, and policymakers brave enough to make evidence-based decisions.
Join the Movement
Visit mendry.blog/ to:
- Find cannabis-informed DOs near you
- Join our veteran membership program (free)
- Support reform through education, sponsorship, and storytelling
Let’s unlock healing—together.
IMPORTANT NOTICE
Educational use only. No medical or legal advice.
Mendry is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, not a government agency, and not affiliated with the VA or any federal or state agency.
Mendry does not provide treatment, prescribe or sell cannabis, or collect PHI.
Healthcare decisions are yours and your licensed clinicians’ only.
Emergency: 911 | Veterans Crisis Line: 988 (Press 1)