US military veterans reported using medicinal cannabis as a substitute for prescription and over-the-counter medications for pain, mental health, and other conditions.
VA clinicians, veterans, military health researchers, and pain management specialists.
Medication substitutionVeterans reported replacing opioids, benzodiazepines, antidepressants, and OTC pain meds with cannabis
What the researchers found
Veterans reported using medicinal cannabis as an alternative to prescription opioids, benzodiazepines, antidepressants, and OTC pain medications, suggesting cannabis is serving as a substitute for conventional pharmaceutical treatments in this population.
Why it matters
Veterans face disproportionately high rates of chronic pain, PTSD, and substance use disorder. Understanding their medicinal cannabis use patterns helps the VA system prepare for integrated care approaches.
The numbers in context
Survey of US military veterans examining self-reported medicinal cannabis use as a substitute for various prescription and over-the-counter medications.
How the study worked
Survey study of US military veterans examining medicinal cannabis use patterns and medication substitution behavior.
Who was studied
US military veterans who use medicinal cannabis.
What this study cannot tell us
Self-reported data; survey recruitment may bias toward cannabis-favorable respondents; no clinical verification of conditions or medication use; cross-sectional design.
How to read the evidence
Survey providing self-reported substitution patterns; useful for understanding behavior but not clinical outcomes.
When this study was published
Recent survey reflecting growing veteran cannabis use alongside federal prohibition.
The bigger picture
Veterans cannabis substitution behavior reflects broader trends of patients self-managing conditions with cannabis in place of conventional medications, raising questions about efficacy and safety of unmonitored substitution.
Replication
Consistent with growing literature on veteran cannabis use; adds medication substitution specificity.
Funding
Not specified
Conflicts of interest
Not specified
Questions still open
- Are veterans reducing medications with provider guidance or independently?
- Does cannabis substitution improve or worsen clinical outcomes?
- Should the VA integrate cannabis counseling into pain management?
Read the original research
Self-reported Medicinal Cannabis Use as an Alternative to Prescription and Over-the-counter Medication Use Among US Military Veterans.
Clinical therapeutics, 45(6), 562-577
Citation
McNabb, Marion; Durante, Katherine A; Trocchio, Sarah; Ritter, David J; MacCaffrie, Randal; Brum, Ann; Mandile, Stephen; White, Steven. (2023). Self-reported Medicinal Cannabis Use as an Alternative to Prescription and Over-the-counter Medication Use Among US Military Veterans.. Clinical therapeutics, 45(6), 562-577. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.clinthera.2023.04.003