Veterans say cannabis is an important health tool but are reluctant to discuss it with VA clinicians | Research

The takeaway

Interviews with 23 veterans found they view cannabis as valuable for managing multiple health conditions but rely on peers, dispensaries, and trial-and-error rather than clinicians for guidance, citing provider judgment and lack of knowledge as barriers.

VA clinicians, veterans considering medical cannabis, veteran health policy researchers

Veterans rely on peers, dispensaries, and trial-and-error over clinicians for cannabis guidance

What the researchers found

Veterans used cannabis for a variety of health conditions and perceived few or no harms, or felt benefits outweighed risks. They obtained cannabis information from trusted peers, dispensary staff, and personal experimentation rather than healthcare providers. Veterans identified strategies for VA providers including increasing cannabis knowledge and engaging in unbiased discussions.

Why it matters

Veterans use cannabis at high rates and often have complex health needs. The disconnect between patient behavior and clinical engagement means veterans are making cannabis decisions without medical guidance, potentially missing drug interactions or dosing issues.

The numbers in context

23 veterans interviewed; mostly rural; past 30-day medical cannabis users; from 3 states with legal cannabis (Connecticut, Michigan, Oregon)

How the study worked

Qualitative semistructured interviews via Webex with 23 mostly rural veterans with past 30-day medical cannabis use in Connecticut, Michigan, or Oregon. Inductive thematic analysis with iterative codebook development.

What this study cannot tell us

Small sample of 23 participants from only 3 states limits generalizability. Self-selected participants likely have positive views of cannabis. Only included current users, missing perspectives of those who tried and stopped.

How to read the evidence

Preliminary: small qualitative study providing rich perspectives but no generalizable outcomes or clinical measurements.

When this study was published

2026 publication from interviews with veterans in 3 legal-cannabis states.

The bigger picture

This reflects a broader pattern in medical cannabis: patients self-directing their use while clinicians remain uninformed or uncomfortable. The veteran population faces unique barriers given the VA system's federal constraints on cannabis.

Questions still open

Would VA clinician training on cannabis change veterans' willingness to disclose use? Do veterans in states without legal cannabis have different experiences? What specific conditions are veterans most commonly treating with cannabis?

Common questions

Why don't veterans talk to their doctors about cannabis?

Veterans described reluctance due to perceived clinician judgment, lack of provider knowledge about cannabis, and concerns about how disclosure might affect their VA care or benefits.

Where do veterans get cannabis information?

Primarily from trusted peers with personal experience, dispensary staff recommendations, and their own trial-and-error process rather than healthcare professionals.

Read the original research

In Their Own Words: A Qualitative Exploration of Veterans' Perspectives and Experiences of Medical Cannabis Use.

Journal of general internal medicine

View on PubMed ↗Publisher’s paper ↗

Citation

Ward, Rachel; Christensen, Vivian; Saxton, Lauren; Varnum, Melissa; Ayers, Chelsea; Pleasant, Traben; Kansagara, Devan. (2026). In Their Own Words: A Qualitative Exploration of Veterans' Perspectives and Experiences of Medical Cannabis Use.. Journal of general internal medicine. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11606-025-10160-1