In 2001, cannabis was legalized in Canada for medical purposes. As use of cannabis for treatment of a variety of medical conditions increases rapidly, so too must the research to better understand its potential benefits and harms.

What is this Research About?

This research aims to learn more about the well-being of Veterans being reimbursed for cannabis for medical purposes (CMP) by examining their demographic and military service characteristics, as well as the chronic conditions associated with their use of CMP.

What did the Researchers Do?

Veterans Affairs Canada (VAC) reimburses Veterans for the use of CMP and has a growing database of administrative information. The researchers linked this information with data from the 2016 Life After Service Studies (LASS) survey. Of the approximately 3,000 Regular Force Veterans who were surveyed. Of these, 1,480 were receiving support from VAC and included in this study on CMP.

What did the Researchers Find?

Of the 1,480 VAC clients in this study , 72 were in receipt of CMP. These Veterans:

• were 89% male and 11% female, similar to those without CMP use (88% male and 12% female)
• had an average age 0f 47, slightly younger than those without CMP use (average age of 51)
• were more likely than Veterans without CMP use to release as a Junior Non-Commissioned member (72% vs 46%)

CMP use was more common among Veterans who reported:

• PTSD diagnosis
• anxiety
• depression
• chronic pain
• Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI)
• unemployment
• suicidal ideation
• lower income
• needing help with at least one activity of daily living
• difficulty adjusting to civilian life
• being very dissatisfied with life
• low levels of social support and weak sense of community belonging

Despite the limited number of Veterans with CMP linked to LASS 2016, the findings are consistent with other CMP studies and show an association may exist between CMP use and certain service characteristics such as age and rank at release. Moreover, with specific well-being variables contained in the LASS survey such as health, finances, and adjustment to civilian life.

Source

Reyes Vélez Julián, Tabassum Anika, Bolufe-Rohler Antonio, Álvarez Alex, Liu Kai, Poirier Alain, VanTil Linda. Characteristics of Canadian Veterans Reimbursed for Cannabis for Medical Purposes: Life After Service Survey 2016. Journal of Military Veteran and Family Health. December 2021

https://jmvfh.utpjournals.press/doi/full/10.3138/jmvfh-2021-0072