How to get a Missouri medical marijuana recommendation if you’re a veteran

How to get a Missouri medical marijuana recommendation if you’re a veteran

 

Missouri veterans have a right to safe, effective, accessible treatments in the format that works for them.

When we think about the people who benefit most from medical marijuana in Missouri, veterans are often an unexpected population. However, conditions that qualify for treatment with medical marijuana in Missouri cover nearly all the most common VA disabilities.

Additionally, a recent survey indicates that 75 percent of veterans would consider using cannabis as a treatment option.

As Americans, we are fortunate enough to be mostly sheltered from the rigors, challenges, and sometimes horrors of military service unless we choose it for ourselves. Our separation from the experiences of those who serve can make us forget about the care that our veterans need and deserve.

 

Medical Marijuana in Missouri: Helping Veterans With Symptom Relief and Essential Services

Missouri has not forgotten, though. The bill that legalized medicinal cannabis in the Show Me State allocated a 4 percent sales tax on medical marijuana sold at state licensed dispensaries. That revenue will go toward veterans services and programs through the Missouri Veterans Commission.

With medical marijuana sales set to top the $100 million mark before the end of 2021, that’s nearly $4 million dollars for essential services like housing, employment, and family assistance. Missourians know how much our veterans need access to essential services and natural relief, and we are here to support them!

How Veterans Can Get Medical Marijuana in Missouri

Your VA clinician may not be able to provide you with a recommendation, but that doesn’t mean you’re out of luck when it comes to using cannabis to treat your conditions and symptoms.

At Missouri Marijuana Card, we think it’s important to make access to natural medicine as easy as possible, and our experts are here to answer all your questions and walk you through the process of finding the relief you deserve. We offer marijuana card evaluation and renewal discounts to those who have served in the military, and plenty of Missouri dispensaries also offer discounts to service members as well.

Give us a call at (877) 303-3117 or schedule an appointment with one of our doctors to get started with medical marijuana today!

Why Won’t Your VA Doctor Recommend Medical Marijuana?

It is often less a matter of “won’t” and more an issue of “can’t”. Even if your VA doctor understands that medical marijuana could help your symptoms, they are prohibited from recommending it or helping you fill out the paperwork.

The reason is because the Department of Veterans Affairs is a Federal agency, and marijuana is still considered a Schedule I controlled substance at the Federal level. In an effort to protect VA doctors who recommend medical marijuana to their patients, Congress has introduced the Safe Harbor Act a couple of different times in recent years. Nothing has come of the efforts to change legislation as of yet.

Will You Lose Your VA Benefits if You Get a Missouri Marijuana Card?

This is one of the biggest questions on the minds of veterans as they consider the best way of going about getting access to cannabis for their symptoms. More than a quarter of the country’s veterans are at least partially disabled as a result of their service. They rely on the VA for their healthcare, their income, and to care for their families after death.

But veterans can lose their benefits as a result of “willful misconduct,” which includes extreme instances of drug addiction, alcohol abuse, and even tobacco use. So veterans are generally incredibly careful about their choices even after discharge, due to the risk of losing their livelihood.

The good news is that the VA has clarified that veterans will not lose their benefits for using medical marijuana as long as they are participating in a state-sanctioned program. This means that you need to have a Missouri marijuana card in order to ensure you aren’t risking benefits. As long as you have one, you’re safe to use cannabis for your symptoms.

Should You Talk to Your Primary Care Clinician at the VA About Your Cannabis Use?

While VA clinicians are prohibited from recommending medical marijuana to their patients, they are required to discuss their use, document it in their file, and incorporate it into their treatment plan.

You may struggle to feel comfortable discussing marijuana use with your VA clinicians, but it is important for your healthcare providers to be informed so they can properly coordinate your care. Some medications may have interactions with cannabis that require adjustment of dosing, and you may find that you don’t need other medications at all once you find the right medical marijuana products for you.

Most Common Veterans Conditions That Cannabis Can Help

Cannabis works with the endocannabinoid system to restore balance in your body. Because the endocannabinoid system affects nearly every other system in the body, cannabis has far-reaching effects on a multitude of conditions and symptoms.

Some of the most common health concerns among veterans can be treated with cannabis, and medical marijuana is often free of the more unpleasant side effects that come with more traditional treatments.

If you are suffering from any of the following conditions, medical marijuana may help you start to feel like yourself again:

  • PTSD

       

  • Chronic Pain

  • Opioid Dependence

  • Opioid Use Disorder

  • Alcohol Dependence

  • Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI)

  • Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE)

  • Insomnia

  • Anxiety

  • Depression

  • Other Drug Dependence Issues

  • Joint Pain

  • Back Pain

  • Arthritis

Veterans Have a Right to Safe, Effective, Accessible Care.

If you are a veteran, you have a unique set of needs and the right to pursue the kind of treatment that works for you. Because of the way cannabis works, it may be more effective at addressing the psychological and physical discomfort that come with PTSD, musculoskeletal injuries, head injuries and so much more.

At Missouri Marijuana Card, we can help you get started legally using medical marijuana for any of the symptoms and conditions listed here and others as well. Our doctors are trained to address your concerns, give you advice for coordinating care with your VA clinician, help you find the right products to meet your objectives, and walk you through the process of getting approved.

We are here six days a week to answer your questions, and you can get started on a path to better health by giving us a call at (877) 303-3117 or scheduling an appointment for an evaluation online today.

Doctors Who Care. Relief You Can Trust.

At Missouri Marijuana Card, our mission is helping everyone achieve wellness safely and conveniently through increased access to medical marijuana. Our focus on education, inclusion, and acceptance will reduce stigma for our patients by providing equal access to timely information and compassionate care.

Call us at (877) 303-3117, or simply book a medical marijuana evaluation to start getting relief you can trust today!

Check out Missouri Marijuana Card’s Blog to keep up to date on the latest medical marijuana news, tips, and information. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram to join the medical marijuana conversation in Missouri.