San Diego, CA: An increasing percentage of veterans are engaging in the use of cannabis, according to data published in the journal Addictive Behaviors.
A team of researchers affiliated with the University of California at San Diego reviewed marijuana use patterns among a nationally representative sample of over 4,000 US veterans. Of the sample, 12 percent acknowledged having consumed cannabis within the past six-months – up from nine percent in 2014 (the last time researchers surveyed the issue). Those with psychiatric conditions were most likely to report using cannabis – a finding that is consistent with other surveys of veterans.
Prior surveys have similarly shown increasing rates of marijuana use among military veterans. Data compiled by The American Legion reports that 39 percent of respondents “know a veterans” who is using cannabis for therapeutic purposes. Separate data reported earlier this month in The American Journal of Drug and Alcohol Abuse determined that veterans who use cannabis were likely to report “desirable health outcomes,” including improvements in pain relief, sleep quality, and overall quality of life.
Full text of the study, “Prevalence of cannabis use, disorder, and medical card possession in US military veterans: Results from the 2019-2020 National Health and Resilience in Veterans study,” appears in Addictive Behaviors. Additional information on cannabis use among veterans is available from the NORML fact sheet, “Marijuana and Veterans Issues.”