The Effects of Using Medical Grade Cannabis Assignment Essay

Legislation Testimony/ Advocacy statement

VA Medicinal Cannabis Research Act of 2021 (H.R.2916) is a bill that seeks to compel the Department of Veteran Affairs (VA) to conduct clinical trials to test the effects of using medical grade cannabis among veterans enrolled into and covered by the VA health care system, particularly veterans diagnosed with chronic pain and post-traumatic stress disorder. To ensure the validity of the clinical trials, the bill adds that control and experimental groups of similar structures and sizes must be included while ensuring that the sample is representative of the veteran population demographic. Besides that, participation in the clinical trials would be voluntary and not affect access under the VA health care system (Congress.gov, 2022). The Effects of Using Medical Grade Cannabis Assignment Essay

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The bill addresses an emerging and significant concern. The dangers of opioid dependence and addiction have accessioned an active shift towards using medical marijuana in managing chronic pain. In fact, federal and state laws have been changed such that more and more physicians are prescribing medical marijuana to treat patients with chronic pain. While medical marijuana has shown potential for replacing opioids in managing chronic pain, there is a real concern that the change is accompanied by unique risks.  This awareness creates a need to understand the specific benefits and risks of using medical marijuana in managing chronic pain among veterans. This understanding would provide the evidence base for supporting the use of medical marijuana (Caldera, 2020).

The social determinant of employment and work environment has an effect on the bill. The veterans are former soldiers who have through wars with some of them being injured, causing them to experience chronic pain. Veterans are at higher risk of seeking care for chronic pain, thus creating a need to identify a pain management strategy that would not harm them. Towards this end, it is important to identify the benefits and risks of using medical marijuana in chronic pain management among veterans (Milstead & Short, 2019).  The Effects of Using Medical Grade Cannabis Assignment Essay

Opponents of the bill are likely to raise concerns about the associated costs of conducting the clinical trials. However, the reality is that opioid dependence is a concern among veterans suffering from chronic pain with legislation allowing for medical marijuana to be used as an alternative. However, there is a need for more studies on medical cannabis for pain management (Caldera, 2020).

References

Caldera, F. E. (2020). Medical cannibus as an alternative for opioids for chronic pain: A case report. SAGE Open Medical Care Reports, 8, 2050313X2090701. https://doi.org/10.1177/2050313X20907015

Congress.gov (2022). H.R.2916 – VA Medicinal Cannabis Research Act of 2021. https://www.congress.gov/bill/117th-congress/house-bill/2916

Milstead, J. & Short, N. (2019). Health Policy and Politics: A Nurse’s Guide (6^th ed.). Jones & Bartlett Learning. The Effects of Using Medical Grade Cannabis Assignment Essay