Veterans service organizations (VSOs), during a joint meeting of the U.S. House of Representatives and Senate this week, urged members of Congress on an urgent basis to pursue potential benefits of medical marijuana and psychedelic assisted therapy.
The request from groups such as the Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America (IAVA), Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States (VFW), Disabled Americans Veterans, and the Wounded Warrior Project follows on the heels of last year’s annual VSO hearings , where organizations criticized the Department of Veterans Affairs for “dragging its feet” in medical marijuana research.
In testimony before the House and Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committees of the House, Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America said that “data makes it clear that our veterans are ready to try alternative therapies.” Our elected leaders must help to make this possible.
In a recent annual survey, the group asked veterans if they support expanded access to “psychedelic treatments within the VA”, and 65% said yes. Only 12% said they were against.”
Veterans of Foreign Wars of the U.S.
In testimony given at Wednesday’s Hearing, VFW Commander in Chief Duane SARMIENTO said that medical cannabis was prescribed in 38 states, including Washington, D.C., with positive results. He also noted that VA would soon be researching MDMA and psilocybin for treating PTSD and depression.
Sarmiento added, “Traditional therapies have limitations and we think non-traditional treatments should be considered for veteran issues.” We eagerly anticipate the results of these research studies, and we hope they will show positive effects similar to the anecdotal reports that we have heard.
VA published a request for proposals in January to conduct research into using psychedelics for treating PTSD and depression. marked a significant milestone for the Department.
In testimony given this week, Wounded Warrior project said that while the development is “unquestionably positive,” there are still fundamental questions.
The organization’s CEO retired Lt. General Michael S. Linnington said, for instance, that the demand for MDMA treatment could quickly exceed capacity at the Veterans Health Administration if the Food and Drug Administration approved psychedelics for mental health issues.
Linnington wrote: “It’s understood that VHA won’t be able absorb the demand for MDMA assisted therapy for PTSD when it is approved by FDA.” While several VA facilities are ready to offer this treatment modality on a limited scale, as potential psychedelic centers, we know that the demand for treatment could overwhelm the system and further strain capacity.
VSOs also called on policymakers to address practical questions regarding how to implement psychedelic assisted therapy for large numbers of veterans.
Linnington, of Wounded Warrior Project, said that “we should also strive for understanding how to best integrate MDMA-assisted therapies into the culture care model and how we can scale treatment to reach large numbers veterans who need PTSD treatments.” The long-term effects of MDMA-assisted treatment and the need for tailored aftercare are also areas that should be explored.
Linnington also stressed the need to distinguish between different types of psychedelic assisted therapy and their potential benefits and limitations.
He said: “We emphasize the need to work together with the manufacturing community and clinical providers to ensure veterans have clear and reliable information when other ‘psychedelics’ drugs and treatments come to the market,” he added. While we have talked about MDMA, there are dozens of other companies developing drugs that use psilocybin and LSD. Ibogaine and other substances are also in various stages of development. In a broad discussion on psychedelic-assisted therapy, it is important to distinguish between the various products as well as their health effects and delivery methods.
On Thursday, during the second day of VSO Hearings lawmakers heard Nancy G. Espinosa speak, who is the national commander for Disabled American Veterans. This organization has more than one million members.
Espinosa, in her testimony, listed VA support for “research into the medical efficacy” of cannabis to treat service-connected disabled vets as one of the organization’s top priorities when it comes to medical and mental healthcare.
On the third day of hearings, scheduled for 13 March, lawmakers will hear from American Legion, Vietnam Veterans of America (VVA), Military Officers Association of America (MOAA) and other VSOs.
Veterans groups have been leading the charge on drug reform at state and federal levels, particularly in relation to medical marijuana and psychedelic therapy. This is due in large part to the high rate of mental disorders and suicidal thoughts among veterans. Alternative therapies, say advocates, can help combat these issues.
There are currently no psychedelics that can be prescribed as medicine by the federal government. This could change soon, since the FDA has agreed to expedite review of a new drug request for MDMA-assisted treatment.
The FDA had previously recognized MDMA and psilocybin, as breakthrough treatments for post-traumatic disorder (PTSD) or treatment-resistant depression.
The issue of broader access to medical cannabis and psychedelics by VA doctors has become a constant concern for VSOs. Similar issues were brought up during the 2022 Committee on Veterans’ Affairs hearings . These issues were themselves echoes of issues that VSOs had repeatedly raised to legislators.
Minority Veterans of America, during congressional hearings scheduled for 2021, brought attention to research that showed the potential use of cannabis and psychedelics as a treatment for conditions like PTSD and substance abuse disorders.
“We believe it is necessary to include cannabis and psychedelics in the [Veterans Health Administration’s] psychopharmacological repertoire,” the group said.
The specifics of the messages have varied, but it is clear that military veterans can benefit greatly from marijuana treatment. It’s time Congress did something about it.
Some members of Congress are finally getting the message. In November, the first ever congressional hearing on psychedelic therapy for veterans was held at a meeting of the House Veterans’ Affairs Subcommittee on Health.
Derrick Van Orden, a Republican from Wisconsin, filed a federal bill last month that would require the VA’s chief of staff to inform lawmakers if an agency added psychedelic drugs to its formulary.
Van Orden also co-sponsored an bipartisan bill that would provide funding to Department of Defense (DOD), to carry out clinical trials on the therapeutic potential of psychedelics in active duty military personnel. This reform was passed into law under an amendment to the 2024 National Defense Authorization Act by President Joe Biden.
The first episode of this series, , focuses on the healing power of psychedelics.
The FDA joined scientists recently at a meeting of the public on Next Steps for Conducting Research to Develop Psychedelic Medicine.
This came after FDA released historic draft guidance on studies of psychedelics. It provided scientists with a structure to conduct research that could lead them to develop novel medicines.
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Image element provided by Kristie Gianpulos.
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