The number of veterans in Canada being prescribed tranquilizers or opioids for the treatment of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) has plummeted over the last six years. Conversely, the number of Canadian veterans using medicinal cannabis with authorization has soared, despite the fact that Veterans Affairs imposed limits on medical cannabis reimbursements.

Veterans Affairs Canada divulged data to The Globe and Mail clarifying the rise in cannabis use among veterans across the country. However, experts warn that further research is needed to determine if the green plant is being favored as an alternative to other types of medication.

The data provided by Veterans Affairs Canada mirrors trends that we have seen in certain U.S. states where medical cannabis has been legalized.

Major declines in opioid-related deaths and overdoses are noticeable in states with relaxed medical cannabis laws, suggesting that former opioid users could be using cannabis as a replacement for addictive medications.

Veterans are swapping opioids for cannabis-based treatments

A total of 4,702 Canadian veterans were prescribed benzodiazepines, such as Ativan, Valium, and Xanax, in the last fiscal year.

This is a 43 percent decrease since 2012.

Furthermore, opioid prescriptions dropped 31 percent to 10,130 during the same timeframe.

Last fiscal year, reimbursements provided to veterans by the department for medical cannabis rose from a mere 68 to almost 7,300.

A whopping $63.7-million was spent on these medical cannabis prescriptions in 2016. However, the costs tumbled to $50.9 million last fiscal year when bureaucrats slashed funding.

Veterans with PTSD fight back after medical cannabis funding is cut

In an attempt to prove that Veteran’s Affairs Canada violated their rights by reducing medical cannabis coverage, New Brunswick veterans suffering from PTSD are gearing up for a court case against the federal government.

The veterans claim they use cannabis to ease the symptoms caused by service-related injuries.

Rather than seeking financial reimbursement for damages, the Canadian veterans will request a federal court to rule that VAC disobeyed its duty to them in May of last year, after it shockingly shrunk the daily medical cannabis allowance to just three grams.

Initially, the daily allowance was 10 grams – a 70 percent decrease.

“We are asking for a declaration by the court that reducing from 10 grams to three grams is a violation of the government’s obligation to the veterans,” said David Lutz, the Saint John-based lawyer who is speaking on behalf of the veterans.

“We need to make a new law here,” he continued.

Canadian veterans are taking their lives to avoid relapsing

The drastic cuts in daily medical cannabis allowance for veterans in Canada meant that the risk of suicide elevated.

In fact, many former soldiers attempted to cut their lives short in the fear of relapsing with unpleasant symptoms, according to The Globe and Mail.

One soldier tragically killed himself one week after his dose was lowered.

On a positive note, almost half of the veterans who were impacted by the medical cannabis funding cuts have now had their funding reinstated, with many benefiting from up to 10 grams daily.

Veterans for Healing, an advocacy and support association based in Oromocto, N.B., will fund a lawsuit for the veterans who have joined forces to make sure similar scenarios do not present themselves in future.

“It’s not about money, it’s about doing what’s right,” said the named plaintiff, Jamie Keating.

“You can’t just cut vets off cold turkey when something works. If it was opiates, they wouldn’t be able to just stop,” he went on to say.

Fabian Henry is a popular cannabis supporter and veteran who will also back the lawsuit. The real reason behind the cuts could be linked to the dear costs of VAC’s medical cannabis, which had soared to over $60 million.

Scaling back on medical cannabis funding for Canadian veterans is likely due to the absence of scientific research proving cannabis’ efficacy as a treatment for PTSD.