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Input: In a letter to U.S. Rep. Tim Walz (D-Minn.)   Department of Veterans Affairs Secretary David Shulkin  said VA’s ability to research medical marijuana is hampered by the fact that the drug is illegal federally.  Shulkin ’s letter came in response to an inquiry by 10 Democrats on the House Veterans’ Affairs Committee. The letter asks  Shulkin  to commit the VA to investigating whether medical marijuana can help veterans suffering from PTSD and chronic pain and identify barriers to doing so.
“VA is committed to researching and developing effective ways to help Veterans cope with post-traumatic stress disorder and chronic pain conditions ”  Shulkin  wrote in a response to the members of Congress. “However  federal law restricts VA’s ability to conduct research involving medical marijuana  or to refer veterans to such projects.”
“VA’s response not only failed to answer our simple question  but they made a disheartening attempt to mislead me  my colleagues and the veteran community in the process” by stating that the VA is restricted from conducting marijuana research. Walz  a veteran  said he plans to send another letter to  Shulkin  asking for further clarification.
A spokesman for  Shulkin  pointed to the secretary’s past comments on medical marijuana.  Shulkin  said in May  “My opinion is  is that some of the states that have put in appropriate controls  there may be some evidence that this is beginning to be helpful. And we’re interested in looking at that and learning from that. But until the time that federal law changes  we are not able … to prescribe medical marijuana for conditions that may be helpful.”
 Shulkin  said VA is offering a suite of alternative treatments for patients with PTSD  including yoga  meditation  acupuncture and hypnosis. The letter also said VA has a program to reduce the amount of opioids prescribed to patients with chronic pain; since 2013   Shulkin  wrote  33 percent fewer patients were receiving opioids.

VA says it won't study medical marijuana's effect on veterans