VA mental health commission recommends federal cannabis research

Many government officials are comparatively skittish about supporting cannabis and its synthetic counterparts because of its Class 1 drug status, even for the treatment of COVID-19. That being the case, there was recently some surprising news from an association that may have made some people in the U.S. federal government sit up and take notice.

The independent association, the Creating Options for Veterans Expedited Recovery (COVER) Commission, released its report this past January. Despite the recommendations of its drug policy findings, the document has gone mostly unnoticed by reform advocates and the media.

Chaired by presidential appointee Jake Leinenkugel, the panel of the commission tasked with developing recommendations to improve mental health treatment for military veterans determined that cannabis and psychedelics represent promising mental health treatment options for veterans.

The COVER Commission Report noted that Veteran Affairs officials should work closely with other U.S. federal agencies to research the potential and short- and long-term risks and benefits of medical cannabis and psychedelic drugs. Congress and the executive branch need to promote research into the therapeutic potential of cannabis and psychedelics such as psilocybin mushrooms and MDMA, it added.

The findings cannot be generalized because of sample size and homogeneity issues. Still, studies have shown some promise for treating disorders for which available treatments are insufficient — mood, substance, anxiety disorders, post-traumatic stress disorder — using psychedelics, including MDMA,” the COVER Commission report laid out in recommendations.

An earlier report, released in 2019, emphasized the comparative similarities between federally produced cannabis and its synthetic counterparts. Previous studies have demonstrated that marijuana that’s grown at the University of Mississippi, with funding from the National Institutes on Drug Abuse, has lower THC and CBD than commercial cannabis products.

Congress and the executive branch need to promote research into the therapeutic potential of cannabis and psychedelics such as psilocybin mushrooms and MDMA. / Getty Images/iStockphoto Getty Images/iStockphoto

But researchers at the University of Northern Colorado wanted to learn specifically about their genetic differences. “As the interest for medical cannabis increases, it is important that research examining the threats and benefits of cannabis use accurately reflect the experiences of the general public,” researchers wrote.

Where can cannabinoids have positive effects related to the coronavirus? One physician sees a potential connection, with treatment for the ancillary symptoms (or concurrent medical conditions), associated with COVID-19.

Patients with asthma or reactive airways of any kind could benefit from CBD, with or without the coronavirus infection.

An informal observational study conducted with 10 asthmatic patients showed significant bronchodilation, even after discontinuing their asthma medications.

With a vaccine only on a distant horizon, there are still many uncertainties about how the coronavirus spreads. Anxiety has undoubtedly increased during the 24-7 news cycle of COVID-19.

Another area in which CBD can be extremely useful in managing anxiety. Although the coronavirus’s media coverage has been necessary, responsible and highly informative, it has triggered many fears from both public officials and private citizens.