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Veterans Affairs doctors may soon be allowed to recommend medical marijuana for PTSD

As of now, doctors who work for the Department of Veterans Affairs can't suggest marijuana use.

By Thor Benson

WASHINGTON, Nov. 22 (UPI) -- A new bill proposes that doctors from the Department of Veterans Affairs should be allowed to recommend the use of medical marijuana for PTSD, brain trauma and mental health in states where use of medical marijuana is legal.

The bill is called the Veterans Equal Access Act, and it was introduced on Thursday by Reps. Earl Blumenauer (D-Ore.) and Dana Rohrabacher (R-Calif.). As many as 30 percent of veterans have PTSD, and 22 veterans commit suicide every day.

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Studies have found the use of marijuana in combination with therapy to be effective for treating PTSD and other mental health problems like anxiety or depression.

"Post traumatic stress and traumatic brain injury are just as damaging and harmful as any injuries that are visible from the outside," said Rep. Blumenauer in a statement. "Sometimes even more so because of the devastating effect they can have on a veteran's family. We should be allowing these wounded warriors access to the medicine that will help them survive and thrive, including medical marijuana, not treating them like criminals and forcing them into the shadows. It's shameful."

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