# Study Finds Veterans With SUD Use Cannabis to Alleviate Pain and Anxiety > **Author:** Benjamin Caplan, MD (ABFM Board Certified, MA Lic. #240562, NPI: 1962722637) > **Publisher:** CED Clinic (https://cedclinic.com) > **Canonical URL:** https://cedclinic.com/cannabis-veterans-substance-use-disorder-study/ > **Published:** 2026-02-24T14:15:27-04:00 | **Last Modified / Clinically Audited:** 2026-09-28T11:14:23-04:00 > **Clinical Summary:** New research shows cannabis veterans substance use disorder may help alleviate pain, anxiety, and improve sleep during recovery. --- ✦ New CED Clinical Relevance #72 Notable Clinical Interest Emerging findings or policy developments worth monitoring closely. Mental HealthPainAnxietySleepResearch Why This Matters If you are a veteran managing pain, anxiety, or sleep issues alongside a substance use disorder, this research supports having an honest conversation with your care team about whether supervised [cannabis use](https://cedclinic.com/cannabis-cardiovascular-health-insights-2024/) could be a safer part of your recovery plan. Clinical Summary New research examining veterans with [substance use disorders](https://cedclinic.com/cannabinoid-clinical-trials-mental-disorders-evidence-2/) found that many turned to cannabis to manage pain, anxiety, and sleep disturbances during their treatment for non-cannabis-related SUD. This aligns with what we see clinically, where patients often use cannabis as an adjunct or alternative to more harmful substances, particularly opioids and benzodiazepines. The study adds to a growing body of evidence suggesting that cannabis may play a [harm reduction](https://cedclinic.com/can-you-mix-weed-and-alcohol/) role for certain patient populations when integrated thoughtfully into a broader treatment plan. Dr. Caplan’s Take “Veterans have been telling us for years that cannabis helps them reduce reliance on more dangerous substances, and it is long past time that the clinical community stopped ignoring that signal and started building real protocols around it.” Clinical Perspective A new study characterizing veteran perspectives on cannabis use during SUD treatment confirms patterns we see daily in clinic: patients are self-selecting cannabis to manage pain, anxiety, and insomnia rather than relying solely on conventional medications with higher risk profiles. This is not about promoting cannabis as a cure for addiction but about recognizing that for many veterans, it functions as a harm reduction tool that keeps them away from opioids, alcohol, and benzodiazepines. The clinical challenge is not whether veterans are using cannabis during recovery, because they clearly are, but whether we as clinicians will step up to guide that use safely. ️ Supervised, intentional cannabis protocols could be transformative for this population if we build the frameworks to support them. Studies like this one give us the evidence base to push for exactly that kind of integration. 💬 Join the Conversation Have a question about how this applies to your situation? [Ask Dr. Caplan →](https://benjamincaplan.com/ask-dr-caplan) Want to discuss this topic with other patients and caregivers? [Join the forum discussion →](https://cedclinic.com/interact/discussion-forums/) Have thoughts on this? Share it: [𝕏 Share on X](https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?text=Just+read+this+on+CEDclinic.com%3A+%3Cb%3EStudy%3C%2Fb%3E+Finds+Veterans+With+SUD+Used+%3Cb%3ECannabis%3C%2Fb%3E+to+Alleviate+Pain%2C+Anxiety%2C+and+Improve+Po...+%40drcaplan&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.pharmacytimes.com%2Fview%2Fstudy-finds-veterans-with-sud-used-cannabis-to-alleviate-pain-anxiety-and-improve-poor-sleep-quality) [in Share on LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/sharing/share-offsite/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.pharmacytimes.com%2Fview%2Fstudy-finds-veterans-with-sud-used-cannabis-to-alleviate-pain-anxiety-and-improve-poor-sleep-quality) [🦅 Share on BlueSky](https://bsky.app/intent/compose?text=Just+read+this%3A+%3Cb%3EStudy%3C%2Fb%3E+Finds+Veterans+With+SUD+Used+%3Cb%3ECannabis%3C%2Fb%3E+to+Alleviate+Pain%2C+Anxiety%2C+and+Improve+Po...+%E2%80%94+via+%40drcaplan.bsky.social+https%3A%2F%2Fwww.pharmacytimes.com%2Fview%2Fstudy-finds-veterans-with-sud-used-cannabis-to-alleviate-pain-anxiety-and-improve-poor-sleep-quality) [📷 Follow on Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/drbenjamincaplan/) [📝 Read more on Substack](https://substack.com/@doctorapproved) [🔔 Subscribe via RSS](https://cedclinic.com/category/cannabis-news/feed/) 📰 Source: [https://www.pharmacytimes.com/view/study-finds-veterans-with-sud-used-cannabis-to-alleviate-pain-anxiety-and-improve-poor-sleep-quality](https://www.pharmacytimes.com/view/study-finds-veterans-with-sud-used-cannabis-to-alleviate-pain-anxiety-and-improve-poor-sleep-quality) [https://cedclinic.com/contact/](https://cedclinic.com/contact/) Physician-Led, Whole-Person Care A doctor who takes the time to truly understand you. Personal care that starts with listening and is guided by experience and ingenuity. Health, Longevity, Wellness One-on-One Cannabis Guidance Metabolic Balance [Leave a Message](https://cedclinic.com/contact/) [Metabolic Care](https://cedclinic.com/metabolic/metabolic-how-it-works/) [Medical Consulting](https://cedclinic.com/book/) [Cannabis Care](https://cedclinic.com/book/) [https://cedclinic.com/contact/](https://cedclinic.com/contact/) RELATED READING AT CED CLINIC Continue exploring the evidence [Why Older Adults Increasingly Seek Cannabis for Pain, Mental Health, & Sleep](https://cedclinic.com/why-older-adults-increasingly-seek-cannabis-for-pain-mental-health-sleep/) Explore why older adults turn to cannabis for managing pain, mental health, and sleep challenges, highlighting trends relevant to veterans. [Learn More](https://cedclinic.com/why-older-adults-increasingly-seek-cannabis-for-pain-mental-health-sleep/) [Medical Cannabis Linked to Meaningful Pain-Related Improvements in Large Minnesota Study](https://cedclinic.com/medical-cannabis-linked-to-meaningful-pain-related-improvements-in-large-minnesota-study/) Review evidence from a large study showing [medical cannabis benefits](https://cedclinic.com/cbd-treatment-multiple-sclerosis-meta-analysis/) for pain relief, supporting veteran care considerations. [Read Study](https://cedclinic.com/medical-cannabis-linked-to-meaningful-pain-related-improvements-in-large-minnesota-study/) [Is Cannabis Effective for Treating Mental Health Disorders? – Labroots](https://cedclinic.com/cannabis-mental-health-treatment-challenges/) An in-depth look at cannabis effectiveness for [mental health disorders](https://cedclinic.com/cannabinoid-receptor-type-2-schizophrenia/), offering context for veterans managing anxiety and sleep. [Explore Findings](https://cedclinic.com/cannabis-mental-health-treatment-challenges/) ### Related --- ### Verification & Medical Governance - **Lead Clinical Author:** Benjamin Caplan, MD - **Credentials:** Board Certified in Family Medicine (ABFM), Founder & CMO CED Clinic & CED Foundation, Author of *The Doctor-Approved Cannabis Handbook* (Penguin Random House). - **Clinical Scale:** 350,000+ lifetime evaluations overseen; 81,008-patient Real-World Evidence Registry (`~/.ced_rwe_vault.db`); 125,000+ peer-reviewed study literature observatory (`http://localhost:8768/api/explorer/terminal`). - **License Verification:** Commonwealth of Massachusetts License #240562 (https://checkahealthlicense.mass.gov/). - **NPI Registry:** 1962722637 (https://npiregistry.cms.hhs.gov/provider-view/1962722637). - **Ethics & Data Privacy:** Clinical registry observations adhere strictly to HIPAA Safe Harbor de-identification (45 CFR § 164.514(b)) and criteria for secondary research exemption under 45 CFR § 46.104(d)(4).