Photo: The Canadian Press Marijuana in a grow room during a tour of Sundial Growers Inc.’s marijuana growing facility. in Olds, Alta., Wednesday, Oct. 10, 2018. An internal audit by Veterans Affairs Canada shows Ottawa has nearly lost control as it unloads hundreds of millions of dollars each year on veterans’ medical marijuana. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jeff McIntosh An internal audit by Veterans Affairs Canada suggests Ottawa has nearly lost control as it pays hundreds of millions of dollars each year for veterans’ medical marijuana. Quietly released this week, the audit found that Veterans Affairs spends more on prescription glasses than all other prescription drugs combined amid an explosion in demand in recent years. That’s despite what auditors described as a lack of research on the medical benefits — and risks — of cannabis for veterans, especially those struggling with psychological trauma. The audit revealed serious gaps and problems in the way the department manages the program, which cost $150 million in the last fiscal year and is expected to reach $300 million in 2025-26. These include a lack of guidance and oversight about who can get medical marijuana, what conditions it’s prescribed for, and how veterans get medical clearance for their cannabis. Auditors say the government needs to establish proper guidelines while also investing in more research to protect vulnerable veterans and ensure taxpayer dollars are used properly.
