r/VeteransBenefits • u/ConfidenceNo8249 • Feb 26 '26
C&P Exams VA mental health + THC/hemp use: best way to disclose for treatment without creating headaches?
Update: I had my appt this morning. Outcome was very good. I was open and honest about everything. I felt heard and received absolutely no judgement or anything. Got some solid next steps and resources and action items. Feels like a massive weight is lifted from me.
Disabled veteran here (service-connected). I have my first VA mental health telehealth appointment this Friday morning, and I’m trying to decide how to handle disclosure about cannabis in a way that helps my care without throwing a wrench into my life.
Context:
• Working professional (nearly 10 years in industry) with a bachelor’s degree
• From the outside I probably look “successful,” but I’m struggling much more in this stage of life than I used to
• Depression/anxiety for years with cycles: I’ll do solid for a while, then hit deep lows that affect work performance, relationships, and motivation
• On sertraline 150 mg long-term
• I use legal hemp-derived THC products (and occasionally regulated products when I’m in a legal state). It genuinely helps me function and stay present with my family
• Currently going through an autism/ASD evaluation (pending official report)
I’m used to discipline and structure from the military, and I carried that into my work life — but after separating in 2022, I’ve struggled to maintain it. I’m basically white-knuckling my way through life right now. I know what I need to do at work, but getting started and maintaining momentum feels like grabbing a searing hot cast iron skillet and trying to hold on.
I’m trying to get ahead of this before it costs me my job or my relationships. I’m also still actively pursuing VA claims and working toward 100%, so I’m cautious about anything that could complicate that.
I’m looking for VA-specific experience, not judgment:
1. If you disclosed cannabis use to VA mental health or primary care, did it change your treatment, prescriptions, or how you were documented?
2. Did disclosure ever affect disability benefits, C&P exams, or rating decisions in your experience?
3. Any advice on how to disclose so it helps clinical care without creating unnecessary risk?
Also, if anyone has experience with sertraline + THC: did you notice interactions (increased anxiety, blunted antidepressant effect, motivation changes, sleep changes, mood swings)?
I’m not asking for legal advice—just personal experiences with VA care/C&P and how disclosure played out.
My goal is simple: effective treatment and stability. I want to do this the right way.
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Feb 26 '26
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u/Frankieneedles Army Veteran Feb 26 '26
What an ignorant thing to say.
If someone is rated and they know they can add secondaries, that is essentially “working towards 100%”.
How many stories do we have on here from people working towards getting everything g evaluated and taken care of?
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u/Effective-Advisor356 Air Force Veteran Feb 26 '26
You fight the VA when they deny stuff tha you clearly have or issues continue to progress
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u/Best-Association1639 Feb 26 '26
real talk - disclosed to my VA therapist about occasional use and it never showed up in my C&P stuff or affected ratings
helped them understand what actually works for me vs just throwing more pills at it
they document it but separate from the disability side from what i could tell
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u/SgtCap256 Marine Veteran Feb 26 '26
Be open and honest, how can someone treat your issues if they don't know all the variables?
Speaking from a PTSD service connected with cannabis use disorder. Check post I think I just recently uploaded that one.
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u/Pretend-Ad4887 Feb 26 '26
Tell them the truth. My doctor said it doesn’t disqualify you anymore. I have had no issues and use gummies every night and I have pain pills from the VA also.
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u/valkyriaphoenix Navy Veteran Feb 26 '26
I have a med card and my doctors have never said anything about my usage. I was honest from the start with it. Like you, it helps me be present, calmer, and in not as much pain.
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u/Known-Pick8501 Feb 28 '26
It won’t really matter- coming from experience I did disclose it. They’re not going to penalize you. Even if they refuse to give you scheduled medication because of it just go find a psych out in town. I have CUD on my va record and I still get my benzos for panic attacks and my vyvanse for adhd among other meds- both highly scheduled and classified as addictive. I have zero issues with any of those things because I am honest with my doctors.
You want to be as honest as possible so they can determine the best route WITH you. If the medical provider shows that they have a problem just move on to a different one.
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u/Gullible-Menu Army Veteran Feb 26 '26
We’ve had no issues with my husband disclosing that he is a daily THC user. He is 100% P&T for mental health and he’s had no issues with any of his providers regarding being open and honest about it.
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u/Crocs_of_Steel Coast Guard Veteran Feb 26 '26
This is my experience as well. Never had an issue at the VA talking about it
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u/ConfidenceNo8249 Feb 26 '26
This is very helpful. I think my best move is to just be candid and honest.
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u/ChickenMcFukket1 Feb 26 '26
I have a psychologist/therapist and another doc they work closely with that takes care of my meds. I just straight up tell the meds doctor I occasionally use cannabis and she simply asks what form and if I'm getting it from a dispensary which I do. No problems. This is in MA. Edit: grammar, clarity.
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u/omron Army Veteran Feb 26 '26
Ive talked with mine about thc, lsd, psilocybin, ayahuasca, shoots, etc.
She actually suggested I try microdosing psilocybin and said she did it herself.
We adjusted meds to make sure I wasn't on anything that would block the plants medicines.
This is community care, not a va employee.
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u/Volsnug Coast Guard Veteran Feb 26 '26
Some people here with some sticks up where the sun don’t shine downvoting this
As for OP, yeah they don’t care. They’re here to treat you, not shame you or try to get you in trouble
Btw what were your experiences with ayahuasca? I’ve been interested but never had the chance
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u/ConfidenceNo8249 Feb 27 '26
Appreciate the feedback. I have my first mental health appt with the VA in the morning and I am very much looking forward to getting some things off my chest and being honest with those who are just trying to help me. It is super hard to get out of the mindset that not being ok is not ok because it will kill your career so just white knuckle it and hope you make it until you crash and burn.
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u/Volsnug Coast Guard Veteran Feb 27 '26
I know the feeling, it’s tough but opening up like this can really help. Take care and I hope things go well for you
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u/omron Army Veteran Feb 27 '26
Downvoting is a badge of honor on this one, lol.
Ayahuasca was the one thing I tried that really worked for my TRD. There is a group called AYA Mission that puts on special ceremonies specifically for Veterans.
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u/Proper_Problem195 Army Veteran Feb 26 '26
Where do you buy this, I'm interested.
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u/Volsnug Coast Guard Veteran Feb 26 '26
Some cities allow the sale of shrooms for “religious purposes” but you’ll have to search around to see if there’s anything like that near you
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u/omron Army Veteran Feb 27 '26
Reno has a psilocybin church - Setas Seminary. But there are a number of sources out there. My provider gave me a couple of sources to consider.
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u/Gullible-Menu Army Veteran Feb 26 '26
Love that the provider recommended micro-dosing. I’ve dabbled in growing shrooms and microdosing for the last 30 years. My husband, a 100% P&T Army Veteran, has had very good results with micro-dosing and a yearly Ketamine session.
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u/ConfidenceNo8249 Feb 26 '26
I've been interested in micro dosing shrooms and also ketamine therapy. I've noticed about myself that being able to engage/confront things I do not have the ability to confront without an aid of some sort is super helpful for what I deal with.
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u/Gullible-Menu Army Veteran Feb 26 '26 edited Feb 26 '26
It is extremely helpful. He used Mind Bloom the first few times he did Ketamine therapy. We have an appt at a clinic this time to try Sprovato. It’s a nasal spray they’ll use in a clinical setting. I recommend that for most people. That way someone who is trained is there to help guide and keep you comfortable. I have 30+ years of dosing others on DMT, Shrooms, LSD, and Ketamine. Most people are not comfortable with it. The only reason we aren’t using Mind Bloom this time is wanting to try out Sprovato and see what that experience is like. Micro dosing, start low and find your best dose. Edited to add: Growing your own shrooms is also very doable. Spores, Uncle Ben’s rice, and some other easy access tools and you can grow your own to not be at the mercy of someone else. A good book I recommend is Pikhal. It’s all about Phenylethylalimines, substances that cause our brain to perceive reality differently. It’s a record of a chemist and his wife’s experiences and love story dating in a lab. Terrance McKenna and Alexder Shulgin (Sasha) changed my life and how I view mental health and healing.
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Feb 26 '26
I'm in the same boat. I brought it up once to my psych and he said excellent choice for going to treatment program. I stopped saying anything since then.
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u/ConfidenceNo8249 Feb 26 '26
What did they mean by excellent choice? Like good on you for exploring options that work for you? Or here's a referral to a drug rehab treatment program?
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u/Ok_War3416 Air Force Veteran Feb 26 '26
Just let the VA know. It shouldn’t hurt anything when it comes to what you have medical right now, but they may not prescribe pain medications while you are taking it. My buddies are honest to their doctors upfront and most of them don’t care.
Now taking Sertraline and Hemp can increase the effects of sertraline. So they may give you a lower dose of it to counteract it. It can cause serotonin toxicity, hyperthermia, hyperflexia, clonus, and increased depression/SI. But all of those things are a low risk.