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Veterans Affairs paid out $44.5 million for medical marijuana expenses in the year before the government cracked down on soaring reimbursement costs — more than three times what it covered in the prior two years combined.

The department covered 3.7 million grams of marijuana at an average cost of $12.01 per gram from October 2015 to September 2016 — 30 per cent higher than what it considers market value.

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The cost breakdown was included in documents released under an access to information request ahead of a Veterans Affairs policy change this month that will significantly reduce the amount of medical marijuana eligible for reimbursement.

The move is part of an effort to curtail government spending on skyrocketing medical marijuana costs as the number of ex-soldiers claiming medical marijuana expenses rises rapidly.

Veterans Affairs Minister Kent Hehr announced last November the department would cap reimbursement at $8.50 per gram —what it considers “market value”— and reduce the eligible amount from 10 to three grams per day for new patients. As of May 22, the volume limit will apply to all veterans.