The bipartisan Congress is pushing to protect military veterans who use marijuana for medical purposes in states where it’s legal, as well doctors from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs who recommend that such programs be allowed.
The Fiscal Year 2024 budget bill that covers Military Construction, Veterans Affairs and Related Agencies, (MilCon/VA), has been amended twice to implement the reform.
Although the text of both amendments is identical, they are sponsored by two different groups of legislators.
The first comes from the cochairs of Congressional Cannabis Caucus: Reps. Brian Mast, Earl Blumenauer, Dave Joyce and Barbara Lee.
Reps. Nancy Mace (R.SC), Dina Titus, (D.NV), and Greg Steube are sponsoring the other.
Blumenauer said to Marijuana Moment that he has heard veterans say how medical marijuana saved them. “Our bipartisan amendement is a long overdue step which will benefit millions who are entitled to the same access to state-legal cannabis programs as civilians.”
It’s unclear why two bipartisan groups of legislators filed duplicate versions the same amendment. They would both add language to the base spending bill that prevents VA from using funds to “interfere” with a veteran’s ability to participate in a medical marijuana program approved by the State.
The Department also could not use funds to deny veterans services who participate in state medical marijuana programs, or to “limit, interfere, or hinder the ability of health care providers of the Department to provide appropriate recommendations, complete forms, or comply with such a programme.”
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The House Rules Committee would need to make sure that the measures are in order before they can be considered on the floor. The House Rules Committee has yet to make a decision on whether or not the measures will be considered.
This included an amendment from the co-chairs of the Cannabis Caucus to allow VA physicians to give medical cannabis recommendations for veterans who live in states where marijuana is legalized to be used therapeutically.
The Rules Committee does not have a scheduled meeting for the MilCon/VA Appropriations Bill.
Democrat senators, meanwhile, are trying to pass a number of marijuana reform amendments in their version of the NDAA.
One of the proposals led by Sen. Brian Schatz, (D-HI) would allow veterans to access medical cannabis in all states and territories that have legalized it. This proposal is similar to a separate bill that Senator Schatz introduced back in April.
The law would also protect doctors who fill out and discuss paperwork to recommend medical cannabis for veterans. It would also require that the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs support clinical trials to investigate the therapeutic effects of marijuana in treating conditions like pain and post-traumatic disorder (PTSD), which commonly affect veterans.
It is not clear if Senate Democrats will agree to include any of these amendments into the final bill, or if the GOP controlled House would accept them if they were attached by the Senate.
According to a recent study , over 90 percent of U.S. veterans who use medical cannabis say it improves their life quality. Many of them also use cannabis as a substitute for prescription and over-the counter medications.
The Senate Appropriations Committee approved a separate amendment to allowing VA doctors to give medical cannabis recommendations. released its report for the relevant budget bill, which calls on the Department to facilitate access to medical marijuana for veterans and to explore the therapeutic potentials of psychedelics.
House and Senate Appropriators have approved large-scale spending bills, which include once again language to protect medical cannabis programs in states, as well a controversial riders to prevent Washington, D.C. implementing a regulated marijuana sale system.
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Photo by Mike Latimer.
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