Bipartisan lawmakers in the House and Senate are re-filing bills that would legalize medical marijuana to help veterans. This is the latest of a number of cannabis-related measures introduced during the week before the 4/20 holiday.
On Tuesday, Rep. Barbara Lee introduced the Veterans Medical Marijuana Safe Harbor Act with 12 cosponsors. On Wednesday, Sen. Brian Schatz is the leader of a companion bill filed by the Democratic Senator from Hawaii.
This bill will allow veterans to temporarily possess and use marijuana under federal law if doctors recommend it in accordance with the state laws. For the first time, doctors with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs would be able to make such recommendations.
The measure also authorizes VA to investigate the therapeutic potential of cannabis for pain and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
Schatz stated in a release that “in 41 states, territories, and Washington, D.C., both doctors and patients can use medical cannabis to treat pain, or to treat many diseases and disorders, such as post-traumatic disorder, unless the doctors are VA doctors, and their veterans,” Schatz explained. “Our bill protects veteran patients, gives VA doctors the choice to prescribe medical cannabis to veterans and sheds light on the ways medical marijuana can address the opioid epidemic in the United States,” Schatz said in a press release.
Lee stated that she was “proud to be the daughter of a Veteran” and that “she is committed to supporting our Nation’s Veterans when they return to service, including ensuring that they have access safe, effective pain treatment for conditions such as PTSD or chronic Pain.”
She said, “It is time that the federal government catches up with the states in this matter.” If a state has legalized medical marijuana, VA doctors must have the option of prescribing medical marijuana to vets. This bill’s investment in expanding research into ways that medical marijuana can alleviate the opioid epidemic is also vital. This bipartisan and bicameral initiative will improve the lives of veterans in the United States.”
VA physicians are allowed to discuss cannabis with veterans but cannot give recommendations that allow them to purchase marijuana on state-legal markets.
The findings section of the bill states that “Marijuana, and its compounds, show promise in pain management and treatment for a wide range of diseases and disorders including post-traumatic disorder.” In states where medical marijuana is legal, it may be a safer alternative to opioids for treating veterans.
In the three Congresses that have passed , versions of this legislation were introduced . did not progress.
This version has been revised slightly. Prior bills directed VA to conduct a study to determine the effects of medical marijuana use on veterans. The new measure states that the department must instead “support” clinical research on this issue.
Previously, the study section of this bill focused solely on pain treatments, whereas now it also includes PTSD. The VA secretary will also be required to support cannabis research in 180 days, rather than the two years previously specified, to complete the study. VA is now required to “collaborate” with other federal agencies in order to facilitate and support marijuana research.
The measure contains identical provisions that were included in previous versions, directing VA conduct a separate research on “the relationship between treatment programs using medical marijuana approved by the states, veterans’ access to these programs, and the reduction of opioid abuse and use among veterans.”
The funding of marijuana research by the VA is a final difference from previous versions. The new bill does not include specific amounts for appropriations, but instead authorizes them. These appropriations would need to be approved separately by Congress.
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Reps. Dave Joyce, Earl Blumenauer, Nancy Mace, Steve Cohen and Troy Carter are among the original cosponsors of this measure in the House.
The Senate is led by Sens. The legislation is co-sponsored by Ron Wyden, Mark Kelly (D – AZ), Cory Booker, Jacky Rosen and Bernie Sanders.
Joyce stated that there is a growing body evidence that medical cannabis can be used to treat PTSD and chronic back pain, which are two horrible conditions that affect many of our vets.
He said that if a state, such as Ohio, has legalized medical cannabis, the federal government shouldn’t prevent a VA doctor recommending it if they feel this is the best treatment for their patient. As the son of World War II veterans who were wounded on the battle field, I have seen the challenges that our nation’s Heroes face when they come home. I am proud to introduce this important bill with my colleagues and will continue to make every effort to provide our veterans the care they require to overcome their wounds from war.
Veterans Bill is the fourth piece in a series of marijuana bills filed by the Congress during the week before the unofficial cannabis celebration 4/20. The press release from lawmakers has not specifically linked the bills to 4/20, but marijuana legislation is a popular theme around this time every year.
The Harnessing Opportunities through Pursuing Expungement Act (HOPE) was re-filed by Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-NY on Tuesday to encourage state and local cannabis expunctions using federally funded grants.
Blumenauer and members of the Cannabis Caucus introduced legislation on Tuesday to amend Internal Revenue Service code 280E, allowing state-legal marijuana businesses access to federal tax deductions available to other companies.
Last week, Hakeem Jeffreys (D-NY), the House Minority Leader, and Joyce filed a bill to help prepare the federal government to legalize marijuana. The measure directs the Attorney General to create a commission that will study cannabis and make recommendations on how to regulate it in a similar way to alcohol.
Schumer and his colleagues on the Senate side have already held meetings with members of both parties in this session, after last year’s failure to pass the SAFE Plus package – which included marijuana exclusion and banking reform legislation – had failed.
Last week, Sen. Cory Booker of New Jersey said that he believed marijuana “compromise laws” would be passed along bipartisan lines during this session.
Below, you can read the text relating to the Veterans Medical Cannabis Bill:
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The original post Bipartisan lawmakers file Congressional bill to legalize medical marijuana for military veterans was first published on Marijuana moment.
