A Democratic Congressman has criticized the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs and Department of Defense for promoting a “misguided refusal of services” in recommending that veterans with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) not use medical marijuana.
Rep. Earl Blumenauer, D-OR, co-chairman of the Congressional Cannabis Caucus sent a message to VA Secretary Denis McDonough on Wednesday. This was the same day he helped to pass an amendment to a VA spending bill that allows the department’s physicians to issue medical marijuana recommendation to veterans who live in states where it is legal.
VA and DOD have a history of claiming to be in the best interests of veterans and service members, only to deny that medical marijuana is a treatment option for people with PTSD. He referred to the joint clinical practice guidelines released by the departments last month.
The agencies stated that “the benefits of cannabis are outweighed by its potential serious adverse effects” and that “no new evidence has been found” regarding cannabis’s use to treat PTSD.
The congressman pushes back.
As Politico first reported, Blumenauer wrote: “I have heard for decades from veterans all over the country that medical marijuana has been a lifesaving treatment for PTSD.” I urge you to reconsider your antiquated and inadequate recommendation ‘against using cannabis or cannabis derivatives as a treatment for patients with PTSD. ‘”
Many veterans report using cannabis for medical purposes as a substitute for prescription drugs and their side effects,” he said. He said that many veterans use cannabis as a medical substitute to prescription drugs.
The congressman pointed out that president Joe Biden had signed a bipartisan bill that he had sponsored last year to streamline cannabis research.
He said: “Given the significant developments, it’s irresponsible that VA and DoD continue to deny access to medical marijuana for treatment options based on a myth that this substance doesn’t have an accepted medical use.” As you mention in your guide, the federal ban on research has a negative impact on our nation’s capacity to study marijuana’s health effects. The states have not been stopped from establishing these programs despite this prohibition. “It’s unacceptable to deny veterans this treatment option available to patients outside of the VA system.”
“Forcing veterans to leave VA care to obtain complete information about medical marijuana as a possible treatment option is a disservice done to those who are suffering visible and invisible wounds from their service in our nation. VA and DoD need to work together more closely on this issue. VA and DoD must participate in additional research to ensure that patients and the general public have equal access to the treatment for PTSD. I urge you not to give providers the negative guidance that prevents them from serving their patients as best they can in states where medical marijuana is legal and regulated.
The letter was sent on the same day the House passed an amendment to appropriations bill, cosponsored with Blumenauer and the bipartisan Cannabis Caucus chairmen, which would stop the VA from enforcing its policies that prevent doctors from recommending medical marijuana to veterans.
On Wednesday, the House passed another amendment that encourages research into the potential therapeutic benefits of psychedelics such as psilocybin or MDMA.
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A report that was attached to the spending bill of the House Appropriations Committee includes a section that states that “VA clarified that VA statutes and regulations do not specifically prohibit a veteran who earns income from state-legalized marijuana activities from receiving a certificate of VA eligibility for home loan benefits.”
The vote on Wednesday to approve the amendments is one of the few signs of progress in cannabis and psychedelics legislation within the GOP-controlled House. Some feared that modest proposals would be blocked by the Rules Committee after the panel recently rejected more than a dozen amendments to the National Defense Authorization Act.
The Democratic Senators also want to pass several marijuana reform amendments in their version of the NDAA.
One of the proposals led by Sen. Brian Schatz, (D-HI), allows veterans to use medical marijuana in states and territories that allow it. This is similar a separate bill introduced by the senator 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.
Separately the Senate Appropriations Committee also released a recent report for its VA Spending Legislation which includes language calling for the department to facilitate access to medical marijuana for veterans and investigate the therapeutic potential for psychedelics.
Please read the entire letter below to VA and DoD:
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Photo by Mike Latimer.
The first time Marijuana Moment was published, the post Congressman Blasts VA And Defense Department For ‘Misguided Opposition’ To Medical Marijuana Usage By Veterans With Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.
