A key U.S. Senate Committee has approved a bill that includes an amendment allowing the Department of Veterans Affairs to recommend and discuss medical marijuana with patients who live in states where it is legal.
In a voice vote, the Senate Appropriations Committee approved the cannabis amendment by Sen. Jeff Merkley of Oregon on Thursday. The overall legislation that provides funding to the VA for Fiscal Year 2024 was then advanced.
The senator stated that the measure “simply states, in the states that have medical cannabis programs, that a doctor’s veteran patient can discuss the pros and cons with their veteran and fill out the related paperwork if a veteran chooses to participate in such a state program that requires such paperwork.”
Start the video at 1:08:15 to watch the committee discussing the marijuana and veterans Amendment.
The amendment would achieve a similar policy outcome to a stand-alone bill that was re-filed by Reps. Brian Mast, (R-FL), and Earl Blumenauer, (D-OR), the co-chairs the Congressional Cannabis Caucus.
The Veterans Equal Access Act was presented several times over the past few years, with bipartisan support. has passed through various committees and has received floor approval a number times but has not yet been enacted.
The House Armed Services Committee marked up the National Defense Authorization Act on Wednesday, . Members adopted GOP-led provisions that created a “medical marijuana pilot program” and required a study of the therapeutic potential of psychedelics among active duty military personnel under the U.S. Department of Defense.
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The Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee passed another bill in February to instruct VA to conduct studies into the therapeutic benefits of marijuana for veterans with certain medical conditions. This was the first time standalone cannabis legislation had ever been approved by a committee. In April, Senate Republicans prevented a motion to bring it to the floor.
Rep. Mariannette Miller Meeks (R – IA) has filed a bill late last month which would promote similar research into the potential medical benefits of marijuana for veterans suffering from PTSD, chronic back pain and other conditions deemed suitable by the VA secretary.
A coalition of over 20 Veterans Service Organizations (VSOs ) wrote to the leaders of Congress late last year urging the passage of marijuana research legislation before the end the last Congress. But it didn’t work out.
In April, bipartisan lawmakers in the House and Senate also re-filed bills to legally legalize medical marijuana for veterans.
This legislation will allow veterans to temporarily possess and use marijuana in accordance with federal law as prescribed by their doctors, according to state law. For the first time, physicians with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs would be allowed to make such recommendations.
Former GOP Texas governor, who is pro-reform, also spoke at an event that featured Colorado Governor pushing for mass psychedelic pardons
Photo by Chris Wallis // Side Pocket Images.
The article VA doctors could recommend medical marijuana to veterans in legal states under a bill approved by a Senate committee first appeared on Marijuana Moment.
