House Approves Amendments Allowing VA Doctors to Recommend Medical Marijuana to Veterans
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The U.S. House of Representatives has approved amendments to a spending bill that would allow doctors from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to issue medical marijuana recommendations to military veterans. The amendments also support research and access to psychedelics. The proposals aim to increase veterans’ access to state medical marijuana programs and eliminate a current VA directive that prevents doctors in the department from issuing cannabis recommendations.
US House Approves Medical Marijuana and Psychedelics Amendments for Veterans
The U.S. House of Representatives has authorized amendments that could allow U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) doctors to recommend medical marijuana to veterans and has shown support for research into psychedelic drugs. The proposals were attached to the Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies (MilConVA) appropriations legislation.
The approved amendment, spearheaded by Reps. Brian Mast (R-FL) and Dave Joyce (R-OH), aims to facilitate veterans’ access to state medical marijuana programs and annul the current VA directive that prohibits VA doctors from issuing cannabis recommendations. Based on the Veterans Equal Access Act, a standalone bill refiled by Mast in February, this provision has seen bipartisan support over the years but is yet to be enacted into law. Read more about the bill here.
Mast has spoken out about the need for alternative treatment options for veterans, stating that conventional medications often fail to adequately address veterans’ health concerns and may even contribute to instances of suicide.
Another provision attached to the House bill, proposed by Reps. Lou Correa (D-CA) and Jack Bergman (R-MI), encourages the VA to research the potential benefits of psychedelic therapies for conditions commonly affecting military veterans, such as PTSD and substance use disorders. The House approved this measure via a voice vote. Here’s the summary of the amendment.
Correa and Bergman emphasized the need for preparedness to effectively administer these new therapies once approved. Bergman added, “We owe our veterans more than research—we owe them results.”
Despite fewer cannabis-related amendments filed for the MilConVA bill this year, the ongoing conversation reflects a growing interest in exploring alternative therapies for veterans. You can learn more about these developments here.
Other Legislative Developments
Recently, the House Appropriations Committee approved a separate spending bill that contains provisions hemp stakeholders claim could harm the industry by banning federally legalized cannabinoid products. Additionally, Congress passed a bill primarily focused on banning fentanyl analogues, which also includes provisions to remove barriers to researching Schedule I drugs, including marijuana. Read more about this bill here.
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