• Skip to main content
  • Skip to after header navigation
  • Skip to site footer
420cannadispensary.com

420cannadispensary.com

cannabis reviews and news

General

  • Home
  • Blog
  • Contact
Buy Now

Categories

  • All Articles
  • Business
  • Local
  • Trending
  • Reviews
  • Contact

Newsletter

* We don’t do spam, just the latest news. Sign up today and get our top stories delivered straight to your inbox.

  • All Articles
  • Business
  • Local
  • Trending
  • Reviews
  • Contact
Local Reviews Trending

VA Doctors Could Recommend Medical Marijuana To Veterans In Legal States Under Bill Approved By Senate Committee

June 22, 2023 by Kyle Jaeger

A key U.S. Senate committee has approved a spending bill with an amendment allowing doctors at the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to discuss and recommend medical marijuana to patients living in legal states.

The Senate Appropriations Committee passed the cannabis amendment from Sen. Jeff Merkley (D-OR) in a voice vote on Thursday before advancing the overall legislation, which provides funding for VA for the 2024 Fiscal Year.

The measure “simply says, in states that have a medical cannabis program, that a veteran’s doctor can talk to their veteran patient about the pros and cons of medical cannabis and fill out related paperwork should a veteran decide to participate in a state program where such paperwork is required,” the senator said.

Watch the committee discuss the marijuana and veterans amendment, starting around 1:08:15 into the video below:

The amendment would achieve the same policy outcome as a standalone bill that was refiled on the House side from Reps. Brian Mast (R-FL) and Earl Blumenauer (D-OR), co-chairs of the Congressional Cannabis Caucus.

The Veterans Equal Access Act has been introduced several times in recent years with bipartisan support—and moved through committee and floor approval a number of times—but has yet to be enacted.

Meanwhile, the House Armed Services Committee held a markup of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) on Wednesday, and members adopted GOP-led provisions to create a medical marijuana “pilot program” and require a study into the therapeutic potential of psychedelics for active duty military members under the U.S. Department of Defense (DOD).

—
Marijuana Moment is tracking more than 1,000 cannabis, psychedelics and drug policy bills in state legislatures and Congress this year. Patreon supporters pledging at least $25/month get access to our interactive maps, charts and hearing calendar so they don’t miss any developments.

Learn more about our marijuana bill tracker and become a supporter on Patreon to get access.
—

In February, the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee approved another bill to direct VA to carry out studies into the therapeutic potential of marijuana for military veterans with certain conditions—marking the first time that standalone cannabis legislation ever advanced through a panel in the chamber. But Senate Republicans blocked a procedural motion to move it to the floor in April.

Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks (R-IA) filed a different bill late last month that would similarly promote research into the medical potential of marijuana for military veterans with PTSD, chronic pain and other conditions deemed appropriate by the VA secretary.

A coalition of more than 20 veterans service organizations (VSOs) sent a letter to congressional leaders late last year to urge the passage of a marijuana and veterans research bill before the end of the last Congress. But that did not pan out.

Bipartisan House and Senate lawmakers also refiled bills in April to legalize medical cannabis for military veterans.

The legislation would temporarily allow veterans to legally possess and use marijuana under federal law, as recommended by doctors in accordance with state law. Physicians with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) would also be allowed for the first time to issue such recommendations.

Colorado Governor Pushes For Mass Psychedelics Pardons At Event That Also Featured Pro-Reform Former GOP Texas Governor

Photo courtesy of Chris Wallis // Side Pocket Images.

The post VA Doctors Could Recommend Medical Marijuana To Veterans In Legal States Under Bill Approved By Senate Committee appeared first on Marijuana Moment.

This post was originally published on this site

You May Also Like…

DEA Delays Decision on Marijuana Category Up Until After November Presidential Political Election

Marijuana

Redcar Marijuana Farm Find One of the Largest –– Cleveland Authorities

Marijuana Reclassification

Marijuana Reclassification Would Increase Banking Access to Market, Supporter Claims

Cannabis

Cannabis and Hallucinogen Usage Remain at Historically High Degrees Amongst Vibrant and Middle-age Adults

About Kyle Jaeger

Previous Post:Missouri Advocates Worry That Marijuana ‘Microbusiness’ Eligibility Rules Will Exclude Many Drug War Victims
Next Post:Congressional cannabis & psychedelics amendments approved (Newsletter: June 23, 2023)

Reader Interactions

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

420 Cannadispensary

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • YouTube
  • LinkedIn
  • TikTok

Categories

Local
News
Trending
Tech
Business
Legal

Newsletter

No spam, ever.

Copyright © 2025 · 420cannadispensary.com · All Rights Reserved · Powered by 420CannaDispensary.com

Terms and Conditions