House lawmakers Wednesday approved measures allowing Veterans Affairs doctors to recommend medical cannabis to former service members for the first time.
The provisions, passed by voice vote, would stop the VA from enforcing current policies that prevent physicians from helping veterans access state marijuana programs. Representatives Brian Mast, R-Fla., and Dave Joyce, R-Ohio, sponsored the primary amendment.
“Veterans need to have options outside of these narcotics, and in many states, there are legal cannabis medical programs, and they need to have the ability when they’re being seen by their primary care physician inside of the VA to have discussions about whether cannabis is or is not right for them because they have access to it in their state,” Mast said.
Mast, injured during military service, said conventional medications often “leave our veterans in are, at the most extreme end of it, states of suicide. At other ends of it, just extreme states of dissatisfaction and lacking purpose in life.”
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Lawmakers also passed a companion measure directing the VA to study incorporating psychedelic therapies into veterans’ care for PTSD and substance abuse.
“We owe our veterans more than research we owe them results. We owe them implementation, and this amendment moves us one step closer to delivering that,” said Representative Jack Bergman, R-Mich., who co-sponsored the provision with Representative Lou Correa, D-Calif.
The measures build on previous congressional efforts but mark the first time such provisions have advanced this far in the legislative process.
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