The Senate passed a bill containing a provision that would allow VA doctors to recommend medical marijuana to veterans in states where it's legal. The provision, part of the Military Construction, Veterans Affairs and Related Agencies (MilConVA) appropriations bill, was included in a package approved with an 82-15 vote, reported Marijuana Moment.
The House had previously passed a similar MilConVA bill with a comparable amendment. However, there are slight differences in the language of the House and Senate versions, necessitating reconciliation through a bicameral conference committee or negotiations to align the bills before presenting a final version to the president.
The issue of VA doctors recommending cannabis has been contentious; in 2016, despite both chambers including the provision in their bills, it was removed from the final law. “We need to start conferencing our appropriations bills,” Senate Appropriations Committee chair Patty Murray (D-WA) said in a press release on Wednesday.
“That will require House Republicans to get serious about governing, get back to the spending agreement they negotiated, and work with us to finalize bipartisan bills that meet this moment and address the needs of our families.”
See Also: Study: US Military Veterans Achieve Higher Quality Of Life With Medical Marijuana
At the moment, federal funding is operating on a short-term extension set to expire on November 17. The cannabis amendment, also known as the Veterans Equal Access Act, has had bipartisan support and passed through committee and floor votes in the past but has not been enacted into law.
Bipartisan lawmakers have criticized the VA's restrictive stance on cannabis recommendations, especially given its updated clinical guidance on PTSD, which advises against medical cannabis. Nonetheles, veterans have reported using cannabis medicinally as an alternative to prescription drugs, noting improved quality of life and decreased reliance on medications like opioids and for helping with PTSD symptoms.
See Also: Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder And Cannabis: Why The VA And DOD Are Saying 'No'
Previously, the VA had amended its cannabis policy to encourage discussion about marijuana use between VA doctors and veterans in 2017. Meanwhile, Senate Republicans recently halted a bill aiming to facilitate VA research into the medical benefits of cannabis for veterans, a rare drug policy reform measure to pass the GOP-controlled House Rules Committee.
Read more at Marijuana Moment
Photo: Shutterstock
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