Schatz Reintroduces Bill To Allow VA To Prescribe Medical Marijuana To Veterans

U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai’i) reintroduced legislation that allows U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs doctors to prescribe medical marijuana to veterans in the 36 states that have established medical marijuana programs.

“In 36 states, doctors and their patients have the ability to use medical marijuana to manage pain – unless those doctors work for the VA and their patients are veterans,” said Senator Schatz. “This bill protects veteran patients in these states and gives their VA doctors the ability to prescribe medical marijuana to veterans. It also promises to shed light on how medical marijuana can help with the country’s opioid epidemic.”

In addition to providing temporary protection for veterans who use medical marijuana in the safe haven for five years, the bicameral law would also direct the VA to investigate how medical marijuana could help veterans better manage chronic pain and reduce opioid abuse.

Schatz ‘bill is supported by US Senators Tim Kaine (D-Va.), Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) And Jacky Rosen (D- Ore.) Co-sponsored. Nev.). Ancillary laws were introduced in the House of Representatives by US Representatives Barbara Lee (D-Calif.) And Dave Joyce (R-Ohio).

“Our members have spoken loud and clear on the matter,” said Jeremy Butler, CEO of Veterans of America in Iraq and Afghanistan. “Eighty-eight percent of respondents in our most recent member survey agreed to use cannabis for medical purposes. With this overwhelming support, we must remove, not maintain, barriers to the care of veterans. IAVA applauds Senator Schatz for reintroducing the Veterans Medical Marijuana Safe Harbor Act to do just that. “

“The Veterans Medical Marijuana Safe Harbor Act represents the most significant reform effort to date for veterans’ access to medical cannabis,” said Doug Distaso, executive director of the Veterans Cannabis Project. “We regularly hear from veterans forced to seek unsafe treatment options or who cannot receive care at all due to the inability to discuss medical cannabis with their VA providers. Allowing the VA to prescribe medical cannabis has an immediate impact on veteran patients in need. The advancement of protection and research provided by the bill provides veterans with a roadmap for a safer and more accessible medical cannabis environment. The Veterans Cannabis Project applauds Senator Schatz and Congressman Lee for their guidance and encourages their fellow Congressmen to support the bill. “