Congressional Leadership Strips Provisions Facilitating Medical Marijuana Access for Veterans
Lawmakers haveremoved languagefrom pending federal legislation that sought to facilitate veterans access to medical cannabis in jurisdictions that regulate it.
The decision to strip out the Veterans Equal Access Amendment flies in the face of the horrific medical realities that our nations heroes who are desperate to mitigate. This move thwarts the will of the majority of Americans who support medical marijuana and 81% of veterans who believe that the federal government should protect its therapeutic access. Further, by not creating protections for veterans, the Congress continues to view 22% of those who have worn the uniform as criminals.
Under existing federal regulations, physicians affiliated with the US Department of Veterans Affairs are prohibited from filling out the necessary paperwork required in legal medical marijuana states. A budgetary amendmentincludedin the Senates versionof theMilitary Construction, Veterans Affairs and Related Agencies Appropriations billsought to end this prohibition. However, Congressional leaders this week elected to eliminate the provision during hearings to reconcile the House and Senate versions of the appropriations bill.
Congressman Earl Blumenauer, the author ofsimilar legislativelanguage now pending in the House of Representatives, said Denying veterans the care they need by the doctors they trust is shameful. The Senate passed this amendment. It has broad bipartisan support in the House. This should have been a no brainer. Yet, Republican leadership has once again stymied progress toward fair and equal treatment for our veterans. Their continued neglect of commonsense and the will of the American people is a disgrace.
Veteran and Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard said, Our veterans put their lives on the line for our country, and many come home dealing with visible and invisible wounds. To continue limiting their access to quality healthcare through the VA is a disservice to them and the sacrifices theyve made.
This move by Congressional leadership ...
