A bipartisan coalition of nine House lawmakers has introduced legislation, House Resolution 667: The Veterans Equal Access Act, to permit Department of Veterans Affairs health care providers “to provide recommendations and opinions to veterans regarding participation in state marijuana programs.”
Passage of this act would allow VA doctors to recommend cannabis therapy to veterans in states that allow for its therapeutic use.
Under current federal law, VA physicians are not permitted to fill out written documentation forms authorizing their patients to participate in state-sanctioned medical cannabis programs.
The bill presently has 17 co-sponsors and awaits action before the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs, Subcommittee on Health.
On April 30, a proposed amendment to similarly permit VA doctors to authorize medical cannabis was narrowly defeated by the House by a vote of 210 to 213. One hundred and seventy-five Democrats voted for the measure, while eight voted against it. Thirty-five Republicans voted for the amendment, while 205 voted against it. This vote makes it clear that there exists ample support in Congress for this bill. Please ask your members of Congress to sign on as a co-sponsor of this legislation and please demand the Veteran Affairs’ Committee to debate this legislation.
Please enter your zip code below to contact your House members and urge them to support this pending legislation.
National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws – Advocacy Campaigns
