Politics
GOP Leaders’ Move To Block Medical Marijuana Access For Veterans Is ‘Just Plain Cruel,’ Senator Says
A Democratic senator says GOP leadership’s decision to omit from a key spending bill a provision that would have increased military veterans’ access to medical marijuana in legal states is “just plain cruel.”
Sen. Jeff Merkley (D-OR) filed an amendment to let U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) issue medical cannabis recommendations to their patients this week, but it was not allowed a to receive a vote on the Senate floor.
As such, the appropriations legislation that Congress passed—and President Donald Trump signed on Wednesday—did not contain language on the issue. That’s despite the fact that similar provisions were already approved in different forms by both the House and Senate as part of spending bills earlier this year.
“Veterans deserve the same access to the full range of medical advice and options that other folks have—including medical cannabis in states where it’s legal,” Merkley told Marijuana Moment. “Rather than deliver on our nation’s promise to do all we can to support service members, Senate Republicans have once again stripped out my provision that would allow veterans nationwide to discuss this treatment option with their doctor, like any other patient.”
“That’s just plain cruel, and I’ll keep fighting for the millions of Americans who have bravely served our nation,” the senator said.
After the bill text was released without the veterans and cannabis provisions, advocates took note that it came just days before Veterans Day.
“The absence of this provision is incredibly disappointing, and makes no sense whatsoever,” Morgan Fox, political director of NORML, told Marijuana Moment at the time. “It is uncontroversial, revenue-neutral, previously approved by both chambers, and long overdue in order to help veterans find relief.”
The original Senate-passed language, which was also offered as an amendment this week by Merkley, reads:
“None of the funds appropriated or otherwise made available to the Department of Veterans Affairs in this Act may be used in a manner that would—
(1) interfere with the ability of a veteran to participate in a medicinal marijuana program approved by a State;
(2) deny any services from the Department to a veteran who is participating in such a program; or
(3) limit or interfere with the ability of a health care provider of the Department to make appropriate recommendations, fill out forms, or take steps to comply with such a program.”
In past years, both the House and Senate had included provisions in their respective MilConVA measures that would permit VA doctors to make the medical cannabis recommendations, but they have never been enacted into law.
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On the House side, Reps. Brian Mast (R-FL) and Dave Joyce (R-OH)—who are both co-chairs of the Congressional Cannabis Caucus—sponsored the cannabis amendment, which would increase veterans’ access to state medical marijuana programs and eliminate a current VA directive barring the department’s doctors from issuing cannabis recommendations.
Mast in February filed the standalone Veterans Equal Access Act—marking one of the latest attempt to enact the measure that’s enjoyed bipartisan support over recent sessions.
Mast’s office did not reply to Marijuana Moment’s request for comment this week.
Meanwhile, the appropriations bill that Trump signed on Wednesday also contains controversial provisions that would re-criminalize hemp products with THC, which many stakeholders believe would effectively eliminate the market.
Photo courtesy of Chris Wallis // Side Pocket Images.
