Politics
VA Documents Show How Veterans’ Cannabis Access Could Expand—And What Will Stay The Same—Under Rescheduling (Op-Ed)
Rescheduling “might affect a VA provider’s ability to refer VA patients to State medical cannabis treatment programs,” one document obtained through FOIA says.
By Doc Laing, Veterans Action Council
The Trump administration’s move to federally reschedule medical cannabis could meaningfully increase military veterans’ ability to legally access it with the aid of U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) doctors, newly obtained documents via the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) show—even if reclassification won’t change everything about how veterans who use cannabis receive care through VA providers.
In response to a FOIA request filed by the Veterans Action Council (VAC), VA released more than 1,500 pages of internal records that offer a rare view into how VA’s Veterans Health Administration (VHA) has been implementing the department’s current cannabis policy, known as VHA Directive 1315, across its national system—as well as what might and might not change as rescheduling unfolds.
This article is the first in a multi-part series focusing on what is working and what isn’t inside VA. While there has been a deliberate effort to ensure clinicians and veterans understand and follow the department’s cannabis policy as it stands today, officials have also dropped the ball in many ways.
The newly unveiled records show a consistent, if insufficient, effort to educate providers and align care with federal policy while respecting veterans’ rights.
A Clear Policy Reinforced Across The System
Across multiple communications obtained via FOIA, Directive 1315 is referenced repeatedly as both a foundational document and an operational guide. It is referenced in cover letters, internal messages and across training materials. In total, it appears between six and ten times across the released records, depending on how the educational materials are counted. This level of repetition signals more than just awareness. It shows institutional reinforcement.
An internal communication from the VHA Office of Mental Health and Suicide Prevention, for example, states clearly that providers are required to enable discussion of cannabis use and the evidence both for and against with their patients. That statement reflects the directive’s core principle: Engagement is required. Silence is no longer acceptable.
The Veterans Behind The Policy
This progress is the result of sustained advocacy by veterans.
Among the most important contributors is Michael Krawitz. Beginning in the early 2000s, Krawitz and other veterans worked to change how VA approached cannabis. Their efforts led to the establishment of a formal policy in 2010 that confirmed veterans would not be denied care solely for participating in state-approved cannabis programs. Directive 1315 is built on that foundation.
This reflects years of persistence by veterans who demanded recognition and fairness within a biased system. VAC recognizes and thanks Krawitz and other advocates for this work. Their efforts helped shift the culture from prohibition to clinical engagement.
The contrast with earlier decades is stark. In the 1990s, VAC member Etienne Fontan was removed from four VA hospitals by security, simply for mentioning his medical cannabis use. At that time, even acknowledging cannabis could result in exclusion from care. The conversation itself was treated as a violation.
Back then, providers would simply wave their hand and exclaim that “marijuana is illegal under federal law, so I can’t talk about it.” Today, providers are expected to have that conversation. That reflects real progress and sets a clear expectation.
No veteran patient should ever again be treated that way by their healthcare system.
Educating Providers At The Front Line—And Analyzing What Rescheduling’s Impact Might Be
The FOIA release includes a cannabis provider education packet and supporting materials that translate Directive 1315 into clinical practice.
These materials consistently emphasize several key points: Veterans who participate in state-approved cannabis programs must not be denied care. Those providers are expected to discuss and document cannabis use.
Under current policy, clinicians may not currently ‘recommend cannabis’ or certify veterans for state programs—but that could change under the move to transfer cannabis from Schedule I of the Controlled Substances Act to Schedule III.
The reform “might affect a VA provider’s ability to refer VA patients to State medical cannabis treatment programs,” one document obtained through FOIA says.
The standard of care would remain unchanged, however. Treatment plans must be protected, especially regarding mental health, unless strong evidence supports change.
Together, the documents detail practical instructions for clinicians. The cannabis directive is being taught in a way that enables providers to apply it directly in patient care. The consistency of the message is notable. The policy is not hidden. It is actively communicated and reinforced across the system.
One problem, however, is that veterans aren’t shown administrative policy memos. So despite VA posting a video about 12 years after the policy launched, many veterans still do not know Directive 1315 even exists, so they fear a punitive response for disclosing their use of cannabis—even though such punitive actions would be clearly against policy and unethical.
A second problem is that clinicians face a barrage of anti-drug and drug misuse-focused memos that seem to contradict and obscure the existence of and intent of the cannabis directive.
Further, we can see no evidence within the documents or elsewhere of continuing medical education cannabis university courses being propagated within the system, and we see no actions at the facility level to educate staff about this cannabis policy, which explains why the experiences of our veterans seem to vary so wildly from clinic to clinic, facility to facility.
Stability As Policy Evolves
Directive 1315 speaks to reality under cannabis’s longtime Schedule I status, so the memos VAC obtained via FOIA warn that veterans face arrest for possessing it on federal property.
However, they also look ahead to how federal rescheduling may change some things at VA. The prohibition against doctors recommending cannabis will need to be revised under Schedule III, for example, as noted above.
But guidance from the Office of Mental Health and Suicide Prevention makes it clear that even under such rescheduling, the core approach of Directive 1315 will remain the same. Providers will still be expected to discuss and document cannabis use. The standard of care for mental health conditions will not change automatically. Any change to provider authority, such as referrals to state programs, would require separate legal and policy review.
This reflects a commitment to stability. VHA is not reacting to speculation. It is maintaining a consistent framework within the standard of care and in line with best clinical practice.
Following The Law While Supporting Veterans
Directive 1315 operates within a complex legal environment. Cannabis remains federally illegal, while many states have legalized medical use. The directive creates a structure that complies with federal law while respecting veterans’ access to care.
The FOIA responses confirm that this structure is being taken seriously. Facilities are guided by existing policies for conduct on VA property, while Directive 1315 provides a clear framework for clinical interaction.
The core protections are straightforward. Access to care is not conditional on cannabis use. Clinical conversations are encouraged. Documentation supports continuity of care.
These principles reflect a system that balances legal requirements with clinical responsibility.
A Foundation Worth Recognizing
This FOIA release shows that there is also progress worth recognizing. VHA is educating its providers. It is reinforcing Directive 1315 across multiple channels. It is maintaining a consistent message amid policy uncertainty.
There is much more work to do, however, and future articles in this series will examine areas that need improvement. But the foundation is clear. Directive 1315 is being taught. It is being referenced. It is being followed. For veterans navigating both healthcare and cannabis policy, that consistency matters. It represents not only compliance with the law but a solid step toward restoring trust.
The Veterans Action Council has long called for transparency and accountability within VA. We look forward to a good working relationship with VA and to our shared interest in ensuring that veterans have the best possible health outcomes.
Doc Laing is an Army veteran, Colorado advocate and dedicated member of the Veterans Action Council who has consistently worked to elevate the voices and needs of veterans within the cannabis reform movement. Drawing from lived experience, his writing reflects a grounded perspective on veterans’ healthcare, personal freedom and the importance of honest conversations around cannabis policy and access.
