US Congressman who Lost Limbs during war convinced House to allow veteran access to Cannabis

Brian Mast was at Walter Reed Medical Center Bethesda (Md.) for more than a full week when he woke with two missing legs and a single finger.

The U.S. Army veteran was deployed to Afghanistan, where a roadside improvised explosive device (IED) in Kandahar resulted in catastrophic injuries during his work as a bomb disposal expert under the Joint Special Operations Command.

Mast described his experiences as an amputee with a double leg while introducing a amendment on June 25, 2005, in the U.S. House.

The first thing he noticed when waking up was that a list of drugs had been written down. “I had epidural. Oral morphine and Oxys were used. Antidepressants and anti-inflammatory drugs, as well as heavy sleep sedatives, were all I took. I had a Dilaudid drip and a number of other things that I can’t even remember to this point—all at once. I’d never taken any of them before.

Mast gave his testimony to provide support for military veterans’ access to medical cannabis. On June 25, he and Rep. Dave Joyce (R-Ohio), who is co-chair of the Congressional Cannabis Caucus was successful in attaching a bill. via a voice vote to the Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies (MilCon-VA) Appropriations Act for fiscal year 2026.

The VA would be authorized to make recommendations for veterans who wish to take part in licensed medical cannabis programs.

Joyce stated on the House Floor that “my father was left for dead and wounded in World War II. He came home.” I know the pain that these men and women have suffered on behalf of our country and deserve to be treated with every possible option to get them back to where they were prior to leaving.

The GOP-controlled House has passed the Legislation underlying the appropriations In a vote of 218 to 206, two Democrats joined the majority. This bill provides more than $150 billion of discretionary expenditures and $300 billion to fund mandatory programs. Fully funding According to the House Appropriations Committee, veterans’ health care costs $131.4 billion.

Mast’s Amendment would allow the VA to recommend that veterans participate in medical cannabis programs licensed by the state.

While 40 states have legalized medical cannabis, federal law forbids the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) from completing forms or registering veterans for participation in state-sanctioned cannabis programs—most of which require a doctor’s recommendation and include post-traumatic stress disorder as a qualifying condition.

VHA is the The following are some of the most popular ways to contact us The U.S. has an integrated system of health care that provides services to over 9 million Veterans at approximately 1,400 locations nationwide.

Mast said that under the status quo veterans are often forced to choose between access to their VA doctor or medical cannabis.

Mast described a range of withdrawals symptoms after returning from Afghanistan. These included extreme irritability, extreme bowel movement, and insomnia.

“The state that these narcotics—in many cases—leave our veterans [in] “States of suicide” are the extreme end: You can also read about the importance of this in our article. Other extremes are just states of unhappiness and lack of meaning in life. In some cases it can improve their condition. “But the message I want to convey with this real story is that vets need other options than these narcotics.”

Mast Enter your email address to receive updates on the latest products and services. The Veterans Equal Access Act was passed on February 14, but the standalone bill has not yet been heard by a subcommittee. Mast was able to bypass the committee and expedite the intent by successfully adding the nuggets and bolts from the two-page law as an amendement to the MilCon VA bill.

The amendment specifically states that no funds made available or appropriated to the VA can be used for any of these purposes. The following are the rules and regulations that apply to all of us. Veterans Health Directive 1315 As it pertains to:

1. This policy states that VHA providers cannot complete forms or register veterans to participate in state-approved cannabis programs.
2. This directive is for “the Under-Secretary for Health Operations and Management”, to make sure “medical facilities directors understand that VHA policies require providers to evaluate veteran marijuana use, however providers are not allowed to recommend, refer or complete paperwork regarding veteran participation in state cannabis programs”.
3. The directive for the “VA Medical Facility Director” to ensure that “VA facility staff are aware of the following” … “[t]”It is against the law to recommend, refer or complete forms for veterans to participate in marijuana programs approved by state.”

“[Veterans] Mast stated that patients need to be able to discuss with their VA primary physician whether or not cannabis would work for them. They need to have the ability to discuss with their primary care physician whether cannabis is right for them, Mast explained.

We are not doing justice to our veterans by not allowing them the opportunity to discuss this issue at a serious level, without fear of retribution for their doctor.

Mast’s amendment could potentially have wider implications for federal policy reform if it is included as part of the MilCon VA Appropriations Act.

VA doctors who are federally funded and give recommendations or prescribe medical cannabis could add credence to advocates of cannabis rescheduling, who argue that cannabis has a “currently acknowledged medical use” within the U.S.

Mast didn’t think about it during Wednesday’s session.

He said: “I have never heard any of my sisters and brothers in arms attribute a suicide state to cannabis.

The U.S. House Rep. Brian Mast (R-Fla.) was in a coma for over a week before he became a member of Congress. He awoke at the Walter Reed Medical Center, Bethesda in Maryland, missing both his legs and a thumb.

The U.S. Army veteran was deployed to Afghanistan, where a roadside improvised explosive device (IED) in Kandahar resulted in catastrophic injuries during his work as a bomb disposal expert under the Joint Special Operations Command.

Mast told his story as a two-leg amputee on the U.S. House Floor, June 25, when he introduced an amendment.

The first thing he noticed when waking up was that he had a list of prescriptions. “I’d had an epidural. Oral morphine and Oxys were used. Antidepressants were prescribed as well. I also took anti-inflammatories and sedatives for heavy sleep. I had a Dilaudid drip and a number of other things that I can’t even remember to this point—all at once. I’d never taken any of them before.

Mast gave his testimony to provide support for military veterans’ access to medical cannabis. On June 25, he and Rep. Dave Joyce (R-Ohio), who is co-chair of the Congressional Cannabis Caucus was successful in attaching a bill. via a voice vote to the Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies (MilCon-VA) Appropriations Act for fiscal year 2026.

The VA would be authorized to make recommendations for veterans who wish to take part in licensed medical cannabis programs.

Joyce stated on the House Floor that “my father was left for dead and wounded in World War II. He came home.” I know the pain that these men and women have suffered on behalf of our country and deserve to be treated with every possible option to get them back to where they were prior to leaving.

The GOP-controlled House has passed the Legislation underlying the appropriations In a vote of 218 to 206, two Democrats joined the majority. This bill provides more than $150 billion of discretionary expenditures and $300 billion to fund mandatory programs. Fully funding According to the House Appropriations Committee, veterans’ health care costs $131.4 billion.

Mast’s Amendment would allow the VA to recommend that veterans participate in medical cannabis programs licensed by the state.

While 40 states have legalized medical cannabis, federal law forbids the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) from completing forms or registering veterans for participation in state-sanctioned cannabis programs—most of which require a doctor’s recommendation and include post-traumatic stress disorder as a qualifying condition.

VHA is part of the The following are some of the most popular ways to contact us More than 9,000,000 veterans are served by an integrated healthcare system across the U.S.

Mast noted that the status quo forces veterans to make a choice between their VA doctors and medical cannabis.

Mast, who returned from Afghanistan with narcotic withdrawal symptoms, said that he experienced everything from extreme irritability and extreme bowel movements to insomnia.

“The state that these narcotics—in many cases—leave our veterans [in] “States of suicide” are the extreme end: You can also read about the importance of this in our article. At the other end of it are extremes of unhappiness and a lack of purpose. In some cases it can improve their condition. The point that I am making is to show veterans they have other choices than narcotics.”

Mast You can also read about the advantages of using The Veterans Equal Access Act was passed on February 14, but the standalone bill has not yet been heard by a subcommittee. Mast bypassed committees by attaching the nuts-and-bolts of the 2-page bill as an amendment.

The amendment specifically states that no funds made available or appropriated to the VA can be used for any of these purposes. The following are the rules and regulations that apply to all of us. Veterans Health Directive 1315 As it pertains to:

1. Policy stating “VHA providers may not complete or register Veterans for participation in any state-approved program regarding marijuana”
2. It is the responsibility of “the Deputy Under Secretary Health Operations and Management to make sure that medical facility directors know that VHA policy requires that providers assess veterans’ use of marijuana, but that providers cannot recommend or refer veteran participants to state marijuana programs.
3. The directive for the “VA Medical Facility Director” to ensure that “VA facility staff are aware of the following” … “[t]The prohibition on recommending or making referrals, completing forms, and registering Veterans for state-approved marijuana program.”

“[Veterans] Mast stated that patients need to be able to discuss with their VA primary physician whether or not cannabis would work for them. They need to have the ability to discuss with their primary care physician whether cannabis is right for them, Mast explained.

We are not doing justice to our veterans by not allowing them the opportunity to discuss this issue at a serious level, without fear of retribution for their doctor.

Mast’s amendment could potentially have wider implications for federal policy reform if it is included as part of the MilCon VA Appropriations Act.

VA doctors who are federally funded and give recommendations or prescribe medical cannabis could add credence to advocates of cannabis rescheduling, in that they would be able to argue the cannabis plant’s “currently acknowledged medical use” within the U.S.

Mast didn’t think about it during Wednesday’s session.

He said: “I have never heard any of my sisters and brothers in arms attribute a suicide state to cannabis.

Cannabis Law Resources for Poland

Browse essential legal pages on cannabis sales and cultivation in Poland. You can use these resources to learn about the requirements for certifications, permissions and compliance.

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  Polish News Registration and Interests of Cannabis Businesses
  
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  Permissions for Cannabis Sales in Poland
  
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  Authorization for Importing or Manufacturing Medical Products
  
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  Permission for Manufacturing or Importing Medical Products
  
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  Certificate of Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP)
  
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  Registration of Medical Products in Poland