The first marijuana legislation of the 119th Congress was filed by a Republican congressman. He wants to prevent military veterans losing their government benefits if they use medical cannabis according to state laws.
Rep. Greg Steube’s (R – FL) measure codifies that U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Doctors are permitted to discuss potential risks and advantages of marijuana with patients.
Steube is a staunch advocate for this particular reform. He has filed several versions of “Veterans Cannabis Use for Safe Healing Act”, over many congresses. It is the same as his previous two bills.
VA doctors are currently permitted to discuss cannabis with patients and document their usage in medical records, and those veteran patients are already shielded by agency policy from losing their benefits for marijuana use—but the bill would enshrine these policies into federal statute so they could not be administratively changed in the future.
Steube, a vet, said, “I’m dedicated to ensuring veterans get the treatment they deserve. And I know sometimes, that can include medical cannabis,” in a statement he gave to MEDCAN24, when submitting the final version. “Receiving the appropriate treatment to address your health care needs—using products that are legal in the state in which you live—should not preclude you from your Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) benefits.”
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The congressman’s version, which he introduced in the last three legislative sessions, was more extensive. It contained a provision that allowed VA doctors to fill out formal written recommendations on medical marijuana.
But that language was omitted from these last three iterations—including the new bill—which could maintain barriers to access given that most state medical cannabis programs require a written recommendation, meaning many veterans would have to outsource their healthcare to a non-VA provider in order to qualify for legal access to marijuana.
Steube’s office previously told MEDCAN24 that the omission was necessary in order to advance an earlier version through a House committee in 2020 as an amendment to another bill.
Although the lack of language regarding the discussion and recommendation of medical marijuana may not be ideal for advocates, it would still represent a modest move for veterans. VA wouldn’t have the ability to refuse them VA benefits because they used cannabis in compliance with state laws.
While advocates and stakeholders wait for the return of another bipartisan plan that will protect banks who work with legal cannabis states from federal penalties.
A spokesperson from his office said to MEDCAN24 in December that it was “not imminent”, as reported by some media reports.
Below is the most recent “Veterans Cannabis Use for Safe Healing Act”.
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Brian Shamblen provided the photo.
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