The U.S. House of Representatives passed amendments to the spending bill which would allow doctors in the Department of Veterans Affairs of America (VA) to give medical marijuana prescriptions to veterans, and to support research on psychedelics and their access.
The House Rules Committee had made amendments on cannabis and psychoactive substances two days earlier in order to be considered by the House. However, it was not until Wednesday that the whole chamber decided to add them to MilConVA, which is the appropriations act for Military Construction, Veterans Affairs and Related Agencies.
One of the accepted proposals from Reps. Brian Mast (R-FL) and Dave Joyce (R-OH)—who are both co-chairs of the Congressional Cannabis Caucus—would increase veterans’ access to state medical marijuana programs and eliminate a current VA directive barring the department’s doctors from issuing cannabis recommendations.
This is the full text of your amendment.
“None of the funds appropriated or otherwise made available to the Department of Veterans Affairs in this Act may be used to enforce Veterans Health Directive 1315 as it relates to—
(1) the policy stating that ‘VHA providers are prohibited from completing forms or registering Veterans for participation in a State-approved marijuana program’;
(2) the directive for the ‘Deputy Under Secretary for Health for Operations and Management’ to ensure that ‘medical facility Directors are aware that it is VHA policy for providers to assess Veteran use of marijuana but providers are prohibited from recommending, making referrals to or completing paperwork for Veteran participation in State marijuana programs’; and
(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, or filling out forms to register Veterans in State-approved Marijuana Programs’.”
The provision—which passed on a voice vote—is based on a standalone bill, the Veterans Equal Access Act, which Mast refiled in February. The measure has been bipartisan supported in recent sessions, but it still isn’t law. This measure has advanced multiple times both in committee and at the House but is yet to become law.
Mast, who shared his experience of using conventional medication after a severe injury he sustained during military service, said, “In many cases”, these drugs leave our veterans “in extreme states, such as suicide.” Other extremes are just states of unhappiness and lack of purpose. In some cases it leaves them better off.”
Mast explained that veterans need options other than narcotics. “In many states, cannabis has been legalized for medical use. They need the opportunity to talk to their VA doctor about cannabis and whether it’s right or wrong for them.
In past years, both the House and Senate have 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.
Reps. Lou Correa, D-CA and Jack Bergman, R-MI added a MilConVA section to the House Bill this year. This provision would encourage VA research to determine the effectiveness of psychedelics for treating common medical conditions affecting veterans.
The following is a summary of the amended law:
The Department of Veterans Affairs should increase and decrease the funding allocated to the Medical and Prosthetic Research accounts to allow the Department of Veterans Affairs the opportunity to make changes in its healthcare system to incorporate approved psychedelic therapy into the care of veterans with conditions such as PTSD and drug use disorders. It would be necessary to support the dissemination and development of training programs and supervision for providers, as well as pilot programs that inform the clinical implementation of the therapies.
On a voice vote, the House passed the measure on psychedelics.
Correa stated on the floor, that he and Bergman were “encouraged” by the positive results they have achieved in the treatment of veterans suffering from PTSD or other disorders by using psychedelics.
The congressman stated that “these therapies differ from traditional therapy in many different ways.” “Psychedelic therapy involves long sessions with several therapists and additional safety concerns. It also requires special training for the providers.” This amendment is being introduced because it’s important to have a proactive approach and to ensure that the VA can administer these treatments when they are ready.
Bergman noted that Washington, D.C., has been successful because of good partnerships, including those across political lines, to address issues that are beneficial for all Americans, rather than just a small group. The amendment does exactly that.
Without a plan that will translate findings into the care of veterans, we are at risk of disappointing those who this research was meant to assist,” said he. “We understand the stakes. “We know the stakes.” “While traditional treatment works for some people, too many suffer in silence, or worse, while cycling through ineffective medication.”
Bergman stated that “this amendment sends an important message to VA: don’t only study but prepare.” Our veterans deserve more than research. They also deserve results. This amendment brings us closer to the implementation we owe our veterans.
This year, there were significantly fewer amendments related to cannabis than previous years. The Rules Committee had previously rejected other Democratic-led reforms including the blocking of drug testing for federal applicants who live in states which have legalized cannabis.
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On Monday, the House Appropriations Committee passed a bill to fund a different spending program that, according to hemp advocates, would have ruined the industry. It prohibits the use of most cannabinoids that were made legal by the federal government during the Trump first administration.
Also earlier in the month, Congress approved a bill aimed at permanently banning fentanyl analogues. However, it contains provisions which, according to a GOP legislator, would eliminate barriers for conducting research on marijuana, and other Schedule I substances.
Congressional Committee Approves Federal Hemp THC Ban that Stakeholders say Would Destroy Industry
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