Senate Approves Funding Bill for Military Veterans' Medical Marijuana Access

Military veterans are closer to having easier access to medical marijuana in states where it is legal, with an amendment in a bill passed Tuesday.

The Senate passed Tuesday the FY2016 Military Construction and Veterans Affairs (MilCon-VA) Appropriations Bill, with language allowing Veterans Administration doctors to recommend medical marijuana to their patients if it is legal in that state.

“Veterans in medical marijuana states should be treated the same as any other resident, and should be able to discuss marijuana with their doctor,” said Michael Collins, deputy director of national affairs for the Drug Policy Alliance, in a press release. “It makes no sense that a veteran can’t use medical marijuana if it helps them and it is legal in their state.”

Current legislation bars VA physicians from recommending cannabis for their patients regardless of state legalization. The Veterans Equal Access Amendment authorizes VA physicians to provide recommendations and complete forms regarding participation in a state medical marijuana program.

The new amendment, sponsored by Republican Senator Steve Daines of Montana and Democratic Senator Jeff Merkley of Oregon, was added in May to a must-pass military construction and veterans affairs spending bill. The amendment passed in a bipartisan 18-12 vote, the first time the U.S. Senate has ever moved marijuana law reform forward.

The funding bill will now be negotiated with the House’s version as a part of an omnibus spending bill.