Congress Pushes To Let VA Doctors Recommend Marijuana In Legal States

The U.S. House of Representatives gave the green light this week to a measure that would allow military veterans to obtain medical marijuana recommendations directly from their Department of Veterans Affairs physicians.

Currently, VA doctors are not breaking the law if they discuss cannabis with patients. However, they are not allowed to officially recommend it or help veterans enroll in state medical cannabis programs. To that end, many veterans turn to outside physicians while paying additional costs to obtain access to medical marijuana.

Enter new amendment from Reps. Brian Mast, Dave Joyce, and Dina Titus, that seeks to prevent the VA from enforcing those restrictions. The new policy change aims to make it possible for VA physicians to help veterans navigate medical marijuana treatment in states where it is legal, reported Marijuana Moment.

The measure, which is not yet law as it needs to further advance through Congress and get the president’s approval before taking effect, has now been incorporated into the Fiscal Year 2027 Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act.

Supporters argue that medical marijuana may help veterans cope with conditions including chronic pain, PTSD, depression, traumatic brain injuries, sleep disorders, and opioid dependence.

While veteran participation in state marijuana programs does not affect eligibility for VA care and services, cannabis remains prohibited on VA property despite being obtained legally via a state program.

The vote comes amid a broader shift towards understanding cannabis through a medical lens. This April, the Department of Justice and DEA started shifting state-licensed medical cannabis to Schedule III, highlighting its medical value.

These legislative changes are long overdue, as per cannabis activists, advocates, stakeholders, and a growing number of policymakers. Interestingly, the support for cannabis is becoming increasingly bipartisan.

A new YouGov poll showed the majority (84%) of Americans would legalize cannabis for medical purposes. Ninety-one percent of Democrats, 81% of Independents, and 81% of Republicans are of that stance.