Washington, DC: Members of the US Senate and the House of Representatives have approved amendments allowing physicians affiliated with the Department of Veterans Affairs to recommend medical cannabis to qualified patients in jurisdictions that regulate its use.
Federal regulations currently preclude physicians associated with the Veterans Affairs Department from filling out the paperwork necessary to issue a state-authorized medical marijuana recommendation. The pending language amends these rules so that no federal funds may be used to prohibit physicians from engaging in the medical marijuana authorization process.
The new provisions are included in the House and Senate versions of a much broader legislative package, the Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act. However, because the two chambers have approved differing versions of the Act, members must still reconcile the language of the two bills. That process typically takes place in a conference committee.
In prior years, lawmakers have removed similar cannabis reform language from the Military Construction bill during the conference committee process.
Lawmakers are anticipated to take further action on the Act shortly after reconvening from their August recess.
A legislative action alert specific to these amendments is available in NORML’s Take Action Center.