A new bill has been introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives that would allow Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) health care providers to discuss medical marijuana with their patients.
H.R. 1384, filed on February 14 by Congressmember Brian Mast (R-Florida), would authorize VA doctors to provide information and opinions regarding state-legal marijuana programs. Currently, VA physicians are prohibited from offering guidance on the potential use of marijuana, even in states where it is legal for medical purposes.
The legislation aims to remove this restriction, ensuring that veterans can have open discussions with their doctors about whether marijuana could be a viable treatment option for conditions such as chronic pain and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Many veterans have advocated for medical marijuana access as an alternative to opioids and other pharmaceutical treatments.
Mast, a military veteran himself, has been a strong proponent of expanding medical marijuana access for those who have served in the armed forces. Supporters of the bill argue that it would give veterans the same medical options available to civilians in legal states, while opponents have expressed concerns about federal marijuana policy conflicts.
The bill now awaits consideration in the House Veterans’ Affairs Committee.
