Congressmember Greg Steube (R-Florida) has introduced the first marijuana-related bill of the 119th Congress, a measure to safeguard military veterans who use medical marijuana in compliance with state laws from losing their federal benefits.
The proposed legislation, titled the Veterans Cannabis Use for Safe Healing Act, would also ensure that doctors within the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) can openly discuss the potential benefits and risks of marijuana with their patients. While VA physicians are currently allowed to have these conversations and document marijuana use in medical records, this policy is not enshrined in federal law. Steube’s bill would solidify these protections, preventing future administrative reversals.
This marks yet another attempt by Steube to pass this reform, as he has introduced identical legislation in previous congressional sessions.
Although current VA policy already prevents veterans from losing their benefits over marijuana use, Steube says that codifying these protections into federal law would provide long-term security for patients and healthcare providers.
You can find more information on this proposal by clicking here.
