The United States House of Representatives has given approval to a proposal that would allow physicians with the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to recommend medical marijuana to veterans.
The amendment was made to a bill that covers spending for Military Construction, Veterans Affairs and Related Agencies. It was passed on the House floor in a voice vote. The House also approved an amendment that would promote the research of psychedelics such as magic mushrooms and MDMA.
The medical marijuana amendment was introduced by the bipartisan co-chairs of the Congressional Cannabis Caucus, Representatives Brian Mast, Earl Blumenauer, Dave Joyce and Barbara Lee. It would explictly prohibit the use of government funds to enforce current law which prohibits doctors from recommending medical marijuana to veterans.
The amendment was passed in a voice vote, despite opposition from some members.
“If medical cannabis is legal in your state, why wouldn’t you be able to talk to your doctor about it?” Said Rep. Mast. “That’s the reality for thousands of veterans who get their care through the VA. My amendment would allow VA physicians to discuss all treatment options with their patients.”
The House also approved through voice vote an amendment that could lead to more research into the potential benefit of psychedelic substances.
The amendment “increases and decreases the Medical and Prosthetic Research account at the Department of Veterans Affairs to ensure the VA conducts large-scale studies into the efficacy of drugs that have FDA-designated Breakthrough Therapy status to treat post-traumatic stress disorder through VA-administered drug assisted therapy trials.”
The spending bill that these amendments are included in still needs to be passed through a final vote of the House before it can be sent to the Senate.
