Bipartisan House and Senate lawmakers are refiling bills to legalize medical marijuana for military veterans—the latest in a series of cannabis measures that have been introduced in the week leading up to the 4/20 holiday.
Rep. Barbara Lee (D-CA), co-chair of the Congressional Cannabis Caucus, introduced the Veterans Medical Marijuana Safe Harbor Act on Tuesday with 12 cosponsors. Sen. Brian Schatz (D-HI) is leading a companion measure set to be filed on Thursday.
The bill would temporarily allow veterans to legally possess and use cannabis under federal law, as recommended by doctors in accordance with state law. Physicians with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) would also be allowed for the first time to issue such recommendations.
Further, the measure would authorize VA to study the therapeutic potential of marijuana for pain and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
“Marijuana and its compounds show promise for pain management and treating a wide-range of diseases and disorders, including post-traumatic stress disorder,” the bill’s findings section says. “Medical marijuana in states where it is legal may serve as a less harmful alternative to opioids in treating veterans.”
Currently, VA allows its physicians to talk about cannabis use with veterans, but they’re prohibited from
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