Bipartisan congressional lawmakers have filed a slew of drug policy reform amendments to a large-scale defense bill, including proposals to prohibit federal employment discrimination against veterans who use marijuana, provide funding for studies into psychedelics as therapeutics and allow U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) doctors to recommend medical cannabis to veterans.
Each of the amendments are being filed for House Rules Committee consideration ahead of floor action on the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). Some of the measures are similar to past proposals, but lawmakers seem especially bullish about enacting drug policy reforms through the must-pass bill this session.
For example, Rep. Earl Blumenauer (D-OR) and a bipartisan list of cosponsors filed a familiar amendment to codify that VA doctors can “assist veterans in providing recommendations, opinions, and completion of the forms” to become state-legal medical cannabis patients.
Rep. Nancy Mace (R-SC), sponsor of a GOP-led legalization bill, has a measure that would similarly provide VA doctors with that authority—but her amendment also goes a step further by prohibiting federal employers from discriminating against veterans who use, or have used, cannabis.
Two marijuana-related amendments have already been attached to NDAA following approval in the House Armed Services Committee. And
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