Medical marijuana for American soldiers
This year, active and veteran US military personnel have continued their battle for access to medical marijuana.
Veterans of America strongly believe that medical marijuana can benefit them and their medical concerns. poll conducted by American Legion It was revealed this year that more than 80 percent would prefer to allow federal doctors to recommend cannabis to veterans. The same American Legion also has Coming out for medical marijuana For veterans, adopt a resolution urging federal officials to address marijuana policies for veterinarians.
Lawmakers are also pressing the issue among their peers. Representatives of the House of Representatives on the Veterans Affairs (VA) Committee are collective payment Trump administration to study whether medical marijuana could benefit military veterans. Ten Democratic members of the panel urged the Veterans Health Administration’s Office of Research and Development to begin investigating the potential effects of medical marijuana on veterans.
Minister of Veterans Affairs David Shulkin I acknowledge This year, evidence suggests that medical marijuana can be useful for treating conditions that generally affect veterans, but federal law prohibits VA doctors from recommending it. Until marijuana is rescheduled under federal law, Shulkin said, the Department of Veterans Affairs “will not be able to prescribe marijuana for conditions that may be beneficial.”
House Rules Committee Medical marijuana ban During the summer it would allow veterans to participate in legal medical marijuana programs. The committee decided not to allow it to proceed with the vote in the House of Representatives.
The amendment would have prohibited federal funds from interfering with veterans’ ability to participate in medical marijuana programs at home Countries that have passed and enforced their own medical cannabis laws. It would also allow VA doctors in those states to recommend medical marijuana to veterans.
As veterans fight to gain access to medical marijuana, a new defense bill could open the door for active-duty soldiers to use marijuana for medicinal purposes. National Defense Authorization ActHR-2810) gives the Department of Defense (DoD), rather than the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the authority to approve drugs and medical devices for the active military.
Section 732 of HR-2810 will allow the Department of Defense to avoid FDA status and Schedule I marijuana to sign off on cannabis as a medical treatment for those serving the country abroad, although it is not clear if the Department of Defense will take these steps.
Access to marijuana for the military and veterans in America is sure to be an important story going into 2018 as well.
