Medicinal Marijuana
The US House of Representatives approved legislation earlier this week to end the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) prohibition on assisting veterans in accessing medical marijuana.
According to current law, VA healthcare providers may not recommind, refer, or facilitate veterans’ access to marijuana, regardless of a patient’s state of residence.
US Representative Brian Mast (R-FL) led the push for the bill’s passage, which is an amendment to broader VA and military construction funding legislation.
Representative Mast claimed marijuana could serve as a tool for veterans to confront their complex and diverse medical pathologies.
“Our veteran population is facing multiple epidemics, including addiction and suicide, and we owe it to them to make sure they’ve got every tool possible in the arsenal to deal with the impacts of battle - that includes medical cannabis,” Mast said.
Mast has supported alternate medicinal treatments for veterans, such as medical marijuana, for years.
In 2017, when asked about veterans’ medical marijuana accessibility, Mast responded he was an “absolute proponent” of the drug’s integration into veterans’ healthcare.
“I am absolutely a proponent for alternative forms of medicine within our VA that don't exist whether you're talking about our veterans having access to get chiropractic care or a great deal of other things,” Mast said.
Mast forms part of the Congressional Cannabis Caucus, which was formed to advocate for the decriminalization of marijuana.
The recently passed bill was originally introduced by Mast and Representative Earl Blumenauer (D-OR).
The National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws (NORML), which advocates for marijuana’s complete decriminalization, has given MAST top marks for his cannabis deregulation efforts.
However, Mast’s party is divided on the issue.
According to 2023 Gallup Poll reports, around half of Republicans approve of marijuana’s legalization, while the other half are opposed to it.
Such a reality is reflected in Congressional bodies and legislation which seems bipartisan superficially but upon closer examination reveals majority Democrat support.
One such institution is the cannabis caucus, with only three republicans members out of a total of fifteen.
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