Access to medical marijuana for veterans – denied

The Huffington post as well as numerous other sources report that The Veterans Equal Assess Amendment authored by Earl Blumenauer D-Oregon and Sen. Steve Diane’s R-Montana and Sen. Jeff Merkley D-Montana D has been defeated on the house floor, despite making it through both houses earlier this year included as part of a spending package providing funding for the Veterans Affairs Dept. In states where medical marijuana is legal. The long standing fight over fair access to medical marijuana for our veterans, The bill was shot down recently despite thoughts it would pass overwhelmingly from the House Conference Report on the Military Construction and Veterans Affairs and Related Agencies A closed-door committee blocking one of the most sensible and bipartisan pieces of legislation in recent years for our vets. The removal of an amendment to an appropriations bill that has been approved in both chambers is unprecedented and defies both logic and reason. Despite passing comfortably in the Senate Appropriations Committee 20-9, and on the House floor 233-189 Blocking this amendment at the conference committee stage is an assault on democracy and those Americans who risked their lives and health to defend said Michael Liszewski, Government Affairs Director of Americans for Safe Access (ASA).If the ill-fated amendment had passed, physicians who discuss the posable benefits of cannabis (marijuana could no longer be unduly punished, risking prosecution and disbarment. The amendment would not require veteran’s administration physicians to fill out forms to recommend the use of cannabis to the veteran or allow the possession of marijuana on federal property. Rather it would simply open up channels to access state programs for America’s military veterans. Despite the author’s attempts as well as numerous other supporters to have the amendment put back in this never happened. And last week the veteran’s affairs package passed without the medical marijuana provision being included stating lack of government funding. Currently, the veteran’s administration prohibits physicians from completing the necessary forms to allow qualified veterans to participate in state medical marijuana programs, which forces veterans to look elsewhere Adding yet another layer to problems which are easily remedied. Several states in the U.S. have approved the use of marijuana medical and/or recreational use. However, regardless of how state law looks at marijuana federal law classifies marijuana as a Schedule 1 controlled substance making it illegal in the eyes of the feds. So now what? The authors of the proposed bill, as well as its Supporters, have vowed to keep fighting for the rights of the American veteran.to keep introducing amendments and to one day get a bill passed into law that gives veterans the help that they need and most definitely deserve. 

Commander Taco