Ensure No Veteran is Punished for Cannabis Where Legal

The use of medical cannabis has been of great concern to the veteran population for quite some time. For years, IAVA members have sounded off in support of researching medical cannabis for the wounds of war. Veterans consistently and passionately have communicated that cannabis offers effective help in tackling some of the most pressing injuries we face when returning from war. In our latest Member Survey, over 80% of IAVA members supported legalization for medical use. Across party lines, medical cannabis is largely unopposed. Yet our national policies are outdated, research is lacking, and stigma persists.

Over the past few years, IAVA members have set out to change the national conversation around cannabis and underscore the need for bipartisan, data-based, common-sense solutions that can bring relief to millions, save taxpayers billions and create thousands of jobs for veterans nationwide.

America is entering a new era in the cannabis debate, and IAVA will work to ensure that veterans are protected, supported, and elevated in the national debate.

Our nation is rapidly moving toward legalizing cannabis, and 35 states and the District of Columbia now permit medical cannabis. Yet, as with many innovative solutions to veteran needs, progress on this issue within the VA has been slow and incremental–and lags behind the needs of veterans and the changing reality of state-level laws. There has been marginal progress, as in late 2017, when the Veterans Health Administration issued a policy change which urged patients to discuss medical marijuana use with their doctors. This policy change alleviates previous concern that admitting to cannabis use could jeopardize VA benefits. But VA physicians still cannot refer patients to legally sanctioned state medical cannabis programs because of the federal prohibition. Moreover, patients are not allowed to have any cannabis on VA property, even if it is medically recommended to them and the state they are living in allows it. And VA employees are still barred from using any form of cannabis, including medical cannabis, while roughly one-third of VA employees are veterans and may want access to cannabis as a treatment option.

• Update current VA medical cannabis policy to allow for VA clinicians to provide recommendations and opinions to patients regarding medical cannabis programs
• Ensure all VA clinicians and employees are trained on VA cannabis policy so that no veteran is punished for discussing cannabis with a provider
• Maintain ability for states to continue cannabis access, including for medical purposes, without federal government prohibitions
• Push for allowances for veterans who are federal employees to use medical cannabis when recommended by a clinician
• Update federal policy so that veterans are not punished for having cannabis on federal grounds when and where it is legal in the state
• Ensure veterans are not penalized when applying for a concealed carry permit when enrolled in state medical cannabis programs