Legislation to allow VA providers to prescribe medical marijuana in certain states reintroduced in Congress

RallyPoint Shared Content — Thu, 06 May 2021 15:40:24 -0400

Air Force Veteran Tiffany Kronenburg, of Fleming Island, Florida, accesses all the care and treatment she needs at the Veterans Health Administration, with one exception — she must go to another doctor for medical marijuana.

To obtain the drug that Kronenburg, 31, says successfully relieves symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder and severe anxiety, she pays nearly $500 to visit a provider outside the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) system, $75 for a registry identification card and $300-$400 for the product each month. That’s because it’s legal for approved Sunshine State physicians — and providers in 35 other states — to prescribe medical cannabis but illegal for VA to do so.

“It’s a pretty big budget,” Kronenburg told RallyPoint in an interview. But the former nuclear weapons technician said she feels lucky to be able to afford what she considers a natural alternative to an opioid-based treatment. “I think it’s spot on for my symptoms,” she said.

Bill would open up access to medical cannabis at VA

Kronenburg argued that she and other Veterans should be able to obtain medical marijuana directly from their VA providers, streamlining care and potentially saving money. She is among the growing number of Veterans, Veterans service organizations and advocacy groups who support bills reintroduced in Congress last month that would overturn the VA prescription ban for Veterans living in states with legalized medical marijuana.

The fast pace of change in Veteran attitudes on this issue can be seen in member surveys conducted by Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America (IAVA): From 2017 to 2019, IAVA surveys found, support among its 400,000 members for legalizing medical marijuana jumped from 55% to 83%.

Yet right now, because federal law classifies pot as a Schedule I controlled substance, VA providers are barred from recommending or assisting Veterans in obtaining medical marijuana.

A renewed bipartisan effort to change this VA policy, and support research into related issues, took shape in April with the introduction of the Veterans Medical Marijuana Safe Harbor Act in the Senate (S. 1183) and in the House (H.R. 2588).

“In 36 states, doctors and their patients have the option to use medical marijuana to manage pain — unless those doctors work for the VA and their patients are Veterans,” said Sen. Schatz, D-Hawaii, in introducing the legislation April 16. His bill is cosponsored by Sens. Tim Kaine, D-Va.; Jeff Merkley, D-Ore.; Jacky Rosen, D-Nev.; Bernie Sanders, I-Vt.; and Ron Wyden, D-Ore. In the House, Reps. Barbara Lee, D-Calif., and Dave Joyce, R-Ohio, introduced similar legislation, which has 12 cosponsors.

IAVA, AMVETS and Minority Veterans of America are among the Veterans’ groups backing the legislation, which creates a five-year safe harbor protection for Veteran users of medical marijuana and their doctors in recommending medical marijuana where it is legal.

VA allows Veterans to discuss medical marijuana use

VA’s marijuana policy, which was updated in 2017, encourages Veterans to discuss medical marijuana use with their VA providers. They cannot be denied benefits for using the substance. And the policy makes clear that any medical records documenting use of medical marijuana are for treatment planning purposes and guarded by privacy laws.

The law must go further, proponents argued, by allowing VA doctors to prescribe medical marijuana and protect Veterans from legal and employment consequences if they use the drug.

After all, Joyce said in a statement, if states legalized medical marijuana, “the federal government should not be preventing a VA doctor from recommending medical cannabis if they believe that treatment is right for their patient.”

One-stop shop for medical pot

Veterans would likely save money by having medical marijuana available in one stop through a VA provider, who would be able to register as a prescriber in states where it’s legal, Cherissa Jackson, AMVETS chief medical executive, told RallyPoint. Military discounts honored by dispensaries can bring costs down further, she said.

Kronenburg, the Florida Veteran, agreed that the bill would “cut out the middleman” and let her and other Veterans remain within the VA system of care. She said that “all my VA providers know that I use medical marijuana” and has faced no adverse consequences.

But Jackson said too many Veterans hide their marijuana use from VA health providers, fearing stigma or scrutiny. Passage of the bill, she said, would allow Veterans to open up and work with their VA providers on tailored care plans that include cannabis.

“This is the gateway to make that happen,” she said of the legislation.

Does availability of medical cannabis reduce opioid use?

Another benefit if the bill were to pass, Kronenburg said, is providing Veterans with “access to something other than opioids.”

In fact, the bill directs VA to research whether greater access to cannabis can reduce opioid use, as studies by RAND, the state of Minnesota and others indicate.

A 2018 RAND study published in the Journal of Health Economics found that “broader access to medical marijuana facilitates substitution of marijuana for powerful and addictive opioids.” A 2016 study of 2,290 patients, conducted by the Minnesota Department of Health, found nearly 60% on other pain medications were able to cut their use of those therapies after taking medical cannabis.

Specifically, the bill calls on VA to look at the relationship between state medical marijuana programs and reduced opioid use and abuse among Veterans. It also calls for more research on the effects of medical marijuana on pain.

Prospects for passage remain uncertain. One observer floated the idea that the VA bill could be combined with other cannabis-related legislation moving through Congress, such as the Secure and Fair Enforcement Banking Act (H.R. 1996), which passed the House April 19.

Learn more

Read Sen. Brian Schatz’s news release: https://rly.pt/33jlCOP

Read VA and marijuana — what Veterans need to know: https://rly.pt/3uqrS3b

Access the RAND study abstract: https://rly.pt/2R33XbH

Access the Minnesota Department of Public Health study: https://rly.pt/3xL644u

Schatz Reintroduces Bill To Allow VA To Prescribe Medical Marijuana To Veterans | U.S. Senator...

The official U.S. Senate website of Senator Brian Schatz of Hawaii

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made May 6 at 2021 4:07 PM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 06 May 2021 16:07:59 -0400

RallyPoint Shared Content Should be available if that's what it takes to give the Veteran relief. No doubt there will be periodic bloodwork done.

Response by SP5 Private RallyPoint Member made May 11 at 2021 7:31 PM

SP5 Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 11 May 2021 19:31:04 -0400

It does wonders for diabetic neuropathy.

Response by MAJ Private RallyPoint Member made May 14 at 2021 7:53 PM

MAJ Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 14 May 2021 19:53:04 -0400

Can’t prescribe something that the federal government still defines as an illegal class I drug. The VA is a federal agency. Change it to a non schedule I drug and then it could happen. Then again if they are doing well with medical marijuana couldn’t they prescribe Marinol? I’m not a pharmacist just wondering. I know several cancer patients used Marinol for the pain management and also for appetite increase while undergoing some brutal chemotherapy.

Response by SGT Jason Anderson made May 15 at 2021 4:41 AM

SGT Jason Anderson — Sat, 15 May 2021 04:41:20 -0400

I couldn't take it if I wanted to, due to job...

Response by SFC Joe S. Davis Jr., MSM, DSL made May 16 at 2021 7:32 AM

SFC Joe S. Davis Jr., MSM, DSL — Sun, 16 May 2021 07:32:45 -0400

Thanks for the share

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made May 21 at 2021 9:39 AM

LTC Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 21 May 2021 09:39:57 -0400

It's crazy that it's illegal anywhere.

Response by SSG Edward Tilton made May 26 at 2021 12:27 PM

SSG Edward Tilton — Wed, 26 May 2021 12:27:44 -0400

I am against the VA paying for anyone’s marijuana

Response by PO1 Todd McMillin made Jun 28 at 2021 9:11 PM

PO1 Todd McMillin — Mon, 28 Jun 2021 21:11:22 -0400

The only reason why the "War of Drugs" existed was largely because of the Institutionalized Racism of the Government in fear of Minorities having more power than White People based of false paradigms and delusional beliefs. The fact that during President Ford's Administration there was in-depth research to medical marijuana/Cannabis to provide relief for many health related issues that could be cured naturally vs with heavy medication and even worse toxic chemicals. The fact that Big Pharma pushed Congress to destroy the research and suppress it shows how badly the corruption of unfettered Capitalism harmed the nation even back then.

The worst part is that now we're seeing the Boomers and Silent Generation; whom were former Hippies turned Yuppies turned Boomers who are all for legalization. Yet, completely refuse to admit their racist actions of mass incarceration of Minorities who sold marijuana and that the majority of the NARCO Economy was created by the CIA and our Government to criminalize Race and fill up prisons created in the 1970s as part of the "Super Predator Myth" that never came to be as predicted by idiot Economists whom used racially biased presumptions vs actually having non-biased data. The fact that the "Super Predators" turned out to be the "Mass /Serial Shooters" we're seeing today that popped up with Columbine and other events; funny how nearly every single all have serious Mental Health Issues. As well as the fact the majority of those Super Predators were White vs Minorities as well. Maybe if racial biases had been removed there wouldn't be a huge waste of resources in creating mass incarceration cycle of putting people behind bars and giving them a choice of prison or military service.

The fact that the Boomers and Silent Generation loathe the mere thought of economic reparations for excessive and wrongful incarceration of non-violent dealers, growers, and others who should be given a pardon and allowed a chance to profit from the decriminalization and legalization of Cannabis/Marijuana vs keeping them unlawfully incarcerated based on racism and outdated morality tainted by greedy politicians, judges, and law enforcement who profiteer from the endless system of oppression. The fact those folks could have helped maintained and created more economic power vs limited to only selective groups is why we're seeing fallout about it.

The fact that we need to change or mindset about things to fix problems and prevent them. The Chinese are kicking our ass towards the future in global development while we're concerned about making more wars and build more weapons to fight non-existing wars rather than working to make allies and friends vs creating future enemies both domestic and abroad.

Response by TSgt David Olson made Jun 30 at 2021 8:45 PM

TSgt David Olson — Wed, 30 Jun 2021 20:45:44 -0400

I quit smoking 3 1/2 packs a day in October 1987. No way will I start inhaling smoke, regardless of its properties.

Response by SGT Lorenzo Nieto made Jul 6 at 2021 1:13 PM

SGT Lorenzo Nieto — Tue, 06 Jul 2021 13:13:36 -0400

It’s a good tool to fix a lot of medical issues, plus there are a lot of eatables that help as well.

Response by LTJG Sandra Smith made Jul 11 at 2021 3:05 PM

LTJG Sandra Smith — Sun, 11 Jul 2021 15:05:20 -0400

Are these people going to stay home or exclusivey utilize public transportation for the 28 days for that to clear their systems after the last dose, & not use machinery or engage in other activities, that put OTHER lives at risk while they are under the influence of an hallucinogen? I seriously doubt it, so absolutely NO! Taxpayers should not be paying for their habits.

Response by CW3 Sean Feely made Jul 18 at 2021 4:43 PM

CW3 Sean Feely — Sun, 18 Jul 2021 16:43:36 -0400

I have the exact same issue it literally makes no sense that there wouldn’t be ONE National VA Medical Card good in any state. We are constantly moving around like gypsies half the time. I meet vets in campgrounds all the time that don’t have access but do in their home state. It’s just a prescription for medicine and it’s 2021. It’s a proven fact all evidence EVER submitted against marijuana has been proved a LIE. If you want a gateway drug it’s called cigarettes. Not cannabis. It was basically criminalized to put the black population in jail, whom at the time was the primary user. Pure politics and racism at its finest. It’s simple, when I don’t smoke I stay angry and agitated. When I smoke, I’m kind and considerate. It’s a no brainer for me. I’m just a normal guy. Not a drug addict. Let’s get the fixed fit or soldiers. They need this ASAP!!

Response by SGT Lorenzo Nieto made Aug 12 at 2021 6:01 PM

SGT Lorenzo Nieto — Thu, 12 Aug 2021 18:01:02 -0400

I checked positive for marijuana last year now I get drug tested every 90days if I don’t my doctor will take my gabapentin away from me I told him it stops me from getting angry he said not his problem so I stay home a hell of a lot.