Rep. Seth Moulton (D-MA) is sponsoring a new bill in Congress that would encourage military veterans to talk about using medical marijuana for treatment without the fear of losing federal benefits. The aim of the legislation is to make it harder for future Veteran Affairs (“VA”) leaders to change existing policies that currently allow VA physicians to talk to their patients about using medical cannabis for treatment.
The bill states that veterans cannot be found ineligible for care and services because of their participation in state-funded cannabis programs. The bill clarifies, however, that no individual can use marijuana while on veteran property, even in states where the use of marijuana is legal.
Normalizing the use of marijuana among veterans will go a long way in helping them manage their health issues. Moulton mentioned in a press release that veterans are twice as likely to die from opioid overdose in comparison to civilians. Therefore, it is part of the government’s responsibility to ensure the service men and women have access to solutions that offer relief to pain and anxiety.
Currently VA physicians are allowed to honor a patient’s wish of alternative forms of treatment, but they are restricted from issuing recommendations in which veterans take part in drug addiction treatment. Moreover, medical providers can adjust treatment plans when needed. The adjustments need to be relevant, and veterans are allowed to seek a second opinion if the transition seems unfair.
A veteran’s cannabis use will be annotated in medical records because the information will be used in treatment planning. If a veteran is responsibly using marijuana, it will not be recorded as a marijuana addiction. The records will be protected by privacy regulations and be treated with confidentiality.
VA medical providers are required to follow federal regulations. According to the bill, research on marijuana benefits and risks can be carried out under federal authorization. This provision mirrors existing policies that have governed research on marijuana for the veteran community. The bill also says that the doctors cannot dissuade veteran patients from taking part in nondepartment medical marijuana research.
The bill lays out guidelines for veteran surveys stating that the VA secretary would have to address certain concerns including dosage, type of marijuana used and frequency. Furthermore, doctors would partner with universities and medical institutions to undergo training in the use of medicinal marijuana.
Moulton has been active in leading veteran- and cannabis-specific regulations in past Congress sessions. In 2019, he filed three bills pushing medical marijuana access for military veterans.
The announcement of this bill comes months after a coalition of lawmakers wrote to VA Secretary Denis McDonough demanding a policy change that would ensure military veterans have access to medicinal marijuana.
Marijuana industry actors, including leading companies such as American Cannabis Partners, have always spoken highly of equity, and a law allowing military veterans to discuss medical marijuana with VA doctors boosts equity since it is unthinkable for veterans to be denied access to medical marijuana in jurisdictions where the general population can easily access such treatment.
NOTE TO INVESTORS: The latest news and updates relating to American Cannabis Partners are available in the company’s newsroom at https://cnw.fm/ACP
About CNW420
CNW420 spotlights the latest developments in the rapidly evolving cannabis industry through the release of two informative articles each business day. Our concise, informative content serves as a gateway for investors interested in the legalized cannabis sector and provides updates on how regulatory developments may impact financial markets. Articles are released each business day at 4:20 a.m. and 4:20 p.m. Eastern – our tribute to the time synonymous with cannabis culture. If marijuana and the burgeoning industry surrounding it are on your radar, CNW420 is for you! Check back daily to stay up-to-date on the latest milestones in the fast -changing world of cannabis.
To receive instant SMS alerts, text CANNABIS to 21000 (U.S. Mobile Phones Only)
For more information please visit https://www.CNW420.com
Please see full terms of use and disclaimers on the CannabisNewsWire website applicable to all content provided by CNW420, wherever published or re-published: http://CNW.fm/Disclaimer
Do you have questions or are you interested in working with CNW420? Ask our Editor
CannabisNewsWire420
Denver, Colorado
http://www.CNW420.com
303.498.7722 Office
Editor@CannabisNewsWire.com
CNW420 is part of the InvestorBrandNetwork.
