Members of Congress Actually Paid Attention to Veterans on Medical Marijuana?

I have talked to VA doctors across the country for years and they say they want to be able to give veterans medical marijuana but their hands are tied because as Federal Employees, they have to obey federal law. Most want the ability to base medical care based on the veteran in front of them as it should be.

There is no "one size fits all" in treating veterans but even within standard practices, there are many choices on programs doctors can suggest like service dogs, physical activity, different types of therapy and a long list of drugs they can give. 

This is one more weapon to help veterans fight the wounds of their bodies and minds. We know that there have been too many debilitating side effects to most of the other medications they are able to write scripts for and veterans find things get worse on many of them. It is refreshing to know that some members of Congress have actually heard them.

Congress pushes VA to recommend pot for patients
The Denver Post
By Mark Matthews
POSTED: 05/21/2016

"Veterans whose doctors believe that medical marijuana will help them address medical issues such as PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) or chronic pain should be afforded that option," U.S. Rep. Jared Polis

WASHINGTON — In two separate actions, the U.S. House and Senate this week moved to make it easier for military veterans to access medical marijuana — efforts that were largely, but not unanimously, supported by Colorado's congressional delegation.

The first step was a House vote Thursday on an amendment to a budget bill for the VA and military construction that would allow doctors with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs to recommend pot as treatment to veterans in states where medical marijuana is legal, which is roughly half the country.

The Senate took a similar approach in its own version of the spending measure by neutering a VA policy that had prohibited this practice.

Both measures easily passed their respective chambers.

The House approved the marijuana amendment by a 233-189 vote and the Senate on Thursday passed its spending measure, in which the pot policy change was included, by an 89-8 margin.

Five of Colorado's seven lawmakers in the House supported the amendment, including U.S. Rep. Jared Polis, D-Boulder, who co-authored the provision.

Another supporter of the House amendment was veteran and U.S. Rep. Mike Coffman, R-Aurora.

He said in a phone interview that the marijuana provision wasn't an easy vote but — given the number of combat veterans dealing with PTSD — that he's willing to give it a try.

"I tend to be more open on alternative therapies," he said.
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