Senate Urges VA to Open the Door to Medical Cannabis
Veterans living in states with legal medical cannabis programs cannot access cannabis-derived medicines through their Department of Veterans’ Affairs (VA) healthcare benefits. If they want to use medical cannabis, they must first see a private medical provider and then pay for their medicines out of pocket. Now it appears as if the U.S. Senate wants to change that.
In their latest round of appropriations bills, the Senate urges the VA to consider two things: studying medical cannabis as an alternative to prescription opioids and allowing VA doctors to issue medical cannabis recommendations.
House versions of the same appropriations bills have already been passed. However, as is the case with such bills, the language chosen by the two chambers does not agree on every point. Senate passage will mean reconciliation of the conflicting points. That means the Senate language may not survive. Even so, the VA is on notice that Congress is looking for policy changes.
Cannabis Is Off Limits
Cannabis is completely off limits for the VA and its healthcare system right now. The VA has very little choice in the matter. Marijuana remains a Schedule I controlled substance despite state efforts to legalize medical cannabis. Until federal law changes, the VA’s hands are tied.
That is bad news for veterans in the sense that they cannot access medical cannabis through VA health benefits. But they are not shut out of the system completely. Even in a state like Utah, where Utahmarijuana.org says patients enjoy one of the best medical cannabis programs in the country, veterans can still access medical cannabis outside of the VA.
Veterans can still see Qualified Medical Providers (QMPs) or Limited Medical Providers (LMPs) for a medical cannabis recommendation as long as they are willing to pay out of pocket. Many clinics in the state offer fairly reasonable rates for physical exams. As for purchasing cannabis, they would have to pay for it themselves.
Cannabis as an Opioid Alternative
Millions of patients around the country now use medical cannabis to treat conditions like chronic pain and PTSD. The Senate wants the VA to take a look at the possibility of leveraging cannabis as an opioid alternative. Such a study is long past overdue. We are all fully aware of the detrimental effect of the ongoing opioid crisis. If cannabis can get people off opioids safely, why would we not embrace it?
Although marijuana remains a Schedule I controlled substance, federal agencies still have the authority to conduct research into its medical efficacy. There is nothing preventing the VA from conducting its own research. Therefore, the Senate request seems reasonable.
Rescheduling Marijuana to Schedule III
As for the Senate’s second proposal, it is offered based on the understanding that the DEA will ultimately move marijuana to Schedule III before the end of the year. And if they do, the Senate wants the VA to consider allowing its doctors to recommend medical cannabis in states with legal programs.
A recommendation would not necessarily equate to the VA paying for medical cannabis products. But at least veterans could see their own doctors rather than having to go to a private QMP or LMP. It is a step in the right direction.
There is no telling how the VA will respond to the Senate requests. But before we even get there, the Senate and House need to reconcile their appropriations bills. My guess is that both requests will ultimately be included. The VA is probably going to have to take up both issues at some point. How they respond will be interesting.