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This bill would clarify and codify an existing official Dept. of Veterans Affairs (VA) policy on medical marijuana use that protects a veteran’s benefits if they discuss medical marijuana use with their healthcare provider. This law is currently not widely known or universally followed. It would also establish a policy that states its VA policy to be supportive of medical marijuana use for veterans, and not penalize veterans who are using cannabis as an alternative form of treatment.

The following would be established as the VA’s policy regarding medical marijuana:

Veterans would be encouraged to discuss medical marijuana use with their healthcare providers without fear of negative repercussions;
Veterans shall not be denied any benefits on the basis of cannabis use;
A veteran’s participation in a state-legal marijuana program shall not affect their eligibility for VA care and services;
Marijuana use and/or possession on VA property and in VA facilities remains prohibited pursuant to federal law, regardless of state-level laws;
VA medical providers shall honor patients’ desires to seek alternative forms of treatment (including medical marijuana);
The VA acknowledges that medical marijuana use may be a legitimate alternative treatment, and VA medical providers won’t recommend a veteran for drug addiction treatment because of medical marijuana use;
VA medical providers are permitted to discuss cannabis use as part of comprehensive care planning, and may adjust treatment plans as necessary. Treatment adjustment should be relevant, and a veteran should have the freedom to seek a second opinion if they feel the change isn’t fair;
VA medical providers will annotate a veteran’s cannabis use in their medical record in order to have the information available in treatment planning. This is part of the veteran’s confidential medical record, and is protected under patient privacy and confidentiality laws and regulations. VA medical providers won’t record that a veteran has a marijuana addiction problem in their medical record if the patient is responsibly using medical marijuana;
VA clinicians shall follow federal laws and regulations relating to medical marijuana;
VA scientists may conduct research on cannabis risks and benefits, under regulatory approval; and
VA medical providers may not dissuade participation in non-VA medical marijuana research.

The VA Secretary would be responsible for disseminating this policy widely. This includes displaying it prominently in all VA hospitals and clinics, and online on the VA’s website.

If medical marijuana use becomes legal at the federal level, the ban on marijuana use and possession on VA property and in VA facilities (the fourth policy in the above list) would be lifted.

","official_title":"To provide for a Department of Veterans Affairs policy on medicinal cannabis, and for other purposes.","short_title":"","popular_title":"Department of Veterans Affairs Policy for Medicinal Cannabis Use Act of 2018","short_summary":"","summarized":true,"cost":null,"cost_commentary":"A CBO cost estimate is unavailable.","impact":"Veterans; medical marijuana; VA doctors; and the VA","argument_for":"Many veterans are already using medical marijuana, and the VA should support this in its official policy and the healthcare that it delivers to them. 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Numerous states have now legalized marijuana - how does federal law interact.","page_title":"Legislation regarding the Legalization of Marijuana and penalties - Inform your reps how you feel","icons":{"black":"https://assets.causes.com/issue/icon/marijuana-legalization/black_marijuana-legalization-1429042047.svg","grey":"https://assets.causes.com/issue/icon/marijuana-legalization/grey_marijuana-legalization-1429042047.svg","white":"https://assets.causes.com/issue/icon/marijuana-legalization/white_marijuana-legalization-1429042047.svg"},"cover_image_url":null,"is_following":false},{"id":"health","name":"Health","slug":"health","description":"Federal legislation around Health, encompassing: the Affordable Care Act, Medicare, Research into diseases (Cancer, HIV/Aids, Ebola), Drug safety, Hospital care and prescription drugs.","page_title":"Health Related US Federal legislation, including Medicare, ACA, and research - Vote on Bills, Stay informed, Hold Your Reps Accountable","icons":{"black":"https://assets.causes.com/issue/icon/health/black_health-1429042037.svg","grey":"https://assets.causes.com/issue/icon/health/grey_health-1429042037.svg","white":"https://assets.causes.com/issue/icon/health/white_health-1429042037.svg"},"cover_image_url":null,"is_following":false},{"id":"veterans-affairs","name":"Veterans Affairs","slug":"veterans-affairs","description":"Legislation impacting Veterans Affairs and funding. \r\n\r\nCountable empowers you with the knowledge and tools necessary to directly influence Veterans Affairs policy. Countable is live on the web, as an iPhone app in the App Store, and on Android on Amazon and Google Play.\r\n\r\nTell your Senators and Representative what you think about how they’re doing for Veterans Affairs– not every six or two years – but every day!\r\n","page_title":"Veterans Affairs Issue Desk at Countable - Vote on Legislation, Stay informed, Hold Government Accountable","icons":{"black":"https://assets.causes.com/issue/icon/veterans-affairs/black_veterans-affairs-1429042036.svg","grey":"https://assets.causes.com/issue/icon/veterans-affairs/grey_veterans-affairs-1429042036.svg","white":"https://assets.causes.com/issue/icon/veterans-affairs/white_veterans-affairs-1429042036.svg"},"cover_image_url":null,"is_following":false}],"users":[{"name":"Deborah","vote_count":20,"photos":{"large":"https://assets.causes.com/user/avatar/default-with-hat.png","small":"https://assets.causes.com/user/avatar/default-with-hat.png","tiny":"https://assets.causes.com/user/avatar/default-with-hat.png"},"links":{"following":"/api/users/WdBLJa43/following","followers":"/api/users/WdBLJa43/followers"},"about_me":null,"twitter_id":null,"facebook_id":null,"youtube_id":null,"google_plus_id":null,"website":null,"slug":null,"issue_count":0,"is_following":null,"influence_score":0,"influence_level":0,"follower_count":0,"following_count":0,"position_count":2,"id":"WdBLJa43","partner_id":"efa417af-11b4-4a08-9b10-fff245626400"}],"bill_position":{"flagged":false,"id":"e200a430-3be0-4beb-8dba-d0bdd31c20fa","argument_for":"There's credible evidence that medical marijuana helps in many ways--controls pain, helps with PTSD, anxiety and insomnia, and other ailments common among veterans. Why not allow them to have it, after protecting and serving our country?","argument_against":null,"show_argument_for":true,"show_argument_against":false,"upvote_count":0,"upvotes_for_count":0,"upvotes_against_count":null,"has_upvoted":false,"endorsement_count":0,"links":{"self":"https://www.causes.com/positions/e200a430-3be0-4beb-8dba-d0bdd31c20fa"},"body":"There's credible evidence that medical marijuana helps in many ways--controls pain, helps with PTSD, anxiety and insomnia, and other ailments common among veterans. Why not allow them to have it, after protecting and serving our country?","stance":"yea","created_at":"2018-12-07T15:30:52.182Z","shareable_image_url":"https://n.causes.com/share-images/positions/e200a430-3be0-4beb-8dba-d0bdd31c20fa.png","note_color":null,"note_text":null,"bill_id":"hr7130-115","user_id":"WdBLJa43","endorser_ids":[]}}

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Should the VA Be Supportive of Veterans’ Medical Marijuana Use?