Congress Approves A Major Step Forward For Medical Marijuana

[eridani]

http://www.nationofchange.org/news/2016/05/20/congress-approves-major-step-forward-medical-marijuana
In states that allow it, veterans are a major step closer to being able to obtain medical marijuana.

On Thursday, both chambers of Congress approved measures prohibiting the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) from enforcing a policy prohibiting government doctors from prescribing medical marijuana to veterans. That essentially means doctors will now be able to recommend medical marijuana to veterans in the 24 states (plus D.C.) where it’s legal.

The measure came close to passing last year, but ended up failing 213-210 in the House. This year, it was approved 233-189 in that chamber, and by an 89-8 margin in the Senate.

Tom Angell, a longtime marijuana reform activist and chairman of Marijuana Majority, said the measure is important because it will allow some veterans to avoid taking opiates.

“It’s looking like this could finally be the year the federal government stops making veterans jump through costly, time-consuming hoops just to get legal access to medical marijuana,” Angell said in a statement sent to ThinkProgress. “Cannabis has shown great promise in helping veterans deal with PTSD and treat chronic pain, and it’s an increasingly attractive alternative to opioids. There’s absolutely no reason the V.A. should be preventing its doctors from helping veterans who served our country find relief with medical marijuana.”

[Warpy]

1. OH, FFS, just legalize it, already

Let people grow it in the back yard and tax commercially grown and prepared weed that is being sold.

It's time to let go of at least some of Nixon's toxic legacy.

[Warren DeMontague]

2. Which is basically what we've got in this state, and the sky hasn't fallen.

In fact, it's working just fine.

http://www.oregonlive.com/marijuana/index.ssf/2016/04/oregon_collects_684_million_in.html

[Enthusiast]

3. Have you no concern for the pharmaceutical industry?

I think there are persistent elements in the far right intelligence community that still believe smoking marijuana will shape an ideology. They think everyone will turn into Marxists if they smoke pot. They need to speak with some of the Rasta rednecks in my area.

[Hydra]

4. I'm of the same opinion

But this is actually fairly quick progress for a power block that derives so much money from the prohibition. It's mostly because most people don't give a crap about it and won't support the enforcement of it anymore.

We'll probably have a SSM moment soon where it all becomes a non-issue. One can hope.

[RussBLib]

5. another article in HuffPo

Definitely good news for veterans, provided Obama signs it

Congress Clears Way For Veterans To Get Medical Marijuana
The amendment would make it much easier for veterans to access medical cannabis.

The Veterans Equal Access Amendment, introduced by Rep. Earl Blumenauer (D-Ore.) and co-sponsored by a bipartisan group of lawmakers, effectively strikes down a Department of Veterans Affairs restriction on its doctors recommending medical marijuana as treatment for veterans experiencing pain, PTSD or other conditions. Under current regulations, veterans had to seek these recommendations outside of the VA system and pay out of pocket for the related expenses.

“I have been deeply troubled about our inability to adequately deal with our returning veterans from Iraq and Afghanistan,” Blumenauer said in an interview following the vote, pointing to the high rates of opioid abuse and suicide among veterans. “A lot of them are suffering from PTSD, chronic pain, traumatic brain injury, and these are all conditions that have been shown to respond to medical marijuana.” He continued, “The notion that the VA would not allow its doctors to consult with and work with veterans regarding medical marijuana in states where it’s legal I thought was outrageous.”

This was Blumenauer’s third attempt to end the VA’s policy against recommending medical pot. He credited the country’s swiftly changing attitudes on marijuana as well as strong bipartisan support for the measure — 57 Republicans voted in favor of it — for this year’s passage. Looking ahead to addressing issues like marijuana banking and federal funding for cannabis research, Blumenauer predicts that momentum will continue. “I’m convinced within five years, everybody in America will have access to some form of medical marijuana,” he said.

Original.