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.”