Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2024

Floor Speech

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Ms. LEE of California. Madam Chair, as Co-chair of the Congressional Cannabis Caucus, I rise in strong support of this bipartisan amendment No. 36, to the Fiscal Year 2024 Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies bill. This amendment would help veterans participate in a legal state medical cannabis program, ensure services are not denied, or limit health care providers' ability to make appropriate recommendations of this treatment option for veterans.

Currently, VA physicians aren't allowed to complete medical forms relating to their patients' cannabis usage nor can they assist their patients in enrolling in medical cannabis programs.

This amendment would authorize VA physicians and other health care providers to provide recommendations and opinions regarding the use of medical cannabis to veterans who live in states with existing medical programs.

Millions of American veterans suffer from post-traumatic stress and depression. Moreover, of the nearly one million veterans who receive opioids to treat painful conditions, more than half continue to consume beyond 90 days.

Time after time, data has revealed that the mortality rate from opiate overdoses among VA patients is nearly double the national average. In states where patients can legally access medical cannabis to treat painful conditions, often as a less addictive alternative, the hands of VA physicians should not be tied.

Cannabis is currently legal in most states and territories for medicinal or adult use and the VA health system must keep up. I am proud to co-lead this amendment and want to give a special thanks to my Cannabis Caucus Co-chairs, Representatives Mast, Blumenauer and Joyce, for their partnership on enacting comprehensive cannabis reform.

I urge my colleagues to vote and support this bipartisan, common- sense amendment that would benefit our armed service members.

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