Cannabis Law Group's Medical Marijuana Legal Blog
U.S. Bill Would Protect Pot-Using Veterans’ Military Benefits
Marijuana has proven an effective treatment for many military veterans grappling with conditions like chronic pain, PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) and symptoms of exposure to toxic chemicals like Agent Orange. For many, it’s a better alternative than opioids, which are highly addictive, dangerous and recommended only for short stints. In many cases, it’s even proven the key to escaping opioid addiction. Yet Los Angeles medical marijuana lawyers know that to use it – even if prescribed by a physician – is to risk losing all their hard-earned military benefits.
A new bill filed by a U.S. House of Republican – with bipartisan support – would protect veterans from losing their federal benefits for using medicinal marijuana. Additionally, the Veterans Cannabis Use for Safe Healing Act would allow doctors at the Department of Veterans Affairs to recommend cannabis for medicinal purposes to patients there.
L.A. Attorneys Fight for Military Veterans’ Cannabis Rights
Los Angeles cannabis attorneys for years have fought to prevent veterans from losing these critical benefits simply for seeking medically necessary treatment. A measure like this would solidify a military veteran’s entitlement to services – and further enshrine them so they could not be altered subject to the whim of future federal administrations. Taking it a step further (and to avoid any conflicting messages on this) the proposed law would also change the existing VA rules that prevent doctors within the department from filling out any forms that might help a veteran obtain medicinal marijuana. Continue reading