Titus Leads Bipartisan Effort Urging Va to Change Medical Marijuana Policy

Statement

Today, U.S. Senators Kirsten Gillibrand, Steve Daines, and Jeff Merkley and U.S. Representatives Earl Blumenauer, Dina Titus, and Dana Rohrabacher led a bipartisan group of Senators and Representatives on a letter urging the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to change its current policy to allow VA doctors to discuss and recommend marijuana as a treatment option in states where medical marijuana has been legalized.

VHA Directive 2011-004, which expires January 31, 2016, prohibits VA doctors from recommending medical marijuana as a treatment option to veterans, even in states where it is legal. Under the current system, VA patients and doctors are discouraged from being honest with each another about medical marijuana.

"According to the current directive, VA providers are prohibited from completing forms seeking recommendations or opinions regarding a veteran's participation in a state-sanctioned marijuana program. This policy disincentivizes doctors and patients from being honest with each other," the Senators and Representatives wrote. "Congress has taken initial steps to alleviate this conflict in law and we will continue to work toward this goal. However, you are in a position to make this change when the current VHA directive expires at the end of this month. We ask that you act to ensure that our veterans' access to care is not compromised and that doctors and patients are allowed to have honest discussions about treatment options."

The letter was also signed by U.S. Senators Cory Booker, Barbara Boxer, Patty Murray, Brian Schatz, Tammy Baldwin, Michael Bennet, Ron Wyden, and Elizabeth Warren, and U.S. Representatives Joe Heck, Sam Farr, Jared Polis, Chellie Pingree, Steve Cohen, Justin Amash, and Mark Pocan.

Source