Veterans Cannabis Use for Safe Healing Act

Summary

Allows the Department of Veterans Affairs to let veterans take part in State-approved marijuana programs without losing VA benefits, requires VA clinicians to ask about and document veterans’ marijuana use for enrolled patients, and permits VA physicians and health-care providers to give recommendations or opinions about participation in those State programs to veterans who live in those States. The measure defines marijuana and State by existing federal statutes and applies these rules notwithstanding other law.

• VA may not strip veterans of VA-administered benefits for participating in State-approved marijuana programs.
• VA clinicians must discuss and document veterans' marijuana use for enrolled veterans, with an explicit reference to veterans enrolled under 38 U.S.C. § 1705.
• VA physicians and health-care providers are authorized to provide recommendations and opinions about participation in State marijuana programs to veterans who reside in those States.
• The term "marijuana/marihuana" is defined by reference to existing federal statute (21 U.S.C. § 802).
• The term "State" is defined by reference to 38 U.S.C. § 101.
• Provisions are stated to apply notwithstanding other law, signaling federal VA policy supersedes conflicting rules for VA-administered benefits and clinical practice.
• No new funding, implementation timeline, or reporting requirements are specified in the text.
• Does not change federal criminal law or drug scheduling; it modifies VA administrative and clinical policies only.