Groundbreaking Bill to Allow Veterans Access to Medical Marijuana

On May 21, 2015, a historic vote passed, allowing veterans access to medical marijuana. The Veterans Equal Access Amendment, which succeeded with a vote of 18 to 12 by the Senate Appropriations Committee, is the first positive legislation regarding access to marijuana granted by the U.S. Senate.

States that have passed medical marijuana rights will be allowed to utilize this ruling. Veteran Administration (VA) doctors now will be able to recommend medical marijuana. The Veterans Equal Access Amendment was sponsored by Senator Steve Daines (Rep) and Senator Jeff Merkley (Dem).

Medical Marijuana has shown to treat multiple conditions faced by veterans. Depression, PTSD, anxiety, and chronic pain are a few diseases for which veterans have sought access to medical marijuana. It is estimated that every 22 minutes, a veteran takes their own life.(Source) A study published in 2014 concluded that PTSD patients who used marijuana showed a 75% reduction in symptoms.(Source) Veterans see this as a positive step in restoring first amendment rights.(Source)

Source:

http://www.drugpolicy.org/news/2015/05/historic-vote-senate-appropriations-committee-approves-veterans-medical-marijuana-amend

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24830188

Federal Government Could End Marijuana Prohibition

On Friday February 20^th, 2015 two separate bills were introduced in Congress to end federal prohibition on marijuana. Currently the federal government can supersede the local laws leaving the states vulnerable when approving marijuana for sale. The passive nature of the federal government has allowed states to legalize marijuana for medical and recreational use. This hands-off approach may change with a new president.

Democratic representative from Colorado Jared Polis introduced the Regulate Marijuana Like Alcohol Act. Rep. Polis calls for marijuana to be removed from the Controlled Substances Act. This would allow the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives to regulate marijuana similar to alcohol.

On the same day house Democrat from Oregon Earl Blumenauer introduced the Marijuana Tax Revenue Act. This act would introduce a tax on marijuana sales similar to the Marihuana Tax of 1937. This tax was repealed in 1970. The new bill may impose more prosecution for possession.

Representative Polis bill is a positive direction for marijuana for many reasons. Removing the Drug Enforcement Agency from regulating allows the states laws to be fully legal and protected. Legalizing marijuana allows patients and the people that work in the industry to not fear prosecution. Removing marijuana from the label of a controlled substance will allow more research to be conducted. This will allow for safer medicine, a better understanding on how marijuana works in the body and new avenues for health care.

Source:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2015/02/20/marijuana-legalization-congress_n_6722686.html

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marihuana_Tax_Act_of_1937

Zero Tolerance for Marijuana in the Military

Veterans Equal Access Act Released Dec 3, 2014

   The U.S. Military holds a zero tolerance for marijuana use. Federal laws govern the military on cannabis use. New policies and studies from the federal government show promise of a policy shift to allowing medical-marijuana for military veterans.

   Marijuana possession is a crime under the Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ). Military personnel can be penalized with a court martial. The zero tolerance also includes military families on base. Possession can result in eviction of housing or loss of job on the base.(Source)

   There are 23 states that have legalized medical-marijuana. Military personnel in these states still have to adhere by the federal and UCMJ laws. Seventy-five percent of the soldiers were drug tested at Joint Base Lewis-McChord in Washington in 2013. Of the 30,836 soldiers tested, 250 tested positive. This is down from 2012 which had 315 testing positive. At Fort Carson in Colorado they tested all 26,000 soldiers having 254 test positive for marijuana in 2013.

   “The results of our continued drug testing demonstrate the commitment soldiers have to the Army profession, regardless of a state’s legalization of marijuana,” Army Spokesman Lt. Col. Benjamin Garrett commented on the zero tolerance for marijuana. “With 98 percent of the Army population testing negative for illicit drugs, soldiers demonstrate their ability to take responsibility for themselves, reinforcing the fact that our drug testing program is working.” (Source)

Signs of Change for the Zero Tolerance

   The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs in 2010 stated that veterans may use medical-marijuana in states where it is legal. Under federal law it remained illegal for VA doctors to recommend cannabis as treatment. Veterans wanting medical-marijuana would need to obtain the prescription from a civilian doctor. This statement allowed veterans to not fear losing benefits if they used marijuana.(Source)

   The U.S. Government in March 2014 approved to study for marijuana treatment for veterans with PTSD. The study will have 50 veterans with PTSD use different amounts of marijuana in a vapor or smoked form. This study may show a shift in federal policy with regards to marijuana and the use in the military.(Source)

   On December 3^rd, 2014 the Veterans Equal Access Act was released. It would allow VA doctors to prescribe medical marijuana for veterans.(Source) This comes at a crucial time for veterans when many suffer from PTSD and other conditions. Currently Arizona, Connecticut, Maine and New Mexico recognize cannabis as a treatment for PTSD.(Source) The VA working at a federal level may help open the doors for many other states to qualify PTSD as a condition that medical-marijuana can treat.

Source:

http://hemp.org/news/node/4293

http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2014/nov/6/marijuana-presents-dilemma-for-military-as-more-st/

http://www.cbsnews.com/news/government-approves-marijuana-study-for-treating-ptsd-in-veterans/

http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/news/military/story/2012-06-05/military-veterans-medical-marijuana/55395138/1

http://www.leafly.com/knowledge-center/medical-resources/qualifying-conditions-for-medical-marijuana-by-state

http://www.columbiatribune.com/news/new-bill-would-allow-the-va-to-recommend-medical-marijuana/article_6ce3f13f-28d7-5084-8ebf-7c9d70a74fa9.html

House of Representatives Vote and Pass a Stop to the Federal Persecutions for Medical Marijuana

Though each state is deciding how they want to govern the use of medical marijuana, a dark cloud of the Federal Government has stood in the way of making the laws fully legal and bound. On May 1, 2014 a vote was passed by the House of Representatives to not allow Federal persecutions where states have passed laws to allow medical marijuana. This vote now stands in the upcoming months to pass the Senate vote to be put into law.


California Representative Dana Rohrabacher on the house floor stated, “Some people are suffering, and if a doctor feels that he needs to prescribe something to alleviate that suffering, it is immoral for this government to get in the way.”


Overwhelmingly the Democratic party has favored the stop to federal regulation with the Republican Party hard to coerce. Federal government currently is active in regulating marijuana, a criminal trial with 3 Washington medical marijuana growers , moves to shut down some of the nation’s largest dispensaries in Berkeley and Oakland, and others that are sitting in jail for earlier prosecutions. One of the lead government people against the legalization is DEA Administrator Leonhart.


Twenty-Two states now allow the use of medical marijuana with many more about to approve. Two states have passed laws allowing the recreational use, Colorado and Washington. Another 10 states for the use of cannabidiol CBD that has been shown to be effective in treating children’s seizures and other conditions, according to the Drug Policy Alliance. Two amendments also passed to take away funds for the Federal government to intervene for research and cultivation in hemp.

OUTCO is San Diego's only legally licensed medical marijuana dispensary offering FREE Delivery and Accepting Debit Cards.

Source: http://jonathanturley.org/2014/05/31/house-of-representatives-votes-to-stop-federal-prosecutions-against-medical-marijuana/


http://thinkprogress.org/justice/2014/05/30/3443165/house-passes-amendment-to-strip-funding-for-medical-pot-crackdowns/