VA Will Now Permit Limited Use of Medical Marijuana

July 30, 2010 - In an announcement that came almost out of the blue, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has announced a change in their policy regarding medical marijuana. For the first time, The VA will allow patients at limited VA hospitals to use medical marijuana. The VA will only allow this in those VA hospitals located in states that have decriminalized the use of medical marijuana.

The VA's directive is worded so as to say the VA no longer prohibits veterans who use medical marijuana from also participating in Veterans Health Administration (VHA) run programs. Veterans enrolled in state-run medical marijuana programs will no longer be denied VHA benefits. VA doctors will not, however, provide medical marijuana to their patients. The directive specifically mentions veterans who choose to pursue medical marijuana will not be prohibited from participating in:

• Substance abuse programs;
• Pain Control programs; and
• Any clinical program where using medical marijuana may be contrary to treatment goals.

Despite marijuana being a controlled substance, and contrary to advice from the DEA, the VA decided to allow the use of medical marijuana. Last October the Attorney General announced as long as people were using medical marijuana in compliance with state law, the Obama Administration would not prosecute those people.

The VA believes their policy is in complete compliance with all federal and state laws. In the end, the most important thing to consider is the health and well-being of the veterans. Suffering veterans should not have to choose between using medical marijuana over using VHA benefits. In at least a handful of states, that is no longer a problem.