Senate Votes To Let VA Doctors Recommend Medical Marijuana To Military Veterans, While Setting Aside Hemp THC Ban

The Senate has approved major spending legislation that includes provisions allowing U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) doctors to recommend medical marijuana to military veterans living in states where it is legally permitted.

The legislation was passed as part of the broader appropriations package covering Military Construction, Veterans Affairs (MilConVA), and Agriculture/FDA (AgFDA). The final vote in the Senate Chamber was 87–9.

In parallel, lawmakers removed proposed federal hemp THC ban language from the spending bill—language that many argued would severely harm the hemp industry. Tension over those provisions remained high during committee debate but was ultimately omitted from the final text.

🧾 Key Points:

• A Merkley amendment, adopted in committee, mirrors the Veterans Equal Access Act and allows VA doctors to issue medical marijuana recommendations in compliance with state law.
• On the House side, a companion amendment led by Reps. Brian Mast (R‑FL) and Dave Joyce (R‑OH) similarly authorizes VA doctors to recommend medical cannabis to veteran patients.
• VA is currently prohibited under Directive 1315 from completing forms or advising veterans regarding participation in state-approved marijuana programs. The adopted amendment blocks enforcement of that directive within the scope of the MilConVA funding law.