February 3, 2015  

Today Congresswoman Dina Titus of Nevada’s First District joined eight colleagues to reintroduce H.R. 667, the bipartisan Veterans Equal Access Act, which would make it easier for qualified veterans to access medical marijuana. 

Currently, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) specifically prohibits its medical providers from completing forms brought by their veteran patients seeking recommendations or opinions regarding participation in a state medical marijuana program. The Act would overturn this prohibition for veterans who live in the 23 states where medical marijuana is legal, including Nevada.

“With so many of our brave servicemembers returning from battle with significant injuries and medical needs, we must provide access to the very best care available. We need to remove the barriers that prohibit our VA medical community from recommending medical cannabis as an option for treatment if that veteran lives in a state where access is legal. That's why I'm proud to cosponsor the Veterans Equal Access Act to provide a much needed update to our antiquated drug laws, allowing veterans access to the full range of treatments, including medical marijuana, available to relieve their suffering,” said Titus. “This is a commonsense measure that ensures that the medical staff at our nation’s VA hospitals and clinics can recommend the best course of treatment available for our retired servicemembers without fear of federal interference.”
Approximately 20 percent of the 2.8 million American veterans who served in Iraq and Afghanistan suffer from PTS and Depression. In addition, a recent study found that of the nearly one million veterans who receive opioids to treat painful conditions, more than half continue to consume chronically or beyond 90 days. Another study found that the death rate from opiate overdoses among VA patients is nearly double the national average. In states where patients can legally access medical marijuana for painful conditions, often as a less addictive alternative, the hands of VA physicians should not be tied. 

"The Veterans Equal Access Act introduced by Representative Blumenauer and colleagues will allow my doctor to have an honest conversation about the health effects of marijuana,” said Scott Murphy, President of Veterans for Safe Access and Compassionate Care. “If marijuana is the correct option, I value his opinion. If marijuana is not the correct option, I still value his opinion. I simply believe my fellow veterans should enjoy the same freedoms and rights as our family and friends. The willingness to die for America should not be rewarded with less freedom and worse healthcare options. This unequal protection for our nations heroes is a stain on American values. This bill is a great first step to closing the federal policy gap between civilian healthcare and veteran healthcare options." 
The bill is led by Congressman Earl Blumenauer (D-OR) and cosponsored by Dana Rohrabacher (R-CA), Walter Jones (R-NC), Justin Amash (R-MI), Tom Reed (R-NY), Richard Hanna (R-NY), Sam Farr (D-CA), and Jared Polis (D-CO).