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Veterans' Medical Marijuana Access: VA Doctors Can Recommend State-Legal Use.

This Act establishes a temporary legal shield for veterans, allowing them to use, possess, and transport medical marijuana if authorized by their State or Indian Tribe. Crucially, it permits Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) physicians to openly discuss and recommend medical marijuana treatment, aiming to provide alternatives for chronic pain and reduce opioid dependency. The law also mandates VA to conduct clinical research on medical marijuana's effectiveness for veterans.
Key points
Veterans are protected from federal prosecution for using medical marijuana that is legal under applicable state or tribal law.
VA physicians are authorized to discuss, recommend, and register veterans for state-approved medical marijuana treatment programs.
The VA must conduct clinical research on medical marijuana's effectiveness for veterans dealing with pain and PTSD, and study its impact on opioid reduction.
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Expired
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Additional Information
Print number: 118_S_1204
Sponsor: Sen. Schatz, Brian [D-HI]
Process start date: 2023-04-19
Lustra uses Artificial Intelligence. Verify details in source documents.
Summarized by: gemini-2.5-flash-preview-09-2025
Source data: api.congress.gov
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OFFICIAL LEGAL TITLE

Veterans Medical Marijuana Safe Harbor Act.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

What is the official ID of this bill?

The official print number for this legislation is 118_S_1204.

Which chamber initiated this legislation?

This legislation was initiated in the Senate.

When did the legislative process begin?

The process officially started on 2023-04-19.

What are the main provisions?

Key points include:

  • Veterans are protected from federal prosecution for using medical marijuana that is legal under applicable state or tribal law.
  • VA physicians are authorized to discuss, recommend, and register veterans for state-approved medical marijuana treatment programs.
  • The VA must conduct clinical research on medical marijuana's effectiveness for veterans dealing with pain and PTSD, and study its impact on opioid reduction.
What is the specific legal status?

The current status is Expired.

Where can I read the full text of this legislation?

The full official text is available at: View full text

Who is the primary sponsor?

The primary sponsor is Sen. Schatz, Brian [D-HI].

What is the latest detailed status?

The latest detailed status is: Introduced in Senate

Is this summary verified?

Yes. This content was analyzed by AI and verified by the Lustra Judge System on 2025-12-26.

CATEGORIES

Health Benefits