Republished with permission from Weed News; Read the original article HERE.
The U.S. Senate Appropriations Committee adopted an amendment on Thursday to allow military veterans to obtain medical marijuana recommendations through the Department of Veterans Affairs.
The bipartisan vote was 24 to 7. A similar measure was adopted by the panel last year by a vote of 20 to 10 and by the full House with a margin of 233 to 189, but a conference committee later stripped the provisions from the final bill funding the V.A.
Tom Angell, founder and chairman of Marijuana Majority, released the following statement:
“The growing level of support for marijuana law reform in Congress is extremely encouraging, especially in light of concerning comments and opposition from the attorney general. This is just the first of what will likely be a series of cannabis votes on Capitol Hill this year, and we expect to continue seeing strong bipartisan margins in support of scaling back federal prohibition. That’s because a growing number of senators and House members represent constituents who have voted at the ballot box to enact new marijuana laws that stand in stark contrast to outdated federal laws. The war on marijuana is ending, and today’s vote is clear indication of that.”
The text of the new veterans amendment, sponsored by Sens. Steve Daines (R-MT) and Jeff Merkley (D-OR), as well as audio of the committee debate, are online at https://www.appropriations.senate.gov/hearings/full-committee-markup-of-the-fy2018-military-construction-veterans-affairs-appropriations-bill
Marijuana Majority is dedicated to making sure the media, politicians and government officials treat marijuana as a serious issue that is important to a growing majority of Americans.
Source: Marijuana Majority press release – make a donation
Unfortunately, the House rules committee did not allow this amendment to the house version. To much Big Pharma money to be lost when Vet’s start using weed instead of their deadly opiates.
22 military veterans a day, or one veteran every 65 minutes, have resorted to suicide from Post Tramautic Stress Disorder (PTSD). Veterans experience intrusive nightmares and flashbacks. Insomnia, mood swings, and frequent migraines are common. Crowds, loud sounds, and smells can be triggering. Strangers trying to approach a veteran with ptsd, will be on guard. They will use objects to keep you from passing behind them where you are not in their visual area. The veteran may also have service injuries connected with the PTSD, which are constant reminders of what they went through when the pain is triggered bringing on more nightmares. Veterans need more than a monthly mental health appointment to see how they are doing physically and mentally. This is very obvious considering the statistics of how many veterans commit suicide a day. To all you other military veterans out there, try muscle relaxation therapy online and get yourself a therapist. If the VA does not provide you one, if you have limited income or are on disability for your physical and mental health needs, check with your local food stamp office to apply for outside medical services. Secondly, the VA needs to make a determination sooner than later regarding service dogs for PTSD veterans. I strongly believe that it will help them with anxiety when in public. Lastly, a lot of disabled housing is large community based, which can be difficult for a veteran dealing with PTSD. There needs to be more limited income based single housing for PTSD veterans in need for a more structured environment. Many are conflicted with either having to stay in a large community based housing versus private housing, which many do not accommodate for pets, and if they do, it’s too costly for a disabled veteran on limited income. Furthermore, the veteran that has done so much for his and her country cannot even afford private housing, that goes by a 30% to 35% income calculation. So either the veteran ends up on a long housing waiting list or ends up homeless. Single based housing without so many tenants to a complex does not have to comply with emotional or service dog needs. Veterans are always told, thank you for your service. But how can we be there to further help address this national crisis of homeless veterans and suicide? THANK YOU TO ALL THE VETERANS FOR YOUR SERVICE!
Sincerely,
Caroline Purvis
U.S. Navy Veteran
Its time our VA comes into reality and our congress also,Im a Vietnam vet who is also a cancer survivor who takes approx. 25-30pills a day who could cut that to mostly none if I were allowed medical marijuana.Which would you prefer?Think of the cost savings alone.Instead these DRS. want to pump us full of pills that we don’t even want but are forced to take.