Merkley, Senators Urge VA to Expand Access to Medical Cannabis for America’s Veterans

Oregon’s U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley today led his colleagues—including Senators Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Bernie Sanders (I-VT), John Fetterman (D-PA), Peter Welch (D-VT), Ron Wyden (D-OR), Tina Smith (D-MN), and Jacky Rosen (D-NV)—in sending a letter to U.S. Secretary of Veterans Affairs (VA) Denis McDonough urging the agency to swiftly expand access to medical cannabis treatment options for veterans who live in states that have state-legal medical cannabis programs. The Senators called for the agency to produce a VA-approved standard of care for medical cannabis and issue clear guidelines for Veterans Health Administration (VHA) providers regarding the benefits of and potential access to state-legal medical cannabis programs.

“Millions of Americans, including millions of veterans, live in states that have legalized the use of medical cannabis,” wrote the Senators. “[This increases] the likelihood that veterans seeking care through the VHA are considering, or already utilizing, medical cannabis treatments. Yet, given cannabis’ current placement in Schedule I, veterans living in any of these states or territories currently lack parity with their non-veteran counterparts. Veterans must instead seek a new, trusted medical system and provider outside of the VA to have a productive conversation about the benefits of, and potential access to, medical cannabis.”

In May 2024, the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) took historic action and recommended that cannabis be rescheduled from Schedule I -- the most restrictive schedule reserved for dangerous drugs without any medical use -- to Schedule III -- a less restrictive schedule that would recognize the medical benefits of cannabis. This has the potential to open up treatment options for people across the United States, including veterans.

“The DEA’s recommendation to reschedule cannabis to Schedule III also has the potential to decrease the prescription and use of more dangerous pain relief methods,” the Senators continued. 

“Studies have shown that cannabis has significantly fewer addictive properties and is much less likely to result in dependency than other forms of pain relief, such as opioids.”

They concluded, “We strongly urge the VA to recognize the established benefits of medical cannabis and to fulfill its duty to our nation’s heroes by ensuring the best quality of care through VHA. This must include facilitating legal access to medical cannabis for veterans by developing a VA-approved standard of care and issuing clear guidance allowing and preparing VHA providers to discuss, recommend, and assist patients in qualifying for enrollment in state-legal medical cannabis programs following cannabis’ official rescheduling. Our nation’s heroes deserve access to all federally-legal treatment options to meet their healthcare needs.”

Full text of the letter can be found by clicking here.