Veterans, medical marijuana, and the United States Senate

Marijuana policy is changing the way Congress thinks and acts. Like most new areas of policy—or policies new to Congress—it is not happening through a ground-breaking, fast moving, all-encompassing policy shift. Instead, through small steps—small victories for marijuana supporters—Congress is showing signs of change, at least in regard to medical marijuana, that depart dramatically with the institution’s historical support for the war on drugs.

Last week, a committee vote in the U.S. Senate paved the way to relax policies regarding medical marijuana in veterans’ health facilities. Long an issue championed by veterans groups and the pro-marijuana community, the desire to facilitate veterans’ access has increased as this group’s health issues gain greater national attention in the wake of two wars. The advocacy communities argue that medical marijuana can be used to treat or manage the symptoms of a variety of ailments that disproportionately affect veterans, including chronic pain, anxiety and PTSD....

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URL: 
http://www.brookings.edu/blogs/fixgov/posts/2015/05/27-veterans-medical-marijuana-senate-hudak