Veterans Equal Access Act
The Veterans Equal Access Act would allow health care providers who work for the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to give veterans who live in states with cannabis programs information and guidance about participating in those state programs. It authorizes VA clinicians to provide recommendations and opinions on whether a veteran should participate in a state marijuana program and to complete forms that capture those recommendations. The bill expressly says this authority is broad and would override other laws if needed. It does not authorize VA clinicians to prescribe or provide marijuana itself; it only authorizes discussion and documentation about participation in state programs. The definition of “State” is expansive, covering all U.S. states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, U.S. territories, and federally recognized Native American tribes.
Key Points
- 1VA health care providers would be authorized to provide recommendations and opinions to veterans about participating in state cannabis programs.
- 2Providers would be allowed to complete forms reflecting those recommendations and opinions.
- 3The authority applies to veterans who are residents of any state with a state cannabis program, including DC, territories, and federally recognized tribes.
- 4The clause “notwithstanding any other provision of law” means this authority would override conflicting laws to enable these recommendations.
- 5The bill does not authorize VA to prescribe or dispense marijuana; it only permits guidance and formal documentation of that guidance.