For the tenth year in a row, a Senate committee has voted to let military veterans talk to their doctors about medical cannabis. The amendment passed Thursday, tucked inside a defence funding bill. Yet, despite repeated wins in committee, the measure has never made it past the final legislative hurdles.
Supporters, including Sen. Jeff Merkley (D-OR), argue the amendment is about common sense—and basic rights. Doctors can talk about painkillers, anti-depressants, and just about every other medication. But cannabis? Still off the table at VA clinics. Even in states where it’s legal.
The Issue That Just Won’t Go Away
It’s become an annual ritual. Every year, the Senate Appropriations Committee debates the Military Construction and Veterans Affairs (MilConVA) bill. Every year, someone—usually Merkley—adds the marijuana language. Every year, the committee says yes.
Then? Crickets.
The amendment would simply allow VA doctors to discuss medical marijuana with their patients. Not prescribe it. Not distribute it. Just talk about it, openly and legally, in states where the law permits its use.
“This is about doctors being able to speak freely,” Merkley told colleagues at Thursday’s markup. “Restricting that conversation is both bad medicine and, frankly, a free speech issue.”
What Exactly Would Change?
At present, VA physicians are not allowed to fill out state paperwork required for veterans to enrol in medical cannabis programmes. That puts many patients in a bind. They have to go outside the VA system, pay out-of-pocket, and navigate treatment on their own.
Under the amendment:
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VA doctors could discuss cannabis as part of a treatment plan.
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They could fill out state-required medical forms.
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Veterans could avoid non-VA providers just to get cannabis advice.
Importantly, this only applies in states where medical marijuana is already legal.
A Closer Look: Veterans and Cannabis Use
A growing number of veterans already use cannabis—some legally, others not. According to a 2020 study published in The American Journal of Drug and Alcohol Abuse, about one in five veterans reported using cannabis to manage PTSD symptoms.
And according to a 2023 Pew Research report, 88% of Americans support some form of legal marijuana use—medical, recreational, or both. Among veterans, that number is believed to be even higher, especially for medical applications.
The following table shows veteran cannabis support by political affiliation, based on data aggregated by the Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America (IAVA) in 2022:
| Political Affiliation | Support Medical Marijuana Access |
|---|---|
| Republican | 68% |
| Democrat | 87% |
| Independent | 82% |
Even within traditionally conservative circles, support is surprisingly strong.
Resistance in the Halls of Power
So why hasn’t this passed?
Blame Congress. Specifically, lawmakers who strip the language out during conference talks—the final stage where the House and Senate versions of the bill are reconciled.
It’s happened repeatedly. The amendment clears the Senate committee, sometimes even the full chamber, only to vanish in closed-door negotiations.
Lawmakers opposed to the amendment often cite federal law, under which cannabis is still a Schedule I drug. That makes it illegal on a national level, despite 38 states now allowing some form of medical marijuana.
But critics say that argument is tired and out of step with public opinion.
One source close to the committee, speaking anonymously, said: “There’s this inertia in DC where some folks still see cannabis as political poison. It’s not 1995 anymore.”
Merkley’s Frustration—and Determination
For Merkley, the fight is personal. He’s pushed the amendment every year for a decade. Each time, he tweaks the language, builds coalitions, and tries to thread the political needle. Each time, he’s come up short.
“This is about dignity,” he said Thursday. “It’s about allowing our veterans—who have already sacrificed so much—the full range of treatment options, without taboo or red tape.”
Even though it’s only about recommendations, not access, some lawmakers remain skittish. That leaves the amendment stuck in limbo: passed, but never law.
Could 2025 Finally Be Different?
There’s cautious optimism. Cannabis legislation has picked up bipartisan support in both chambers. Several Republicans have voiced willingness to look at veteran-specific reforms—even if they oppose broader legalisation.
Meanwhile, the VA itself has taken baby steps. In 2022, the department launched a cannabis research initiative focused on chronic pain and PTSD. Though still limited, it marked a significant shift in tone.
There’s also a new variable: public pressure. Groups like the IAVA, Veterans Cannabis Coalition, and NORML have all ramped up lobbying efforts in recent months. Veterans themselves have testified before Congress, shared stories, and challenged lawmakers to act.
Whether that will finally push the amendment over the line is anyone’s guess.
