I 
117TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. R. 6991 
To establish the policy of the Department of Veterans Affairs on medicinal 
cannabis, and for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
MARCH 8, 2022 
Mr. MOULTON introduced the following bill; which was referred to the 
Committee on Veterans’ Affairs 
A BILL 
To establish the policy of the Department of Veterans Affairs 
on medicinal cannabis, and for other purposes. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS POLICY 
ON MEDICINAL CANNABIS. 
(a) POLICY.—The policy of the Department of Vet-
erans Affairs on medicinal cannabis is as follows: 
(1) Veterans are encouraged to discuss their 
medicinal cannabis use with their health care pro-
viders without fear of negative repercussions. 
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(2) Veterans shall not be denied any benefit 
under the laws administered by the Secretary of Vet-
erans Affairs by reason of cannabis use. 
(3) The participation of a veteran in a State- 
legal marijuana program shall not affect the vet-
eran’s eligibility for care and services furnished by 
the Department of Veterans Affairs. 
(4) The use or possession of cannabis is prohib-
ited on all Department property and in all Depart-
ment facilities pursuant to Federal law, which ap-
plies at such locations and not the laws of the State 
where the property or facility is located. 
(5) Department medical providers shall honor 
the desires of their patients to seek alternative forms 
of treatment. 
(6) The Department of Veterans Affairs ac-
knowledges medicinal cannabis use may be a legiti-
mate alternative treatment and a Department med-
ical provider will not recommend a veteran for drug 
addiction treatment solely by reason of medicinal 
cannabis use. 
(7) Department medical providers are permitted 
to discuss cannabis use as part of comprehensive 
care planning and may adjust treatment plans as 
necessary. Treatment adjustment should be relevant 
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and a veteran should have the freedom to seek a sec-
ond opinion if the veteran feels the change is not 
fair. 
(8) Department medical providers will annotate 
a veteran’s cannabis use in the medical record of the 
veteran in order to have the information available in 
treatment planning. As with all clinical information, 
this is part of the confidential medical record and 
protected under patient privacy and confidentiality 
laws and regulations. Department medical providers 
will not record that a patient has a marijuana addic-
tion problem in their medical record if the patient is 
responsibly using medicinal cannabis. 
(9) Department clinicians shall follow Federal 
laws and regulations relating to medicinal cannabis. 
(10) Department medical providers may not be 
fired nor have any other adverse personnel action 
taken against them for discussing cannabis use with 
their patients. 
(11) Department scientists may conduct re-
search on cannabis benefits and risks under regu-
latory approval. 
(12) Department medical providers may not 
dissuade participation in non-Department medicinal 
cannabis research. 
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(b) DISSEMINATION OF POLICY.—The Secretary of 
Veterans Affairs shall disseminate the policy under sub-
section (a) widely, including by displaying such policy 
prominently in all Department of Veterans Affairs hos-
pitals and clinics and online. 
(c) REPEAL
IN EVENT
OF FEDERAL LEGALIZA-
TION.—If the use of medicinal cannabis becomes legal 
under Federal law, the requirement under subsection 
(a)(4) shall be repealed. 
SEC. 2. SURVEY ON CANNABIS USE BY VETERANS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of Veterans Affairs 
shall seek to enter into an agreement with a federally 
funded research and development center to conduct sur-
veys nationwide to measure cannabis use by veterans. 
(b) SELECTION.—The Secretary shall select a feder-
ally funded research and development center under sub-
section (a) from among such centers that has— 
(1) expertise and a record of independent, peer- 
reviewed publications with respect to— 
(A) behavioral health research; and 
(B) conducting independent evaluations of 
mental health programs using multidisciplinary 
methods; and 
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