Title: Veterans Cannabis Use for Safe Healing Act
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security

Summary:
Veterans Cannabis Use for Safe Healing Act
This bill prohibits the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) from denying a veteran any VA benefit due to participation in a state-approved marijuana program. For veterans participating in these approved programs, the VA must ensure its health care providers (1) discuss marijuana use with such veterans and adjust treatment plans accordingly, and (2) record such use in the veterans' medical records.
Under the bill, the VA shall authorize physicians and other VA health care providers to provide recommendations to veterans who are residents of states with approved programs.

[Congressional Bills 116th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 2191 Introduced in House (IH)]

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116th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                H. R. 2191

 To prohibit the Secretary of Veterans Affairs from denying a veteran 
    benefits administered by the Secretary by reason of the veteran 
  participating in a State-approved marijuana program, and for other 
                               purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             April 9, 2019

  Mr. Steube (for himself and Mr. Cisneros) introduced the following 
     bill; which was referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
 To prohibit the Secretary of Veterans Affairs from denying a veteran 
    benefits administered by the Secretary by reason of the veteran 
  participating in a State-approved marijuana program, and for other 
                               purposes.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Veterans Cannabis Use for Safe 
Healing Act''.

SEC. 2. VETERAN PARTICIPATION IN STATE-APPROVED MARIJUANA PROGRAMS.

    (a) Provision of Benefits.--Notwithstanding any other provision of 
law, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs may not deny a veteran any 
benefit under the laws administered by the Secretary by reason of the 
veteran participating in a State-approved marijuana program.
    (b) Consultation.--With respect to a veteran who is enrolled in the 
system of patient enrollment under section 1705 of title 38, United 
States Code, and participates in a State-approved marijuana program, 
the Secretary shall ensure that physicians and other health care 
providers of the Veterans Health Administration--
            (1) discuss marijuana use with the veteran and adjust 
        medical treatment plans accordingly; and
            (2) record such use in the medical records of the veteran.
    (c) Provision of Information.--Notwithstanding any other provision 
of law, the Secretary shall authorize physicians and other health care 
providers of the Veterans Health Administration of the Department of 
Veterans Affairs to--
            (1) provide recommendations and opinions to veterans who 
        are residents of States with State-approved marijuana programs 
        regarding the participation of veterans in such programs; and
            (2) complete forms reflecting such recommendations and 
        opinions.
    (d) Definitions.--In this section:
            (1) The term ``marijuana'' has the meaning given the term 
        ``marihuana'' in section 102 of the Controlled Substances Act 
        (21 U.S.C. 802).
            (2) The term ``State'' has the meaning given that term in 
        section 101 of title 38, United States Code.
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