VA MARIJUANA POLICY CONCERNS SENATOR

Sen. Rory Respicio wrote a letter yesterday to Dr. James Hastings,
director of the Veterans Administration's Pacific Islands Health Care
System, regarding a July directive from the VA on the participation
of veterans who are VA beneficiaries in state medical marijuana programs.

Respicio said the directive "indicates that veterans cannot be
disqualified as VA beneficiaries based on their participation in
state medical marijuana programs."

Respicio, who is seeking re-election, has sponsored legislation that
proposes to allow the use of marijuana for medicinal purposes.

The VA's July 22 directive does caution that VA providers must comply
with all federal laws, including the Controlled Substance Act.
Marijuana is considered a Schedule I drug under that law, and it is
the Veterans Health Administration's policy to prohibit VA providers
from completing forms seeking recommendations or opinions regarding a
veteran's participation in a state medical marijuana program,
according to the directive.

"If a veteran presents a prescription ... for medical marijuana to a
VA provider or pharmacist, VA will not provide marijuana, nor will it
pay for the prescription to be filled by a non-VA entity," according
to the directive.

Possession of medical marijuana by veterans on VA property "place
them at risk for prosecution under the Controlled Substance Act,"
according to the VA directive.