That's due to Department of Veterans Affairs regulations which stipulate VA doctors still cannot prescribe medicinal marijuana to patients, despite the fact that they are allowed to "discuss marijuana use with veterans as part of comprehensive care planning." "It is clear that medical research into the safety and efficacy of cannabis usage for medical purposes is timely, necessary, and widely supported by the veteran community." Earlier this month, Congress passed a bill making the Department of Veterans affairs the first federal agency to conduct research into the potential benefits of medicinal cannabis. The lack of federal research has been one of the biggest issues in the debate over the potential benefits of legal cannabis, medicinal or otherwise. The Veterans Affairs Medicinal Cannabis Research Act of 2018 was pushed over the finish line thanks to the overwhelming support of veterans across the country.

Source: Fox News May 28, 2018 03:00 UTC