Senate Panel OKs Letting VA Docs Give Advice on Medical Pot
http://www.hightimes.com/read/senate-panel-oks-letting-va-docs-give-advice-medical-pot
Senate Panel OKs Letting VA Docs Give Advice on Medical Pot
BY ANDREW TAYLOR
Fri May 22, 2015
WASHINGTON (AP) -- A GOP-controlled Senate panel Wednesday approved a plan to permit veterans to receive information about medical marijuana from their government doctors.
The proposal by freshman Sen. Steve Daines would lift a rule blocking Department of Veterans Affairs doctors from discussing the pros or cons of medical pot with their patients. They would still not be able to prescribe it.
Daines said veterans should be able to "talk openly and freely with their doctor about all options available to them."
The Appropriations Committee approved the measure by an 18-12 vote as an amendment to a bill funding the Department of Veterans Affairs. Four Republicans joined with panel Democrats in support of the move.