Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2027

Floor Speech

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Mr. JOYCE of Ohio. Mr. Chair, I rise in support of this amendment, and I thank my friend, Representative Mast, and my friend, Representative Titus, for their leadership on this issue and for their continued advocacy on behalf of our Nation's veterans.

This amendment is about ensuring veterans are not denied access to treatment options that may improve their quality of life.

Mr. Chair, do you want them getting advice from doctors or budtenders?

It is a simple question.

As President Trump's administration continues examining broader reforms to Federal cannabis policy, Congress has a responsibility to ensure veterans are not left behind in that process.

Many of our servicemembers come home carrying invisible wounds that last long after the battlefield, chronic pain, PTSD, traumatic brain injuries, depression, and other service-connected conditions that can profoundly affect the quality of their lives.

For some veterans, traditional treatments have not worked. Others are searching for alternatives that may help manage pain, improve daily functioning, or reduce reliance on highly addictive opioids.

Across much of the country, patients are able to have open and honest conversations with their doctors about whether medical cannabis may help treat serious medical conditions. Yet veterans receiving care through the VA still face Federal barriers that prevent VA physicians from fully engaging in those same conversations and recommendations with their patients.

I think that is fundamentally wrong.

Regardless of where someone stands on broader cannabis policy, we should all agree that veterans deserve access to informed medical guidance and treatment decisions driven by science, evidence, and patient care, not outdated Federal restrictions.

That is especially important as President Trump's administration and Federal health agencies continue taking steps to expand legitimate cannabis research and better understand both its risk and potential therapeutic benefits. If we are serious about evidence-based medicine and improving outcomes for veterans, then we should not be standing in the way of research, dialogue, or responsible treatment options.

Frankly, the current system is not working. We have veterans living in States with legal medical cannabis programs, veterans seeking relief from serious service-connected conditions, and VA physicians whose hands remain tied by outdated Federal policy. That disconnect serves no one, least of all the men and women who served this country.

Mr. Chair, I urge strong support for this amendment.

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