SECURE banking, access to medical marijuana for veterans in house approved as part of the National Defense Act
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After the House of Representatives approved two amendments to psychedelics research Wednesday, another package of bills, including bank and veteran access, were approved, bringing a total of nine drug policy measures this week as part of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) in approved by the chamber.
An amendment by Rep. Ed Perlmutter (D-CO), which advocates and advocacy groups had been watching closely, includes Secure and Fair Enforcement (SAFE) Banking Act language, Marijuana Moment reported, which would protect financial institutions providing state-legal marijuana services -Companies from penalties from federal authorities.
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Perlmutter discussed the measure in the Rules of Procedure Committee earlier in the week, noting Marijuana Moment and arguing that it is relevant to the must-pass defense law because it would help combat international drug trafficking, a national security risk. Although the House of Representatives passed the amendment as part of last year’s NDAA, the Senate threw it out.
Perlmutter had also unsuccessfully pushed for cannabis banking reform to be included in a large-scale manufacturing bill, which apparently persuaded him to take a different tack.
Another bipartisan amendment approved
Rep. Earl Blumenauer (D-OR) and Brian Mast (R-FL) also passed the House an amendment codifying the ability of Veterans Administration physicians to discuss and issue medical cannabis recommendations to veterans.
In a letter shared with Marijuana Moment, Blumenauer and Mast discussed the important therapeutic potential of cannabis for veterans suffering from PTSD, arguing that current VA policy prohibiting physicians from making referrals forces veterans to seek outside of the VA to be treated.
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“VA physicians should not be denied the opportunity to make a recommendation that they believe meets the needs of their patients,” they wrote. “Veterans should not be forced outside of the VA system to seek treatment that is legal in their state.”
Perlmutter tweeted the following about the SAFE Banking change:
The #SAFEBanking change has been incorporated into #FY23NDAA! Final passage of the NDAA will take place later today.
#SAFEBankingAct#Copolitics
— Rep. Ed Perlmutter (@RepPerlmutter) July 14, 2022
This article originally appeared on Benzinga and has been republished with permission.
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