Barbara Lee: “I thank the gentleman from Oregon for his gracious comments and for his friendship, his support, and his tremendous…”

“I thank the gentleman from Oregon for his gracious comments and for his friendship, his support, and his tremendous leadership. I look forward to working with the gentleman also in the next chapter of our lives to make sure that all of our efforts around cannabis are passed and signed into law. I thank Mr. Mast, Mr. Joyce, and all who have allowed us to work, again, in a bipartisan way to make it easier for veterans to access medical cannabis in States where it is legal. Mr. Chair, this amendment would authorize VA physicians to provide recommendations and opinions regarding the use of medical cannabis to veterans who live in States with existing medical programs. Millions of American veterans suffer from, for example, mental health conditions stemming from their service. Moreover, of the nearly 1 million veterans who receive opioids to treat painful conditions, more than one-half continue to consume beyond 90 days, contributing massively to the disproportionate overdose and suicide rates impacting veterans. As we continue experiencing the throes of the opioid crisis ravaging communities across the country, from urban centers to rural areas, the hands of VA physicians should not be tied when it comes to advising around medical treatments that are scientifically proven to be less harmful and less addictive, like State-legal medical marijuana. I am the daughter of a veteran of two wars.…”