Just days after Texas Governor Greg Abbott vetoed a bill to ban products containing THC, the psychedelic component of cannabis, much to the disappointment of Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, the U.S. House has passed an amendment to the Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act (MilConVA) for FY2026.
The MilConVA bill has passed the House by a vote of 218-206, with all voting Republicans supporting the bill. Two Democrats, Jared Golden of Maine and Marie Gluesenkamp Perez of Washington crossed party lines to vote in favor of the MilConVA bill.
The Senate could take up the bill as early as Friday.
The crucial amendment was introduced by Brian Mast (R-FL) and Dave Joyce (R-OH). It specifically prohibits the VA from using federal funds to enforce Veterans Health Directive 1315, which barred doctors from recommending, referring, or completing paperwork to permit veterans to participate in medical marijuana programs. Mast and Joyce are both members of the Congressional Cannabis Caucus.
Medical Marijuana and CBD-rich hemp has been suggested as a non-toxic alternative to traditional prescription antidepressant medications, such as SSRIs, which often times have suicidal thoughts or ideations as a side effect. It’s also been effectively used to reduce chronic pain.
According to Marijuana Moment, Rep. Mast, a combat veteran and double amputee, shared his own experience with “conventional medications”:
After sharing his own experience with conventional medications following a serious injury during his time in military service, Mast said that, “in many cases” those drugs “leave our veterans in are, at the most extreme end of it, states of suicide. At other ends of it, just extreme states of dissatisfaction and lacking purpose in life. And in some cases, it does leave them in a better condition.”
The amendment also direct the VA to evaluate and make recommendations on changes necessary to integrate approved psychedelic therapies into veterans’ care.
MilConVa Floor – Mast (FL), Joyce (OH) #84 https://t.co/PaRdb6Nlyl pic.twitter.com/iuyBYXBg8j
— House Appropriations Amendments (@AppropsAmendmts) June 25, 2025
Earlier this month, VA Secretary Doug Collins was asked about this exact topic prior to the bill being amended:
I asked @SecVetAffairs about this exact topic recently! Nice to see movement on it! https://t.co/AfdsfjI4wQ pic.twitter.com/Y5eORJ6KBN
— Jon Herold (@patel_patriot) June 26, 2025
