Good evening. Here's what's moving in the world of medical cannabis today.
House-approved funding bill secures medical cannabis access for US veterans
The US House of Representatives has approved a Fiscal Year 2027 funding bill that includes a provision protecting medical cannabis access for military veterans. The measure, which passed the House last week, would allow Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) physicians to recommend medical cannabis in states where it is legal, and would prevent the VA from denying housing or benefits to veterans who use medical cannabis in compliance with state law.
The bill now advances to the Senate, where lawmakers will decide whether to retain the provision in the final appropriations package. If enacted, it would mark a significant shift in federal policy toward veterans seeking medical cannabis treatment, particularly for chronic pain and post-traumatic stress disorder.
Virginia governor vetoes adult-use cannabis sales legislation
Virginia Governor Abigail Spanberger has vetoed legislation that would have established a regulated adult-use cannabis market in the state. The bill had passed the General Assembly with bipartisan support and was intended to create a legal framework for retail sales, licensing, and taxation.
NORML condemned the veto, stating that it was "a profound disappointment to the many Virginia voters who believed her when she said on the campaign trail that she supported establishing a regulated adult-use cannabis market." The organisation noted that the veto means cannabis will remain sold through unregulated smoke shops rather than behind age-verified counters. The decision leaves Virginia's legalisation framework — which permits possession and home cultivation but not commercial sales — in limbo.
NORML pays tribute to former Congressman Barney Frank
NORML has issued a statement remembering former US Congressman Barney Frank, who died recently. Frank, who served in the House of Representatives from 1981 to 2013, was one of the earliest congressional supporters of marijuana legalisation. He consistently argued that prosecuting cannabis users was a waste of law enforcement resources, an infringement on personal liberty, and an issue better handled at the state level.
Frank's advocacy predated the modern medical cannabis movement's mainstream political acceptance, and his early support helped lay the groundwork for subsequent federal reform efforts. NORML described him as a principled voice for sensible drug policy reform during his decades in Congress.
