On April 23, 2026, Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche signed an order placing two categories of marijuana into Schedule III of the Controlled Substances Act: FDA-approved drug products containing marijuana, and marijuana subject to a state-issued medical license. The order took effect April 28, 2026. For veterans navigating the gap between state-legal medical cannabis programs and VA care, this is the biggest federal cannabis policy change in over fifty years. But almost everything important for veterans specifically did NOT change. Here’s a plain-language walkthrough of what shifted, what didn’t, and what to watch for next.
State-licensed medical marijuana is now Schedule III at the federal level. VA policy on medical cannabis has not changed. VA clinicians still cannot recommend, register, or complete state cannabis paperwork. Veterans participating in state programs still cannot use cannabis on VA property. The June 29, 2026 DEA hearing will consider whether broader rescheduling moves forward.
What actually changed on April 23, 2026
The DEA’s order moved a narrow, specific category of marijuana from Schedule I to Schedule III: state-licensed medical marijuana, and FDA-approved drug products containing marijuana. The legal pathway was a treaty-compliance authority that allowed the change to take effect immediately, without the usual notice-and-comment rulemaking process.
For state-licensed medical operators, the change unlocks Section 280E tax relief, opens an expedited DEA registration pathway, and creates a federal compliance lane that didn’t previously exist. For the people purchasing and using state-licensed medical cannabis, the change is more limited but still meaningful — the federal recognition of state medical cannabis systems is the first of its kind.
VHA Directive 1315 still stands. VA doctors still cannot recommend medical marijuana, register veterans for state programs, or complete state paperwork. VA pharmacies still cannot fill cannabis prescriptions. The VA still cannot pay for medical marijuana. Cannabis is still prohibited on VA property — when you’re on VA grounds, federal law applies, not state law. None of these were addressed in the April 23 order.
What this means at the veteran level — three lanes
Your VA care is unchanged. You can still discuss cannabis use with your VA clinician — they will document it in your VA record (which remains protected under privacy law). You will not be denied VA benefits for state-legal cannabis use. Your VA doctor still cannot recommend cannabis or complete state forms.
If you live in one of the 38+ states with a medical cannabis program, the path to access is the same as before April 23: visit a non-VA physician (often a DO) who can perform the state-required evaluation. Mendry’s directory connects veterans to DOs who participate in this lane.
What’s coming June 29, 2026
The DEA has scheduled a new administrative hearing beginning June 29, 2026, to consider whether all marijuana — including non-medical / recreational — should be moved to Schedule III. The hearing is set to conclude no later than July 15, 2026, with a recess on July 3 for Independence Day. Whatever the hearing recommends will then go through formal rulemaking. A final rule on broader rescheduling could arrive late 2026, though legal challenges could push that into 2027 or beyond.
For veterans, the practical question is whether broader rescheduling — if it happens — would change VA policy. Based on current statements, the answer appears to be no: the VA’s restrictions on cannabis recommendation are tied to FDA approval status, not just Schedule. Even Schedule III drugs require FDA approval before VA clinicians can prescribe them, and most cannabis products do not have FDA approval.
The veterans-specific bill that’s still moving
Separately from the DEA action, the House-approved FY2026 VA budget bill includes the Veterans Equal Access Act amendment, sponsored by Rep. Brian Mast (R-FL), a medically retired Army veteran. The amendment would prohibit VA from enforcing the part of Directive 1315 that prevents VA doctors from recommending medical marijuana or completing state paperwork. As of mid-2025, this passed the House but had not been finalized into law. If enacted, it would be a more direct policy change for veterans than the DEA rescheduling.
If you are using or considering state-legal medical cannabis: continue working with a non-VA physician (often a DO) for any state-required evaluation. Be transparent with your VA clinician about your cannabis use — it doesn’t affect your benefits and helps coordinate your overall care. Do not bring cannabis to VA medical centers, clinics, or other VA property. Watch the June 29 DEA hearing and the Veterans Equal Access Act vote in Congress.
- Continue your VA care without interruption — nothing about your benefits or eligibility changed
- If you use state-legal medical cannabis, keep your evaluation pathway with a non-VA DO or physician
- Keep cannabis off all VA property — federal law still applies on VA grounds
- Discuss cannabis use openly with your VA clinician for coordinated care planning
- Watch for the June 29, 2026 DEA hearing outcome on broader rescheduling
- Watch the Veterans Equal Access Act in the FY2026 VA budget process
- Verify your state's medical cannabis program rules — they continue to govern access
Mendry educates. Mendry does not prescribe, register, or complete paperwork. Our role is to help veterans understand the federal/state landscape clearly, find DOs who serve in the state-legal lane, and stay informed as policy continues to evolve. The April 23 DEA order matters. The June 29 hearing matters. The Veterans Equal Access Act matters. Stay informed.
Sources & further reading:U.S. Department of Justice — Justice Department Places FDA-Approved Marijuana Products and Products Containing Marijuana Subject to a Qualifying State-issued License in Schedule III (April 2026)
Federal Register — Schedules of Controlled Substances: Rescheduling of Marijuana (April 28, 2026)
VA Public Health — VA and Marijuana: What Veterans Need to Know (VHA Directive 1315)
Stars and Stripes — House-approved VA budget bill ends restrictions on doctors from discussing medical marijuana with veterans (July 2025)
Foley & Lardner — Marijuana: Some Products Reclassified to Schedule III (April 2026)