A prominent Senate committee has passed a bill that would allow the VA to prescribe medical marijuana in states where it is legal. (Photo: Jeff W)
Our final California Veterans news roundup for June 2023 includes the establishment of a new VA agency, an update on a VA medical marijuana bill, and more.
Readers are encouraged to send Veterans-related stories to news@calegion.org.
Statewide: California Veterans news
- The VA has established a new agency to “ensure that VA delivers on its promise to provide world-class care and benefits to all Veterans, their families, caregivers, and survivors — regardless of their age, race, ethnicity, gender, religion, disability, or sexual identity.” The Agency Equity Team, or I*DEA Council, is charged with identifying areas where Veterans of any demographic are underserved and forming an actionable solution.
- The Senate Appropriations Committee approved a bill that would allow VA doctors to prescribe medical marijuana to patients in states where it is legal, like California. The bill has been sent to the Senate floor for a vote. Meanwhile, a similar bill has been introduced in the House of Representatives.
Fresno Veterans news
- As first reported by The Vindicator, the family of U.S. Army Veteran Merl Hefferman Sr. is searching for the relatives of fellow Army Veteran Andrew Moozakis to return a Purple Heart. Both Veterans have since passed after their service in Vietnam. Hefferman Sr.’s family does not know how their late father came into possession of the medal but hopes to return it to Moozakis’ surviving relatives.
San Diego Veterans News
- San Diego County will pay Vietnam War and U.S. Marine Corps Veteran Alan Alter, who claimed he was confined to a California psychiatric facility for two decades because of a poor public defense, $760,000 in a settlement. In her decision, U.S. Magistrate Judge Barbara L. Major noted “the settlement alleviates the risk of both zero recovery should Mr. Alter not prevail at trial, and a potential years-long legal battle…Mr. Alter is 74 years old and protracted litigation presents the risk that he may pass away without receiving any funds.
Recent Veterans articles & videos from California American Legion
- News/Legion: California American Legion Opposes Amendment to Veterans Housing Law
- News: Veterans Can Now Report Sexual Assault and Harassment via VA Info Line
- News: Craigslist founder donates millions to Military Families and Veterans
- News: Supreme Court Rejects Veterans’ Claim for Disability Benefits Related to 1966 Hydrogen Bomb Incident
- Letter to the Editor: 2023-007 Term Limits for Department Officers
Important Veterans & Military Holidays in June
- June is PTSD Awareness Month
- June 6 — Anniversary of the D-Day Landings at Normandy
- June 7 — Anniversary of the U.S. Victory at the Battle of Midway
- June 12 — Women’s Veterans Day
- June 14 — U.S. Army Birthday
- June 14 — Flag Day
Author: Christian Southards
Coming from a family with a proud military background and wanting to contribute his writing skills to a worthy cause, Christian began writing for the California American Legion in August of 2020. His father is a 25-year Army Veteran and his grandfather served in the Navy during Vietnam.