Three states said they won’t allow medical marijuana deductions for
food stamp applicants after the U.S. Agriculture Department threatened
to levy penalties.
A memo from the department ordering food-stamp program regional
directors to stop the deductions was sent after The (Portland) Oregonian
contacted the federal agency about it last week. A survey of 17 states
that permit marijuana for medicinal purposes found Oregon, New Mexico
and Maine allowed some applicants to deduct the marijuana’s cost when
applying for the benefit.
Medical marijuana advocates questioned the reasoning for the change, The Oregonian reported Thursday.
"It’s a sad day when we have to see this kind of retreat based on
what appears to be federal pressure and federal intimidation," said Kris
Hermes, a spokesman for Americans for Safe Access, a medical marijuana
advocacy group. "It makes one wonder when the federal government is
going to come around and realize this is indeed a public health issue
and address the problem accordingly."
When determining whether a family qualifies for food stamps in the
Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, Oregon allows applicants to
deduct medical expenses, including the cost of medical marijuana, from
their incomes. Only the elderly or permanently disabled who qualify for
Social Security Disability Insurance could claim the medical marijuana
deductions in Oregon.
State officials told The Oregonian the Agriculture Department memo
said federal law doesn’t recognize any accepted medical use for
marijuana and that non-compliant states could be penalized.
"While we recognize that Oregon voters have declared marijuana to be
medicine, this new guidance from the federal government sets clear
direction on allowable medical expenses under federal law," Oregon
Department of Human Services Director Erinn Kelley-Siel said in an
e-mail to The Oregonian,
