Guam - Senator Rory Respicio is concerned that should the bill he introduced that would legalize medicinal marijuana pass, local veterans would receive the same treatment as their stateside counterparts.  A veterans affairs directive was issued last month indicating that veterans cannot be disqualified as VA beneficiaries based on participation in state medical marijuana programs.

He issued a letter Tuesday to director of Veterans Affairs Health Care System Dr. James Hastings, asking for clarification.  "To make sure that if Guam moved forward and passed my law that Guam would be treated the way other states are treated in respect to this VA policy," said the Democrat policymaker. "I'm arguing that an American is an American is an American."

A public hearing was recently held for Respicio's bill, also known as the Compassionate Healthcare Bill of 2010, but it is still unknown when it will be up for vote.