Lawmakers in the United States House of Representatives have introduced a bill that would direct the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to begin conducting medicinal cannabis research.
On Wednesday, representatives Clay Higgins [R-LA] and Lou Correa [D-CA] introduced HB712, a bill mandating that the VA begin a clinical trial focused on the benefits of medicinal cannabis for veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), chronic pain, and other conditions.
Senators Jon Tester [D-MT] and Dan Sullivan [R-AK] introduced a companion bill, SB179, into the Senate on January 17. The bill was read twice and then referred to the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs.
“With the opioid crisis raging across America, it is imperative to the health and safety of our veterans that we find alternative treatments for chronic pain and service-related injuries,” wrote Representative Correa in a press release. “Numerous veterans attest to the treatment benefits of medical cannabis. It’s time the VA did a formal study.”
“Rather than risk becoming dependent on opioids, these veterans find relief in medical cannabis,” he said.
Senator Tester stated that the VA needs to listen to the veterans who have used cannabis to treat pain and other symptoms effectively.
A VA medicinal cannabis research bill with a list of more than fifty bipartisan co-sponsors was introduced into the House in April of 2018. The bill, HR5220, authorizes the VA to research the efficacy and safety of medicinal cannabis use for veterans in the VA health care system diagnosed with conditions such as chronic pain and PTSD.
In May, HR5220 passed committee and was placed on Union Calendar No. 533.
