Bipartisan senators on Thursday refiled a bill to promote cannabis research for military veterans, and a congressional source close to the negotiations tells Marijuana Moment that a House companion will be introduced next week.
The VA Medicinal Cannabis Research Act is intended to mandate studies by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to explore the therapeutic potential of cannabis for veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and chronic pain.
But key revisions from prior versions of the legislation appear to give the department significant leeway to determine for itself whether it’s capable of conducting clinical trials and, if so, how to carry them out. The significant change appears to be responsive to concerns expressed by VA officials who testified against the earlier proposals.
The bill is being sponsored by Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee Chairman Jon Tester (D) and Sen. Dan Sullivan (R).
On the House side, “the bill is also expected to be introduced during next week’s Pro Forma session,” a House source told Marijuana Moment on Thursday. “The text of both the Senate and House versions of the bills is expected to be identical to maximize the possibility of passage through both chambers.”
Rep. Lou Correa (D-CA) carried
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