GOP Senators Kill Veterans Cannabis Research Act

Republicans in the US Senate voted this week to block a bill that would have directed the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to research cannabis as a treatment for chronic pain and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). In a procedural vote on Wednesday, the Senate declined by a vote of 57 to 42 to advance the Veterans Affairs Medicinal Cannabis Research Bill (p. 326), falling short of the 60 votes needed to continue debate on the measure.

The bipartisan legislation was introduced earlier this year by Democratic Senator Jon Tester of Montana, with co-sponsorship of Senator Dan Sullivan, a Republican from Alaska. In February, the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee passed the bill by a closed-session vote.

Under the bill, the VA would be required to conduct a large-scale observational study evaluating the safety and effectiveness of cannabis for treating PTSD and chronic pain. An identical bill (HR 1003) sponsored by California Democratic Representative Lou Correa is also pending in the House of Representatives with Republican Representative Jack Bergman signed into law as a co-sponsor.

The clinical study would examine the positive and negative health effects of cannabis use by military veterans, including whether marijuana use reduces alcohol or opiate use. The study would also examine other aspects of medicinal cannabis use, including pain intensity, sleep quality, restlessness and overall quality of life. Once the trial is complete, legislation requires the VA to report to Congress on the results and the feasibility of conducting clinical trials.

Vote blocks new research for veterans’ health

Presenting the bill earlier this year, Tester, the chair of the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee, said in a statement that the legislation would give military veterans new ways to manage their health care.

“Our nation’s veterans deserve options when it comes to treating the wounds of war, which is why VA needs to have a better understanding of how medicinal cannabis is playing a role in their healing,” he said. “Our bipartisan bill ensures VA listens to the growing number of veterans who are finding vital relief from alternative treatments such as medical cannabis, while working to empower veterans to make safe, informed decisions about their health.”

A total of 41 GOP senators voted to block the bipartisan bill, with Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer then changing his vote to “no” to keep the bill alive under Senate rules.

In a social media post, Tester wrote, “41 Senate Republicans have simply chosen to play partisan political games rather than provide their hard-earned benefits and care to our nation’s veterans. 41 Senate Republicans are telling the men and women who have defended our country that their administration does not appreciate their sacrifices.”

“Not only are they blocking VA from *researching* medicinal cannabis as an alternative treatment for veterans struggling with chronic pain or PTSD — they’re also blocking improvements in veterans’ home ownership efforts, community-based support, outreach and more,” he continued. “That is totally unacceptable.”

In a speech before the vote, senior member of the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee, Senator Jerry Moran of Kansas, one of the eight Republican senators who voted to advance the cannabis law, said the measure is “an attempt to make sure veterans don’t.” do something that harms them and to help them make an informed decision,” according to a report by the Military Times.

But the senators supporting the bill on Wednesday were not enough to push the measure forward. GOP Senator John Cornyn of Texas said the decision to block the cannabis research bill came after a “spiritual debate” during a Senate Republican policy luncheon before the vote.

Cornyn told CNN that there were concerns among GOP senators about the methodology of the clinical trial authorized by the law because “this retrospective study would be conducted solely by volunteers who would come forward and speak about their experiences with marijuana and PTSD” and “It depends on people choosing themselves, and we don’t know how that would skew the results.”

The senator also said that Republicans had not been given “reassurances” that they had the ability to offer legislative changes, adding there were concerns about whether the bill would be taken up by the House of Representatives and the chamber’s GOP leadership.

Political concerns may also have played a role, with critics of moving the bill forward suggesting the legislation’s potential success could be seen as a victory for Tester, an incumbent Democratic senator up for re-election in a conservative state.

Cornyn indicated that negotiations on the bill would continue and that legislation could be revived in the Senate. He explained that Wednesday’s vote on the measure “pressed the pause button.” Schumer called the vote to stop the bill “regrettable,” adding that he hopes efforts to revive the legislation in the Senate at a later date will be successful.

Jeffrey M. Zucker, president of Denver-based cannabis-focused business strategy firm Green Lion Partners and vice chairman of the board of directors of the Marijuana Policy Project, expressed disappointment with the decision to delay action on the Veterans Affairs Medicinal Cannabis Research Bill.

“I am deeply saddened to hear that Senate Republicans blocked a procedural vote to advance this bill. It’s frustrating to see how politicians can prevent progress on an issue that could make a huge difference in the lives of veterans and shouldn’t be a source of controversy,” Zucker wrote in an email to High Times. “However, I am still hopeful that lawmakers can come together to pass legislation that will allow research into medical cannabis and eventually allow veterans to enjoy the benefits of medical cannabis.” Our veterans deserve the best possible care, and medicinal cannabis could provide much-needed relief to those suffering from chronic pain, PTSD, and other conditions. It is time our leaders put their differences aside and do what is right for our veterans.”