The VA Medicinal Cannabis Research Act, legislation that seeks to advance research into the potential benefits of medical cannabis for veterans, has gained its 21st sponsor in the U.S. Congress.
On August 9, Congressmember Jason Crow (D-CO) signed on as a cosponsor of the House version of the bill, bringing the total number of sponsors in the US House of Representatives to 12. The Senate version of the bill currently has 12 sponsors, making for a combined total of 21 supporters in Congress. Congressmember Zoe Lofgren (D-CA) was the most recent new cosponsor prior to Crow. Lofgren signed on July 9.
The bill, introduced by Congressmember Lou Correa (D-CA) in the House (H.R. 1003) and by Senator Jon Tester (D-MT) in the Senate (S. 326), mandates the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to conduct clinical trials on the safety and efficacy of cannabis in treating veterans diagnosed with conditions such as chronic pain and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The legislation would also require the VA to submit reports on its findings to Congress, paving the way for informed policy decisions based on empirical evidence.
The support for this legislation underscores the growing bipartisan recognition of the potential therapeutic benefits of cannabis, particularly for veterans who suffer from conditions that are often inadequately managed by conventional treatments. Advocates argue that the passage of this bill could lead to significant advancements in the care provided to veterans, many of whom have advocated for access to medicinal cannabis as a viable treatment option.
The continued push for the bill comes as the DEA continues its analysis of over 43,000 comments on its proposal to reschedule marijuana to Schedule III, which itself would have a significant impact on the type of marijuana-related research that can be conducted nationwide.
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