Veterans Affairs Is Not Preventing Suicides Successfully, Says GOP Rep. As Congressional Committee Approves Cannabis And Psychedelics Bills
The House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs approved a pair of cannabis and psychedelics bills on Tuesday. Committee members unanimously voted in favor of both proposals as part of a package with other bills, reported Marijuana Moment.
The news comes about a month after the House Veterans Affairs Health subcommittee discussed the two measures concerning medical marijuana and psychedelics for veterans and heard testimony from veterans service organizations advocating for the reforms.
The medical marijuana measure, sponsored by the subcommittee chair Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks (R), is called the Veterans Cannabis Analysis, Research and Effectiveness (CARE) Act. It requires the Veterans Administration (VA) to conduct and support research relating to the efficacy and safety of “forms of cannabis” -plants and extracts, different varieties of cannabis with different THC and CBD concentrations, and different delivery methods- for chronic pain, PTSD and “other conditions the Secretary determines appropriate.”
“My bill proposes research on non-opioid pain relief options for veterans with chronic pain and PTSD,” Miller-Meeks said Tuesday before voting. “I want to emphasize that this bill is intended solely for research purposes. Gathering more data will enhance our ability to effectively treat our veterans.”
The department would have to submit a research plan to VA committees in both chambers and make requests to support the studies; following enactment, it would have to …