Republicans in the U.S. Senate voted to block a measure that would have required the Department of Veterans Affairs to research cannabis for the treatment of chronic pain and posttraumatic stress disorder. On Wednesday, in a procedural voting, the Senate voted 57-42 to reject the Veterans Affairs Medicinal Cannabis Research Bill S. 326. This vote fell short of 60 votes required to proceed with the debate.
The bill was co-sponsored by Alaska Republican Senator Dan Sullivan and Montana Democrat Jon Tester. The bill was passed by the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee in February with a secret vote.
The bill would require the VA to carry out a large scale observational study evaluating the efficacy and safety of cannabis in treating PTSD and chronic back pain. A similar bill (H.R. A similar bill (H.R.
This clinical study will explore both the positive and the negative effects of marijuana use on veterans. It will also examine whether cannabis reduces alcohol consumption or the intake of opiates. This study will also examine other aspects of medical cannabis, such as pain intensity, sleep, agitation and quality of life. The VA is required to inform Congress of the findings and feasibility of clinical trials once the study has been completed.
Vote Blocks New Research For Veterans’ Health
Tester, chair of the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee when he presented the bill this year said that it would allow veterans to make new decisions about their healthcare.
He said “Our veterans deserve to be given options in treating their wounds from war. This is why VA must have a greater understanding of the role medicinal cannabis can play in healing.” Our bipartisan bill will ensure that VA listens to veterans seeking relief through alternative therapies like medicinal marijuana, and empowers them to make informed health decisions.
The bipartisan legislation was blocked by 41 GOP Senators. Senate Majority leader Chuck Schumer changed his vote from “yes” to “no”, in an effort to maintain the measure under Senate rules.
Tester stated in a post on social media that 41 Senate Republicans chose to play partisan politics over giving our nation’s hard-earned veterans the benefits and care they deserve. The 41 Senate Republicans tell the men and woman who have served our nation that their government does not value their sacrifices.
He continued. It’s completely unacceptable.
According to an report by the Military Times, in a speech on the floor before the vote ranking senator Jerry Moran from Kansas said that the measure was “an effort to ensure that veterans do not engage in harmful activities and help them to make informed decisions.”
The senators who backed the bill Wednesday weren’t enough to move the measure forward. John Cornyn, a Republican Senator from Texas, said the Senate Republican Policy Lunch before voting was the catalyst for the “spirited” debate that led to the blocking of the Cannabis Research Bill.
Cornyn said to CNN there was concern among GOP senators regarding the method of the clinical study authorized by the legislation because “this retroactive study would only be conducted through volunteers that would come forward and speak about their experiences with marijuana and PTSD” and that “it relies on people self-selecting and we do not know how this would skew results.”
Senator McConnell also stated that Republicans had not been given any “assurances” about being able to amend the proposed legislation. He added that he was concerned that the House of Representatives’ GOP leadership and members would take up the bill.
Politics may also have been at play. Critics of moving forward the legislation suggested that its potential success could be viewed as a victory for Tester, a Democratic incumbent senator running for reelection in an extremely conservative state.
Cornyn said that negotiations on the bill will continue, and the legislation can be revived at the Senate. He said that the vote on Wednesday was “punching the pause” button for the measure. Schumer called the decision to stop the measure “regrettable” and expressed his hope that efforts will be successful to revive the legislation at a future date in the Senate.
Jeffrey M. Zucker expressed his disappointment over the decision of delaying action on the Veterans Affairs Medicinal Cannabis Research Bill.
I’m saddened by the news that Senate Republicans blocked a vote on advancing this bill. In an email sent to High Times, Zucker said that it’s disappointing to see politics preventing progress on a topic which could have a major impact in veterans’ lives and shouldn’t be controversial. “However I am still optimistic that legislators can work together and pass a law that will allow research on medical cannabis, and ultimately let veterans enjoy its benefits.” Medical cannabis can provide relief for those with chronic pain and PTSD. “It’s time that our leaders put their differences aside and do what is right for our vets.”
The original post Republicans kill veterans cannabis research bill was published on High Times.
