420 with CNW — Veterans’ Organizations Urge Congress to Approve Medical Cannabis Research Bill
Last week, a syndicate of more than 20 veterans’ service organizations forwarded a letter to congressional leaders, urging them to approve the VA Medicinal Cannabis Research Act before the end of the current session. The organizations included Disabled American Veterans, AMVETS and Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America.
These veterans’ service organizations want legislators to pass the cannabis and veterans research legislation, which would make it necessary for the Department of Veterans Affairs to carry out clinical trials studying the therapeutic potential of marijuana for military veterans.
The letter states that many veterans have, for decades, requested that medicinal marijuana be prescribed as a treatment option for PTSD and other injuries sustained through services. It also states that caregivers and veterans have recounted their anecdotal experiences regarding how marijuana is effective in addressing some of the health concerns they face.
The letter then notes that the veterans’ service organizations remain committed to carrying out studies into the effectiveness of medicinal marijuana as a treatment for veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder, chronic pain and traumatic brain injuries.
Currently, marijuana remains classified as a Schedule I drug under the Controlled Substances Act. This classification makes it harder for researchers to study the drug’s effectiveness because many bureaucratic hurdles impede research.
The senate version of the legislation is being led by Senators Dan Sullivan and Jon Tester while the House version is being sponsored by Representatives Peter Meijer and Lou Correa. Correa stated in a recent interview that alternative treatment options for veterans needed to be explored, noting that federal policies that support such treatment options were needed.
Despite protests of VA officials, the bill cleared a House committee in 2021. Earlier versions of the initiative were advanced through committee in 2018 and 2020 but are yet to be enacted into law.
Meanwhile, the National Defense Authorization Act that was recently released following bicameral negotiations does not include separate language from a version that had been approved by the House. That bill would have allowed VA physicians to recommend medical marijuana to veterans living in states where the drug is legal.
However, an explanatory statement for the large-scale defense spending legislation directed the defense department to look into the potential of plant-based treatments such as marijuana and some psychedelics for service members.
Additionally, President Joseph Biden signed a broader cannabis research legislation recently. The legislation will help streamline the process for researchers to obtain and conduct research on marijuana.
This law could possibly ease the way for any research that industry players such as Flora Growth Corp. (NASDAQ: FLGC) would like to undertake on marijuana or any of its compounds.
NOTE TO INVESTORS: The latest news and updates relating to Flora Growth Corp. (NASDAQ: FLGC) are available in the company’s newsroom at https://cnw.fm/FLGC
Please see full terms of use and disclaimers on the CannabisNewsWire website applicable to all content provided by CNW420, wherever published or re-published: http://CNW.fm/Disclaimer
Last week, a syndicate of more than 20 veterans’ service organizations forwarded a letter to congressional leaders, urging them to approve the VA Medicinal Cannabis Research Act before the end of the current session. The organizations included Disabled American Veterans, AMVETS and Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America.
These veterans’ service organizations want legislators to pass the cannabis and veterans research legislation, which would make it necessary for the Department of Veterans Affairs to carry out clinical trials studying the therapeutic potential of marijuana for military veterans.
The letter states that many veterans have, for decades, requested that medicinal marijuana be prescribed as a treatment option for PTSD and other injuries sustained through services. It also states that caregivers and veterans have recounted their anecdotal experiences regarding how marijuana is effective in addressing some of the health concerns they face.
The letter then notes that the veterans’ service organizations remain committed to carrying out studies into the effectiveness of medicinal marijuana as a treatment for veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder, chronic pain and traumatic brain injuries.
Currently, marijuana remains classified as a Schedule I drug under the Controlled Substances Act. This classification makes it harder for researchers to study the drug’s effectiveness because many bureaucratic hurdles impede research.
The senate version of the legislation is being led by Senators Dan Sullivan and Jon Tester while the House version is being sponsored by Representatives Peter Meijer and Lou Correa. Correa stated in a recent interview that alternative treatment options for veterans needed to be explored, noting that federal policies that support such treatment options were needed.
Despite protests of VA officials, the bill cleared a House committee in 2021. Earlier versions of the initiative were advanced through committee in 2018 and 2020 but are yet to be enacted into law.
Meanwhile, the National Defense Authorization Act that was recently released following bicameral negotiations does not include separate language from a version that had been approved by the House. That bill would have allowed VA physicians to recommend medical marijuana to veterans living in states where the drug is legal.
However, an explanatory statement for the large-scale defense spending legislation directed the defense department to look into the potential of plant-based treatments such as marijuana and some psychedelics for service members.
Additionally, President Joseph Biden signed a broader cannabis research legislation recently. The legislation will help streamline the process for researchers to obtain and conduct research on marijuana.
This law could possibly ease the way for any research that industry players such as Flora Growth Corp. (NASDAQ: FLGC) would like to undertake on marijuana or any of its compounds.
NOTE TO INVESTORS: The latest news and updates relating to Flora Growth Corp. (NASDAQ: FLGC) are available in the company’s newsroom at https://cnw.fm/FLGC
Please see full terms of use and disclaimers on the CannabisNewsWire website applicable to all content provided by CNW420, wherever published or re-published: http://CNW.fm/Disclaimer
