The House committee recently passed legislation that requires the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs to conduct a series of clinical trials. The trials in question will research how cannabis could help military veterans with chronic pain, as well as post-traumatic stress disorder.
The bill’s approved by a majority Democratic vote, despite objections from the Biden administration
Rep. Lou Correa (D-Calif.) introduced the VA Medicinal Cannabis Research Act of 2021 in April. Although the Biden administration disapproved, the House Veterans Affairs Committee approved the bill on Thursday in an 18-11 vote. All Democrats voted yes.
“The VA keeps saying, ‘We have the authority. We don’t need you to micromanage us.’ But we do — because they’re not doing their job,” Correa said.
Clinical trials will focus on veterans and their needs
Furthermore, the trials will need to include a control group and an experimental group of similar size and structure and consisting of similar demographics to that of the average military veteran.
Via Unsplash
“The very populations who have the greatest need are often the ones who are the most understudied.”
Staci Gruber, director of the Marijuana Investigations for Neuroscientific Discovery program at McLean Hospital and an associate professor of psychiatry at Harvard Medical School
However, this bill requires the VA to take action and study the therapeutic use of cannabis for veterans
Scientists say the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) presently have a history of blocking anyone who wishes to conduct trials of plant-derived cannabis for therapeutic purposes. Additionally, they often approve trials that aim to highlight the harmful effects of the drug.
Via Unsplash
“Our veterans are no strangers to confronting challenges, and that’s why Congress needs to explore alternative treatment options,” Correa told Marijuana Moment earlier last week. “The VA Medicinal Cannabis Research Act of 2021 meets veterans where they already are and opens a new door for federal policy that supports treatment options preferred by veterans.
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