Miller-Meeks & Mace Introduce Legislation to Support Medical Cannabis Research for Veterans

Press Release

Today, April 30th, 2021, Reps. Mariannette Miller-Meeks (IA-02) and Nancy Mace (SC-01) introduced the Veterans Cannabis Analysis, Research, and Effectiveness (CARE) Act. This legislation would direct the Secretary of Veterans' Affairs to conduct and support research on the efficacy and safety of medical cannabis for veterans.

The Veterans CARE Act would promote medical research into the safety and efficacy of medicinal cannabis usage on veterans diagnosed with PTSD, chronic pain and other illnesses and injuries by specifically requiring the Department of Veterans' Affairs (VA) to conduct and support research regarding medicinal cannabis and requiring the VA to report to Congress on how it intends to exercise that authority.

"As a doctor, former Director of the Iowa Department of Public Health, and 24-year U.S. Army veteran, the mental, emotional, and physical health of my fellow veterans is one of my top priorities in Congress. For too long, veterans with mental or physical ailments have either gone untreated or have been prescribed addictive prescription medication that have caused their health to further deteriorate," said Miller-Meeks. "We need to give veterans and their doctors more access to effective treatments, not fewer. That's why I am introducing the Veterans CARE Act, to allow the VA to research the effectiveness of using medical cannabis for chronic mental and physical pain."

"Many of our veterans face an invisible, life-long struggle to come to terms with horrifying experiences they endured while protecting the rest of us. Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder can impact every aspect of one's life, and sadly the current treatments can lead to even greater problems for veterans," said Mace. "Medical cannabis offers another valuable tool for doctors working to help our vets overcome PTSD. To ignore this potential would be a disservice to veterans and their sacrifices for our nation."

Background:

While data is limited, The American Legion, a congressionally-chartered Veteran Service Organization, conducted a survey in October 2017 on a portion of its approximately 2.2 million veteran members and found that 92% of all respondents support medical research regarding medicinal cannabis and 82% of all respondents support legalizing medicinal cannabis. The survey also found that "22 percent of veterans are currently using cannabis to treat a medical condition." Therefore, it is clear that medical research into the safety and efficacy of cannabis usage for medical purposes is timely, necessary, and widely supported by the veteran community.

Further, as many veterans are currently using cannabis for medicinal purposes, it is important that clinicians are able to fully advise veterans on the potential impacts, harms, and benefits of cannabis use on those with various diagnoses including post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and chronic pain.

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