To direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to carry out a study and clinical trials on the effects of cannabis on certain health outcomes of veterans with chronic pain and post-traumatic stress disorder, and for other purposes.
Analysis under review: This bill has generated analysis that may be too generic or incomplete. Clause-level evidence remains available below.
Summary
What This Bill Does
This bill requires the Department of Veterans Affairs to study whether cannabis can help veterans suffering from chronic pain and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). It mandates a large-scale retrospective study followed by clinical trials if initial results warrant further investigation. The research will examine various forms of cannabis including whole plant and extracts with different THC/CBD ratios.
Who Benefits and How
Veterans with chronic pain and PTSD may benefit from access to new treatment options if the research proves positive. The medical cannabis industry benefits from gaining legitimacy through federally-funded research. VA researchers and the Office of Research and Development receive new research directives and potentially funding. Academic and medical research institutions may benefit from data sharing requirements.
Who Bears the Burden and How
The Department of Veterans Affairs bears the administrative and financial burden of conducting multi-year studies and clinical trials. The Secretary of Veterans Affairs must develop implementation plans, issue requests for proposals, and submit regular reports to Congress. FDA maintains its regulatory authority but must coordinate with VA on clinical trial approvals.
Key Provisions
- Requires VA to conduct an 18-month retrospective study on cannabis effects on veterans with chronic pain and PTSD
- Mandates clinical trials if the initial study shows the VA can meet necessary criteria
- Protects participating veterans from losing any benefits due to study participation
- Preserves FDA authority over cannabis regulation
Evidence Chain:
This summary is generated from the full bill text using AI analysis. Expand "Detailed Analysis" below for identified beneficiaries/burden bearers with clause-level evidence links.
At a Glance
What This Bill Does
Directs the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to conduct research studies and clinical trials on the effects of cannabis on veterans with chronic pain and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
Key Policy Areas
Healthcare, Veterans Affairs, Drug Policy, Medical Research
Primary Purpose
Directs the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to conduct research studies and clinical trials on the effects of cannabis on veterans with chronic pain and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
Policy Domains
VA Medicinal Cannabis Research Act of 2023
Identified Gains
- Veterans with chronic pain
- Veterans with PTSD
- Medical cannabis industry
- VA Office of Research and Development
Identified Costs
- Department of Veterans Affairs
- Secretary of Veterans Affairs
Sponsors
Legislative Progress
ReportedReported by Mr. Tester, without amendment
Mr. Tester (for himself and Mr. Sullivan) introduced the following …
Mr. Tester (for himself, Mr. Sullivan, and Ms. Duckworth) introduced …
Stakeholder Effects
cui bono?How this legislation distributes effects. Mention counts reflect frequency, not effect magnitude.
Department of Veterans Affairs, Department of Veterans Affairs research offices, Food and Drug Administration
Veterans participating in study, Veterans with PTSD, Veterans with chronic pain
Cannabis researchers and clinical trial partners, Medical cannabis research organizations
Veterans with chronic pain or post-traumatic stress disorder
Bill Structure & Actor Mappings
Who is "The Secretary" in each section?
- "the_secretary"
- → Secretary of Veterans Affairs
Key Definitions
Terms defined in this bill
A veteran who is enrolled in the patient enrollment system of the Department of Veterans Affairs established and operated under section 1705(a) of title 38, United States Code
The Secretary of Veterans Affairs
We use a combination of our own taxonomy and classification in addition to large language models to assess meaning and potential beneficiaries. High confidence means strong textual evidence. Always verify with the original bill text.
Learn more about our methodology