Watch Video Of Senator Rosen During The Hearing Here.
WASHINGTON, DC – Yesterday, U.S. Senator Jacky Rosen (D-NV), a member of the Senate Caucus on International Narcotics Control, asked medical experts about research into using medical marijuana to treat veterans suffering from post-traumatic stress, chronic pain, and other illnesses and injuries.
“Marijuana is legal in Nevada for both medical and recreational purposes, so the research that you’re doing is so important for my state’s hospitals, providers, schools, parents, law enforcement agencies, anybody that’s concerned with the public health impact,” said Senator Rosen.
“We have over 220,000 veterans in Nevada, and I don’t have to tell you how often they struggle,” Senator Rosen’s question continued. “They struggle with chronic pain, they struggle with depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress symptoms, and in too many cases they’re becoming addicted to the medications prescribed to treat them.”
“VA providers are currently prohibited from recommending or prescribing cannabis use, and the VA won’t reimburse veterans for medical marijuana prescriptions from any source,” asked Senator Rosen. “I would really appreciate your thoughts on how we might use cannabis to help veterans through anxiety and depression, and find alternatives to treat the issues that they are suffering from when they come home.”
BACKGROUND: The Senate Caucus on International Narcotics Control’s primary responsibilities include monitoring compliance with international narcotics agreements and overseeing U.S. counter-narcotics policy. The caucus also oversees issues related to domestic drug prevention and treatment programs, and has held hearings in the past on state marijuana legalization and marijuana research.
Senator Rosen is a co-sponsor of the VA Medicinal Cannabis Research Act, which would direct the VA to begin clinic trials of medical marijuana as a treatment for chronic pain and symptoms of Post-Traumatic Stress.
In the House, then-Congresswoman Rosen fought for VA funding to combat the opioid epidemic and improve services for Nevada veterans. Rosen also voted for a bill that added over 3 billion dollars to fight the opioid crisis.
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