Disgrace: GOP Senators 'Prioritize Partisan Politics' Over Veterans' Health, Kill Cannabis Research Bill

Republican senators voted down a bipartisan package of veterans bills on the Senate floor Wednesday, arguing concerns about the measure proposing research into medical marijuana use for veterans. The legislation, sponsored by senators Jon Tester (D) and Dan Sullivan (R), was unanimously approved in the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee in February.

Disservice To Veterans

This time, it lacked 10 Republican votes to reach the full chamber, writes Military Times.

“This is an incredible disservice to have been done to the veterans of this country,” said committee chairman Tester. “It’s a disservice not only for that bill but for the other four bills that were included. But that is the United States Senate at this moment in time.”

41 Senate Republicans just chose partisan political games over providing our nation's veterans their hard-earned benefits and care.
41 Senate Republicans are telling the men and women who have defended our country that their government doesn't value their sacrifices. pic.twitter.com/NyJEx9Lb23

— Senator Jon Tester (@SenatorTester) April 26, 2023

Other bills that were part of the blocked package included a proposal to ease home loans for some Native American veterans, a measure expanding VA caregiver services and a new grant for county veteran service offices.

Bill Highlights

It is important to note that the proposed measure would not allow VA doctors to recommend medical marijuana and that includes in states with legal medical cannabis programs. It would however allow the VA to start a new research plan into medical marijuana for veterans, to examine the effects on veterans' overall quality of life.

The idea behind the proposal is for the VA’s observational study to dig into the positive and negative aspects of veterans' cannabis use, examine mood and social functioning as well looking at the effect it has on other substances, including alcohol and opioids.

According to a study published in July 2022, “U.S. military veterans have been heavily impacted by the opioid overdose crisis, with drug overdose mortality rates increasing by 53% from 2010–2019.”

Some states have already recognized the potential of medical marijuana as an alternative to opioids. In March, Texas lawmakers gave the green light to a measure under which doctors can recommend medical cannabis instead of opioids to patients with chronic pain caused by a myriad of conditions.

Proven Effective

Some six years ago, the National Academy of Sciences discovered “conclusive or substantial” evidence that marijuana helps treat various health conditions, including chronic pain, PTSD, depression, and anxiety.

However, many GOP Senators generally have been reluctant to accept science. Sen. James Lankford (R-OK) tweeted the following on Wednesday:

When the conversation about how to serve our veterans after all they sacrificed is to give them marijuana—we have failed our veterans.

— Sen. James Lankford (@SenatorLankford) April 26, 2023

Schumer Tactically Changes Vote

Though several GOP lawmakers voted with Democrats to support the measure, including Sens. Bill Cassidy, Susan Collins, Josh Hawley, Jerry Moran, Lisa Murkowski, Mike Rounds, Eric Schmitt and Dan Sullivan. 

Senate Majority Leader Charles Schumer (D) decided to change his vote from yes to no, just to have the chance to bring the legislation to the floor again, reported AOL. 

“It’s regrettable that this bill, which so much helps our veterans, went down,” Schumer said. “I hope that some of our members on the other side of the aisle who didn’t vote for it will reconsider.”

Photo: Benzinga edit with images from Shutterstock