{"id":72830,"date":"2023-04-26T20:19:39","date_gmt":"2023-04-26T20:19:39","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/navytimes\/uncategorized\/2023\/04\/26\/bill-to-expand-cannabis-research-for-vets-pain-fails-in-senate\/"},"modified":"2026-08-08T15:30:11","modified_gmt":"2026-08-08T15:30:11","slug":"bill-to-expand-cannabis-research-for-vets-pain-fails-in-senate","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/navytimes\/veterans\/2023\/04\/26\/bill-to-expand-cannabis-research-for-vets-pain-fails-in-senate\/","title":{"rendered":"Bill to expand cannabis research for vets\u2019 pain fails in Senate"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

A bipartisan package of veterans bills was blocked on the Senate floor Wednesday over Republican concerns about expanded research into medical marijuana use<\/a> for veterans\u2019 pain management and mental health relief<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The unsuccessful procedural vote is the latest setback for advocates of legal cannabis use<\/a> and veterans groups who have pushed for more alternative treatments for various combat injuries.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The cannabis measure \u2014 one of five bills in the legislative package \u2014 passed out of the Senate Veterans\u2019 Affairs Committee with unanimous, bipartisan support in February but failed to gain the 10 Republican lawmakers needed to continue debate on the issue in the full chamber.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThis is an incredible disservice to have been done to the veterans of this country,\u201d said committee Chairman Jon Tester, D-Mont., in regards to Wednesday\u2019s vote. \u201cIt\u2019s 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.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\t