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Senate Bill 3409
115th Congress(2017-2018)
Veterans Medical Marijuana Safe Harbor Act
Introduced
Introduced
Introduced in Senate on Sep 5, 2018
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Introduced in Senate 
Sep 5, 2018
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Introduced in Senate(Sep 5, 2018)
Sep 5, 2018
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S. 3409 (Introduced-in-Senate)


115th CONGRESS
2d Session
S. 3409


To allow veterans to use, possess, or transport medical marijuana and to discuss the use of medical marijuana with a physician of the Department of Veterans Affairs as authorized by State law, and for other purposes.

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

September 5, 2018

Mr. Nelson (for himself and Mr. Schatz) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary

A BILL

To allow veterans to use, possess, or transport medical marijuana and to discuss the use of medical marijuana with a physician of the Department of Veterans Affairs as authorized by State law, and for other purposes.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. Short title.

This Act may be cited as the “Veterans Medical Marijuana Safe Harbor Act.”.

SEC. 2. Findings.

Congress finds the following:

(1) Chronic pain affects the veteran population, with almost 60 percent of veterans returning from serving in the Armed Forces in the Middle East, and more than 50 percent of older veterans, who are using the health care system of the Department of Veterans Affairs living with some form of chronic pain.

(2) Opioids account for approximately 63 percent of all drug deaths in the United States.

(3) In 2011, veterans were twice as likely to die from accidental opioid overdoses as nonveterans.

(4) States with medical cannabis laws have a 24.8 percent lower mean annual opioid overdose mortality rate compared with States without medical cannabis laws.

(5) Marijuana and its compounds show promise for treating a wide-range of diseases and disorders, including pain management.

(6) Medical marijuana in States where it is legal may serve as a less harmful alternative to opioids in treating veterans.

SEC. 3. Safe harbor for use by veterans of medical marijuana.

(a) Safe harbor.—Notwithstanding the Controlled Substances Act (21 U.S.C. 801 et seq.), the Controlled Substances Import and Export Act (21 U.S.C. 951 et seq.), or any other Federal law, it shall not be unlawful for—

(1) a veteran to use, possess, or transport medical marijuana in accordance with the laws of the State in which the use, possession, or transport occurs;

(2) a physician to discuss with a veteran the use of medical marijuana as a treatment if the physician is in a State that authorizes the use, possession, distribution, dispensation, administration, delivery, and transport of medical marijuana; or

(3) a physician to recommend, complete forms for, or register veterans for participation in a treatment program involving medical marijuana that is approved by the applicable State.

(b) Definitions.—In this section:

(1) PHYSICIAN.—The term “physician” means a physician appointed by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs under section 7401(1) of title 38, United States Code.

(2) STATE.—The term “State” has the meaning given that term in section 102 of the Controlled Substances Act (21 U.S.C. 802).

(3) VETERAN.—The term “veteran” has the meaning given that term in section 101 of title 38, United States Code.

(c) Sunset.—This section shall cease to have force or effect on the date that is five years after the date of the enactment of this Act.

SEC. 4. Studies on use of medical marijuana by veterans.

(a) Study on effects of medical marijuana on veterans in pain.—

(1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than two years after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall conduct a study on the effects of medical marijuana on veterans in pain.

(2) REPORT.—Not later than 180 days after the date on which the study required under paragraph (1) is completed, the Secretary shall submit to Congress a report on the study, which shall include such recommendations for legislative or administrative action as the Secretary considers appropriate.

(b) Study on use by veterans of State medical marijuana programs.—

(1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than two years after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall conduct a study on the relationship between treatment programs involving medical marijuana that are approved by States, the access of veterans to such programs, and a reduction in opioid abuse among veterans.

(2) REPORT.—Not later than 180 days after the date on which the study required under paragraph (1) is completed, the Secretary shall submit to Congress a report on the study, which shall include such recommendations for legislative or administrative action as the Secretary considers appropriate.

(c) Veteran defined.—In this section, the term “veteran” has the meaning given that term in section 101 of title 38, United States Code.

(d) Use of amounts.—For fiscal years 2019 and 2020, of the amounts appropriated to the Department of Veterans Affairs—

(1) $10,000,000 shall be used to carry out subsection (a); and

(2) $5,000,000 shall be used to carry out subsection (b).