# The Veterans CARE Act: What It Does

This bill directs the Department of Veterans Affairs to study whether medicinal cannabis can help veterans with certain health conditions. Specifically, the VA would research how cannabis affects veterans dealing with chronic pain, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and other conditions the VA considers appropriate. The research would look at different forms of cannabis—including whole plants, extracts, and various strains with different chemical compositions—as well as different ways of using it, like smoking, vaping, topical creams, or edibles.

The bill requires the VA to conduct this research following all existing federal regulations and oversight from agencies like the FDA, the National Institutes of Health, and the Drug Enforcement Administration. Before starting, the VA would need to develop a detailed implementation plan and submit it to Congress. The agency would also need to preserve all data collected during the research so that future studies can build on the findings. For five years after the bill passes, the VA must report to Congress at least once a year on how the research is progressing.

This matters for veterans because it could eventually provide scientific evidence about whether cannabis is safe and effective for treating conditions like PTSD and chronic pain—issues that affect many veterans. Right now, there's limited federal research on medicinal cannabis, partly because of legal restrictions. If this research shows cannabis helps, it could lead to new treatment options for veterans. However, the bill doesn't automatically allow the VA to prescribe cannabis or change any current policies; it only authorizes the study itself. The actual findings and any policy changes would come later, depending on what the research shows.

Veterans CARE Act

Miller-Meeks, Mariannette

Veterans Cannabis Analysis, Research, and Effectiveness Act or the Veterans CARE Act This bill requires the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to conduct and support research on the efficacy and safety of certain forms of cannabis and cannabis delivery for veterans enrolled in the VA health care system and diagnosed with conditions such as chronic pain or post-traumatic stress disorder. Collected data shall be preserved in a manner that facilitates further research.