Charlotte's Web Medical Access Act of 2017

PROTECT AND EXPAND PATIENTS - including Veterans - Access to Medical Cannabis Since 2014, Congress has restricted the U.S. Department of Justice from spending appropriated funds that interfere with a states implementation of its legal Cannabis programs. This language remains the law today following passage of FY2018 Omnibus Appropriations Act. Further, the House Appropriations Committee recently voted to include language protecting medical Cannabis programs from federal interference within the base text of the FY2019 Commerce, Justice, Science and Related Agencies Appropriations Bill. Congress commitment to maintain this longstanding policy comports with the April 2018 poll by Quinnipiac University that found 70% of Americans oppose federal government interference in states that have enacted Cannabis programs. Americans do not think the federal government should try to prohibit the sale and use of Cannabis in the states where it has been legalized. Protecting access to Cannabis as medicine may also be an option as the country looks to address the opioid epidemic. Studies published in Health Affairs found that use of prescription opioids decreased in states with legal medical medical programs. Research into the potential benefits of medical Cannabis as an alternative to opiods - and other medications - is particularly critical for Americas veterans who often lack effective treatments for their complicated, service-related injuries and illnesses. The passage of H.R. 5520 - the VA Medicinal Cannabis Research Act of 2018 - in April 2018 authorized the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to advance scientific and medical research into the safety and efficacy of medical cannabis usage by veterans with diagnoses such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and chronic pain. This is a critical step toward offering broader choices for treatment to service members, but it is only a first step. We need to continue to support not only the research of, but also the access to, medical Cannabis for veterans in an effort to provide them with the best care that this country can provide. Endorsed Legislation: Continuation of the Joyce | Leahy Amendment in the Appropriations Process H.R. 331 - States Medical Marijuana Property Rights Protection Act H.R. 1820 - Veterans Equal Access Act H.R. 2273 - Charlottes Web Medical Access Act of 2017 H.R. 2920/S.1374 - Compassionate Access, Research Expansion, and Respect States (CARERS) Act of 2017 H.R. 1824/S. 780 - Responsibly Addressing the Marijuana Policy Gap Act of 2017 H.R. 5220 - The VA Medicinal Cannabis Research Act of 2018