A GOP congresswoman has praised the recently released Food and Drug Administration guidelines on psychedelics and called for more research to be done into the therapeutic benefits of cannabis for veterans.
Mariannette Miller Meeks (R – IA) spoke on the House Floor on Wednesday about the importance of supporting “novel research forms” in order to unlock the potential for psychedelics, cannabis and other drugs to treat conditions such as post-traumatic disorder (PTSD), which is a common problem among veterans.
She said that as a doctor and former director of Iowa Department of Public Health, and a veteran of the U.S. Army who served for 24 years, she placed the mental, physical and emotional health of her constituents and other veterans at the top of her list of priorities. “For far too long, PTSD or other mental or physical illnesses have had devastating impacts and are often left untreated.”
She said that the new FDA guidance on designing clinical trials of psychedelics will allow patients and doctors to have greater access to effective treatments rather than opioid alternatives.
Miller-Meeks, along with Reps. Dan Crenshaw(R-TX), and Ro Khanna(D-CA), introduced a bipartisan legislation late last month that also included the guidance. The FDA released the first non-binding guidelines for research on developing psychedelic drugs a few days after this filing.
The congresswoman, her co-sponsors and the chairs of the congressional psychedelic caucus have applauded this agency’s decision.
Miller-Meeks briefly mentioned in her House floor speech a separate bill that she is championing, The Veterans Cannabis Analysis, Research, and Effectiveness Act, , which she submitted in March.
She stated that the bill would “allow [the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs] research the effectiveness of medical cannabis in treating chronic mental and physical discomfort.” The congressman noted that it is because of her interest in the field that “we have had roundtables on new breakthrough therapies” at the House Veterans Affairs Health Subcommittee, which she chairs.
She said, “I hope that others will join me to support these novel forms research that will benefit heroic veterans.”
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The National Defense Authorization Act also includes a provision that requires the Department of Defense to conduct studies on psilocybin, other substances and medical marijuana.
The House Rules Committee has blocked additional amendments on cannabis and psychedelics from being voted upon.
Separately the Senate Appropriations Committee released a recent report for a budget bill which calls on VA for medical marijuana access to veterans and explores the therapeutic potential of psychoedelics.
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The post GOP Representative Pushes for Psychedelics and Marijuana For Veterans In Floor Speech first appeared on Marijuana Moment.
