As part of the spending bill, the U.S. House of Representatives voted to approve a number of psychedelics amendments. A Democratic congressman has again sought to revise separate legislation to end cannabis tests for federal employees.
The House of Representatives took up, on the same day passed by a Senate Committee a bill to legalize marijuana for banking purposes, amendments that had been cleared recently by the Rules Committee for consideration at the floor.
The two psychedelic measures were added to the Department of Defense’s (DOD) spending bill in a voice vote on Wednesday.
One amendment, sponsored by Reps. Morgan Luttrell, R-TX, and Dan Crenshaw, R-TX, would provide funding of $15 million for DOD for “Psychedelic Medical Clinical Trials.” A second, Crenshaw-only, lays out the parameters for these trials, which will involve active duty military service members who have traumatic brain injury (TBI) or post-traumatic anxiety disorder (PTSD). Defense Health Agency must submit a report with their findings to Congress.
A Democratic congresswoman, who cited DOD concerns over trials involving active-duty servicemen, spoke out against the proposal.
Luttrell, who is also a veteran, said that he had disclosed his experience with psychedelic therapy.
He said: “There is a stigma within the [House] which I believe comes from a lack in education around the clinical use plant-based or psychedelic medications.” “I know that many of my colleagues think of mushrooms when they hear the term ‘psychedelics’. This is not what we’re talking about today.”
Below is a video of the House floor debates and discussions on two psychedelic amendments, with one measure unrelated in between:
Luttrell stated that “unfortunately, stigma has caused the slow adoption or non-adoption of medical procedures which could have saved countless life and those of our servicemen, veterans, and first responders.” It is our duty, when it comes to the lives of those who are most valuable in our country, such as our sons and daughters, mothers, fathers, siblings, and brothers, to consider all options.
Rep. Betty McCollum, D-MN, then spoke out against the amendment. She said that, while she “doesn’t oppose the study of some of these drugs” and had supported research into medicinal cannabis, she was against the proposal because of administrative and logistical issues that she attributed DOD.
She said, “The Department is concerned about an ongoing study that involves active service members.” They acknowledge – and I’m happy that they do – that veterans are pursuing the benefits. Implementation for active duty members of the military would be more difficult at this time due to legal obstacles, clearances and logistical issues.
She said, “The Defense Health Agency doesn’t believe that it can be implemented.” “I am willing to work with Veterans Affairs in order to see what we can do to welcome our servicemen and women back home, to get the help they need. But, with this amendment’s current wording, I cannot support it.”
Luttrell stated that, as someone who has studied cognitive issues related to service, he appreciates the perspective of the congresswoman. However, in light of the daily suicide rate among active duty and veterans, and the shortcomings with current treatments, it is important that Congress take bold action.
“As we transition from these wars, which we fought so many years ago, we must do something more aggressive.” “I say clinical studies and trials within the DOD, because they are applicable and appropriate,” he stated. We have some of most brilliant scientists on the planet. They can move and study this effectively, so we can treat our men and women who serve in the military.”
“I hate that everyone is scared by the word psychedelic.” I dislike that word. When I think of creative terms to use to name this, my mind always goes back to ‘psychedelics’, and that is unfortunate. “It is,” he replied. But we need to move past that. I have never taken a drug before in my life. In fact, I wouldn’t recommend anyone to take this, because it has such a powerful effect on your life. It’s still effective, and I’m continuing to push ahead because of that. “I think that it’s now time to implement its effectiveness.
Crenshaw spoke also on the floor of the House on Wednesday. He said that the directive for clinical trials is a “simple but important step” and that “there’s absolutely no reason why we shouldn’t be looking at the benefits that this research can bring to our men and woman who are currently actively serving our country.”
The voice vote just passed my amendment to the Defense Appropriations Act.
It is a simple but important step to direct the Defense Health Agency (DHA) to provide Congress with options to allow our servicemen to participate in VA clinical trials involving psychedelics. pic.twitter.com/oD6FHpQpO0
Rep. Dan Crenshaw 27 September 2023
This is not about legalization. He said that this was not about recreational marijuana use. It’s about keeping our promise to military families, and tackling the high suicide rate among veterans and military personnel.
The congressman also referred to recent clinical research results on MDMA, which indicated that Food and Drug Administration approval could be on the way as soon as next year.
We owe it to our servicemen for risking their life to protect our nation.
Rep. Dan Crenshaw 27 September 2023
We should listen to stories. The stories have been brought up multiple times on Capitol Hill. Members who claim that they need to know more should be encouraged to do so. “We don’t know much”–then why would you stop more research? We shouldn’t force them to come here and spill out their guts any more. Listen to what they have to say and act accordingly.
“I unapologetically endorse this research.” He said, “We shouldn’t hesitate.” “We owe it to our servicemen. We owe this to their families. This is a small, but positive step.
The House also approved, separately, a cannabis-related amendment to the spending bill for Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies, sponsored by Rep. Jen Kiggans, R-VA.
Summary: The measure “express[es] [the] intent that FDA start requiring drug makers to label prescribed pharmaceuticals if there are any known drug interactions between marijuana and the drug.” The measure was passed without debate in a package of other proposals.
It is proposed that certain prescription medications be labeled with a warning, similar to existing requirements for labeling pharmaceuticals with alcohol interaction. The sponsor’s staffer told Marijuana Moment Tuesday that their goal was “to educate and provide information in order to ensure the health of patients.”
Despite the limited knowledge of drug interactions, there are still some concerns about the possibility of such labeling.
All three drug policy amendments approved do not provide explicit reforms. They increase and decrease funding simultaneously in parts of the bill that are unrelated. This is a tactic used by members to communicate to federal agencies their key priorities, without changing legislative text.
House members will soon be tackling additional appropriations measures for the Department of the Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies, and Energy and Water Development and Related Agencies. Rep. Robert Garcia, D-CA, has been working on multiple spending bills during this session. He recently submitted amendments to these measures to prohibit the use funding for testing federal job candidates for marijuana.
It would be surprising to see these two bills passed in the order they were intended. The Rules Committee has blocked several of the congressman’s spending bills this session.
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The committee blocked the amendment from being considered in appropriations, for example, for Military Construction, Veterans Affairs and Related Agencies. Bipartisan legislators have applauded the passage by the House of the underlying legislation , which included separate marijuana measures.
The House passed two amendments that would allow VA doctors the ability to recommend medical cannabis to veterans. Another would encourage the research of the therapeutic potential of psychedelics such as psilocybin or MDMA.
The Senate Appropriations Committee adopted a measure in its version of MilCon/VA legislation which would allow VA doctors to make medical marijuana recommendations. This will increase the chances that the reform makes it into the final package of laws to be signed.
A report that was attached to the spending bill of the House Appropriations Committee includes a section that states that “VA clarified that VA statutes and regulations do not specifically prohibit a veteran who earns income from state-legalized marijuana activities from receiving a certificate proving eligibility for VA home loans.”
In July, the Senate passed a defense bill that included provisions prohibiting intelligence agencies such as the CIA or NSA from denying security clearances solely based on past marijuana usage. Other cannabis proposals such as that of Sen. Brian Schatz, D-HI, to allow medical marijuana use by vets , did not make it into the National Defense Authorization Act.
The Rules Committee blocked more than a dozen amendments on marijuana and psychedelics in the House version of NDAA. This happened in July. This includes a measure that was introduced by Garcia which would have prevented denials of security clearances to federal workers due to prior cannabis use.
Last week, the House Oversight and Accountability Committee approved a bipartisan standalone bill that would prohibit the denial or refusal of federal employment and security clearances because a candidate has used marijuana in the past.
A new poll finds that 3 in 5 Ohio voters support marijuana legalization measures ahead of the November election
Image element provided by Kristie Gianpulos.
House Approves Psychedelic and Marijuana Labeling Amendments as Part of Spending Bills first appeared on Marijuana Moment.
