VA Medicinal Cannabis Research Act of 2023

To direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to carry out a study and clinical trials on the effects of cannabis on certain health outcomes of veterans with chronic pain and post-traumatic stress disorder, and for other purposes. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the VA Medicinal Cannabis Research Act of 2023 2. Definitions In this Act: (1) Covered veteran The term covered veteran (2) Secretary The term Secretary 3. Department of Veterans Affairs large-scale, mixed methods, retrospective qualitative study on the effects of cannabis on certain health outcomes of veterans with chronic pain and post-traumatic stress disorder (a) Study required (1) In general The Secretary, through the Office of Research and Development of the Department of Veterans Affairs, shall carry out a large-scale, mixed methods, retrospective, and qualitative study on the effects of cannabis on the health outcomes of covered veterans diagnosed with chronic pain and covered veterans diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder. (2) Observational study The study required by paragraph (1) shall be conducted as an observational study on the effects of cannabis use on the health of covered veterans. (3) Elements (A) In general The study required by paragraph (1) shall— (i) triangulate a range of data sources; (ii) compare the positive and negative health outcomes of covered veterans who use cannabis, utilizing outcomes that can be measured in an electronic health record of the Department and through data sets of the Department relating to claims for benefits under the laws administered by the Secretary; (iii) elicit the positive and negative outcomes of cannabis use for covered veterans through semi-structured interviews; (iv) estimate current and future health system needs to address positive and negative outcomes of cannabis use for covered veterans; (v) include a qualitative, open-ended survey provided to covered veterans who have sought care from the Department for chronic pain or post-traumatic stress disorder during the five-year period preceding the survey; and (vi) include an assessment of— (I) all records within the Veterans Health Administration for covered veterans participating in the study; and (II) all records within the Veterans Benefits Administration for covered veterans participating in the study. (B) Health outcomes A comparison of health outcomes under subparagraph (A)(ii) shall include an assessment of the following: (i) The reduction or increase in opiate use or dosage. (ii) The reduction or increase in benzodiazepine use or dosage. (iii) The reduction or change in use of other types of medication. (iv) The reduction or increase in alcohol use. (v) The reduction or increase in the prevalence of substance abuse disorders. (vi) Sleep quality. (vii) Osteopathic pain (including pain intensity and pain-related outcomes). (viii) Agitation. (ix) Quality of life. (x) Mortality and morbidity. (xi) Hospital readmissions. (xii) Any newly developed or exacerbated health conditions, including mental health conditions. (b) Implementation Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall commence the implementation of the study required by subsection (a)(1). (c) Duration of study The study required by subsection (a)(1) shall be carried out for an 18-month period. (d) Report (1) In general Not later than 90 days after the completion of the study required by subsection (a)(1), the Secretary shall submit to the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs of the Senate and the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs of the House of Representatives a report on the study. (2) Ability to conduct clinical trials The Secretary shall include in the report required by paragraph (1) an assessment of whether the Secretary is able to meet the criteria necessary to conduct the clinical trials required under section 4, including consideration of subsection (e)(1) of such section. 4. Department of Veterans Affairs clinical trials on the effects of cannabis on certain health outcomes of veterans with chronic pain and post-traumatic stress disorder (a) Clinical trials required (1) In general If the Secretary indicates in the report required by section 3(d) that the Secretary is able to meet the criteria necessary to proceed to clinical trials, commencing not later than 180 days after the submittal of that report, the Secretary shall carry out a series of clinical trials on the effects of cannabis appropriate for investigational use, as determined by the Food and Drug Administration under section 505(i) of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act ( 21 U.S.C. 355(i) (2) Considerations The clinical trials required by paragraph (1) shall include, as appropriate, an evaluation of key symptoms, clinical outcomes, and conditions associated with chronic pain and post-traumatic stress disorder, which may include— (A) with respect to covered veterans diagnosed with chronic pain, an evaluation of the effects of the use of cannabis on— (i) osteopathic pain (including pain intensity and pain-related outcomes); (ii) the reduction or increase in opioid use or dosage; (iii) the reduction or increase in benzodiazepine use or dosage; (iv) the reduction or increase in alcohol use; (v) the reduction or increase in the prevalence of substance use disorders; (vi) inflammation; (vii) sleep quality; (viii) agitation; (ix) quality of life; (x) exacerbated or new mental health conditions; and (xi) suicidal ideation. (B) with respect to covered veterans diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder, an evaluation of the effects of the use of cannabis on— (i) the symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) as established by or derived from the clinician administered PTSD scale, the PTSD checklist, the PTSD symptom scale, the post-traumatic diagnostic scale, and other applicable methods of evaluating symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder; (ii) the reduction or increase in benzodiazepine use or dosage; (iii) the reduction or increase in alcohol use; (iv) the reduction or increase in the prevalence of substance use disorders; (v) mood; (vi) anxiety; (vii) social functioning; (viii) agitation; (ix) suicidal ideation; and (x) sleep quality, including frequency of nightmares and night terrors. (3) Optional elements The clinical trials required by paragraph (1) may include, as appropriate, an evaluation of the effects of the use of cannabis to treat chronic pain and post-traumatic stress disorder on other symptoms, clinical outcomes, and conditions not covered by paragraph (2), which may include— (A) pulmonary function; (B) cardiovascular events; (C) head, neck, and oral cancer; (D) testicular cancer; (E) ovarian cancer; (F) transitional cell cancer; (G) intestinal inflammation; (H) motor vehicle accidents; or (I) spasticity. (b) Long-Term observational study The Secretary may carry out a long-term observational study of the participants in the clinical trials required by subsection (a). (c) Type of cannabis (1) In general In carrying out the clinical trials required by subsection (a), the Secretary shall study varying forms of cannabis, including whole plant raw material and extracts, and may study varying routes of administration. (2) Plant cultivars Of the varying forms of cannabis required under paragraph (1), the Secretary shall study plant cultivars with varying ratios of tetrahydrocannabinol to cannabidiol. (d) Implementation Not later than 18 months after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall— (1) develop a plan to implement this section and submit such plan to the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs of the Senate and the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs of the House of Representatives; and (2) issue any requests for proposals the Secretary determines appropriate for such implementation. (e) Termination of clinical trials (1) Clinical guideline requirements or excessive risk The Secretary may terminate the clinical trials required by subsection (a) if the Secretary determines that the Department of Veterans Affairs is unable to meet clinical guideline requirements necessary to conduct such trials or the clinical trials would create excessive risk to participants. (2) Completion upon submittal of final report The Secretary may terminate the clinical trials required by subsection (a) upon submittal of the final report required under subsection (f)(2). (f) Reports (1) Periodic reports During the five-year period beginning on the date of the commencement of clinical trials required by subsection (a), the Secretary shall submit periodically, but not less frequently than annually, to the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs of the Senate and the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs of the House of Representatives reports on the implementation of this section. (2) Final report Not later than one year after the completion of the five-year period specified in paragraph (1), the Secretary shall submit to the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs of the Senate and the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs of the House of Representatives a final report on the implementation of this section. 5. Administration of study and clinical trials (a) Demographic representation In carrying out the study required by section 3 and the clinical trials required by section 4, the Secretary shall ensure representation in such study and trials of demographics that represent the population of veterans in the United States, as determined by the most recently available data from the American Community Survey of the Bureau of the Census. (b) Data preservation The Secretary shall ensure that the study required by section 3 and the clinical trials required by section 4 include a mechanism to ensure— (1) the preservation of all data, including all data sets and survey results, collected or used for purposes of such study and trials in a manner that will facilitate further research; and (2) registration of such data in the database of privately and publicly funded clinical studies maintained by the National Library of Medicine (or successor database). (c) Anonymous data The Secretary shall ensure that data relating to any study or clinical trial conducted under this Act is anonymized and cannot be traced back to an individual patient. (d) Effect on other benefits The eligibility or entitlement of a covered veteran to any other benefit under the laws administered by the Secretary or any other provision of law shall not be affected by the participation of the covered veteran in the study under section 3, a clinical trial under section 4(a), or a study under section 4(b). (e) Effect on other laws Nothing in this Act shall affect or modify— (1) the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act ( 21 U.S.C. 301 et seq. (2) section 351 of the Public Health Service Act ( 42 U.S.C. 262 (3) the authority of the Commissioner of Food and Drugs and the Secretary of Health and Human Services— (A) under— (i) the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act ( 21 U.S.C. 301 et seq. (ii) section 351 of the Public Health Service Act ( 42 U.S.C. 262 (B) to promulgate Federal regulations and guidelines pertaining to cannabidiol, marijuana, or other subject matter addressed in this Act.

Summary: VA Medicinal Cannabis Research Act of 2023 This bill requires the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to study the effects of cannabis on veterans who are enrolled in the VA health care system and have been diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) or chronic pain (i.e., eligible veterans). First, the bill requires the VA to conduct an observational, 18-month study on the effects of cannabis on the health outcomes of eligible veterans. The VA must report on the study and address whether it is able to meet criteria necessary to conduct clinical trials. Then, if the VA determines that it is able to proceed, it must carry out a series of clinical trials on the effects of cannabis appropriate for investigational use, as determined by the Food and Drug Administration, on the outcomes of eligible veterans. The VA must carry out a long-term observational study of the clinical trial participants. The VA may terminate the trials if it is unable to meet clinical guideline requirements or the trials would create excessive risk to participants. The VA must ensure that the study and trials are representative of the demographics of veterans in the United States, as determined by the most recent data from the American Community Survey of the Bureau of the Census. The study and trials must include mechanisms to ensure data preservation and registration as necessary (in an anonymous form).