[Congressional Bills 115th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 590 Introduced in House (IH)]

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115th CONGRESS
  1st Session
H. RES. 590

  Calling on the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to conduct a clinical 
study assessing the effectiveness of treating chronic pain in veterans 
                with cannabis in comparison to opioids.


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                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                            October 26, 2017

 Mr. Correa submitted the following resolution; which was referred to 
                   the Committee on Veterans' Affairs

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                               RESOLUTION


 
  Calling on the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to conduct a clinical 
study assessing the effectiveness of treating chronic pain in veterans 
                with cannabis in comparison to opioids.

Whereas prescription opioids are a class of drugs that can relieve pain, but can 
        also be misused, resulting in dependence;
Whereas prescription opioid addiction causes severe physical and mental harm and 
        can result in overdose incidents and deaths;
Whereas our country is facing an unprecedented and devastating prescription 
        opioid overdose epidemic;
Whereas opioid addiction in the United States increased by 493 percent from 2010 
        to 2016;
Whereas 64,000 Americas died from opioid addiction and overdose in 2016;
Whereas almost 60 percent of veterans returning from deployments in the Middle 
        East and 50 percent of older veterans suffer from chronic pain;
Whereas these rates of chronic pain exceed the reported 30 percent national 
        average of chronic pain within the general American population;
Whereas prescriptions for opioids by the Department of Veterans Affairs have 
        increased by 270 percent since 2003;
Whereas 68,000 veterans have been reported by the Department of Veterans Affairs 
        to be addicted to opioids;
Whereas veterans are roughly twice as likely to become addicted to opioids than 
        are members of the general population;
Whereas veterans are twice as likely to die from an accidental opioid overdose 
        than nonveterans; and
Whereas the President of the United States announced a public health emergency 
        on the opioid crisis on October 26, 2017: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
            (1) recognizes the urgency and importance of finding 
        alternative successful treatments to opioids to address 
        veterans' health care;
            (2) recognizes it is imperative to the health and safety of 
        our veterans that a study be conducted on the medicinal 
        applications of marijuana for treating wounds resulting from 
        service to our great Nation; and
            (3) calls on the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to conduct a 
        clinical study and further research to evaluate the effects of 
        cannabis in comparison to opioids in treating service-related 
        health conditions of veterans.
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