[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 102 (Tuesday, June 19, 2018)]
[Senate]
[Page S4043]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

  SA 2933. Mr. TESTER submitted an amendment intended to be proposed to 
amendment SA 2910 proposed by Mr. Shelby to the bill H.R. 5895, making 
appropriations for energy and water development and related agencies 
for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2019, and for other purposes; 
which was ordered to lie on the table; as follows:

       At the end of title II of division C, add the following:

     SEC. 2__. CONDUCT OF RESEARCH INTO EFFECTS OF CANNABIS ON 
                   HEALTH OUTCOMES OF CERTAIN VETERANS.

       (a) Research Required.--In carrying out the 
     responsibilities of the Secretary of Veterans Affairs under 
     section 7303 of title 38, United States Code, the Secretary 
     may conduct and support research relating to the efficacy and 
     safety of forms of cannabis and methods of cannabis delivery 
     described in subsection (c) on the health outcomes of covered 
     veterans diagnosed with chronic pain, post-traumatic stress 
     disorder, and other conditions the Secretary determines 
     appropriate.
       (b) Data Preservation.--Research conducted pursuant to 
     subsection (a) shall include a mechanism to ensure the 
     preservation of all data, including all data sets, collected 
     or used for purposes of the research required by subsection 
     (a) in a manner that will facilitate further research.
       (c) Forms of Cannabis and Methods of Delivery to Be 
     Researched.--The forms of cannabis and methods of cannabis 
     delivery described in this subsection are--
       (1) varying forms of cannabis, including--
       (A) full plants and extracts;
       (B) at least three different strains of cannabis with 
     significant variants in phenotypic traits and various ratios 
     of tetrahydrocannabinol and cannabidiol in chemical 
     composition; and
       (C) other chemical analogs of tetrahydrocannabinol; and
       (2) varying methods of cannabis delivery, including topical 
     application, combustible and non-combustible inhalation, and 
     ingestion.
       (d) Implementation.--Not later than 180 days 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) Reports.--During the five-year period beginning on the 
     date of the enactment of this Act, 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.
       (f) Covered Veteran Defined.--In this section, the term 
     ``covered veteran'' means a veteran who is enrolled in the 
     patient enrollment system of the Department of Veterans 
     Affairs under section 1705 of title 38, United States Code.
                                 ______