[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 136 (Thursday, August 16, 2018)]
[Senate]
[Page S5698]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

  SA 3712. Mr. MENENDEZ submitted an amendment intended to be proposed 
by him to the bill H.R. 6157, making appropriations for the Department 
of Defense for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2019, and for other 
purposes; which was ordered to lie on the table; as follows:

       At the appropriate place in title II of division B, insert 
     the following:

     SEC. __. REPORT CONCERNING THE EFFECTS OF STATE LEGALIZED 
                   MARIJUANA PROGRAMS.

       (a) In General.--The Secretary of Health and Human 
     Services, in coordination with the Department of Justice, the 
     Department of Labor, and (to the greatest extent possible) 
     with relevant State agencies responsible for health programs 
     and activities in States that have legalized marijuana for 
     medicinal or non-medicinal use, shall enter into a 10-year 
     arrangement with the National Academy of Sciences--
       (1) to complete a study, not later than 18 months after the 
     date of enactment of this Act, and to update such study on a 
     biennial basis thereafter for the duration of the arrangement 
     period, on the effects of State legalized marijuana programs 
     on the economy, public health, criminal justice, and 
     employment in the respective States;
       (2) upon the completion of the initial study pursuant to 
     paragraph (1) and upon each update to the study, to prepare 
     or update a report on the results of such study and submit 
     such report to the Congress; and
       (3) not later than 30 days after the date of submission of 
     the initial report under paragraph (2), develop and publish 
     best practices on data collection under subsection (e).
       (b) Study Considerations.--The study pursuant to subsection 
     (a)(1) shall consider the effects of State legalized 
     marijuana programs, including yearly rates and trends over 
     the course of the study under such subsection, with respect 
     to the following:
       (1) Revenues and state allocations.--
       (A) The monetary amounts generated through revenues, taxes, 
     and any other financial benefits.
       (B) The purposes and relative amounts for which these funds 
     were used.
       (C) The total impact on the State and its budget.
       (2) Medicinal use of marijuana.--
       (A) The rates of medicinal use among different population 
     groups, including children, the elderly, veterans, and 
     individuals with disabilities.
       (B) The purpose of such use.
       (C) Which medical conditions medical marijuana is most 
     frequently purchased and used for.
       (3) Substance use.--
       (A) The rates of overdoses with opioids and other 
     painkillers.
       (B) The rates of admission in health care facilities, 
     emergency rooms, and volunteer treatment facilities related 
     to overdoses with opioids and other painkillers.
       (C) The rates of opioid-related and other painkiller-
     related crimes to one's self and to the community.
       (D) The rates of opioid prescriptions and other pain 
     killers.
       (c) Study Timeframe.--The study pursuant to subsection 
     (a)(1) shall consider the data collected and analyzed in 
     connection with the items listed in subsection (b) in the 
     respective States to the extent possible across the period--
       (1) beginning 5 years before the effective date of 
     legalization of marijuana in the State; and
       (2) ending on a date determined by the National Academy of 
     Sciences to allow collection and analysis of the most recent 
     data available.
       (d) Report Contents.--Reports pursuant to subsection (a)(2) 
     shall--
       (1) address both State programs that have legalized 
     marijuana for medicinal use and those that have legalized 
     marijuana for adult non-medicinal use and to the extent 
     practicable distinguish between such programs and their 
     effects;
       (2) include a national assessment of average trends across 
     States with such programs in relation to the effects on 
     economy, public health, criminal justice, and employment in 
     the respective States, including with respect to the items 
     listed in subsection (b); and
       (3) describe--
       (A) any barriers that impeded the ability to complete or 
     update aspects of the study required by subsection (a)(1) and 
     how such barriers can be overcome for purposes of future 
     studies; and
       (B) any gaps in the data sought for the study required by 
     subsection (a)(1) and how these gaps can be eliminated or 
     otherwise addressed for purposes of future studies.
       (e) Best Practices for Data Collection by States.--The best 
     practices pursuant to subsection (a)(3) shall consist of best 
     practices for the collection by States of the information 
     described in the items listed in subsection (b), including 
     such best practices for improving--
       (1) data collection;
       (2) analytical capacity;
       (3) research integrity; and
       (4) the comparability of data across States.
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