WASHINGTON, DC (March 14, 2019) – Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America (IAVA), the leading voice of the Post-9/11 generation of veterans, is proud to announce that U.S. Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) has become a cosponsor of the VA Medicinal Cannabis Research Act (S. 179/H.R. 712). Sen. Gillibrand became a co-sponsor during IAVA’s Storm The Hill – IAVA’s quarterly advocacy push in Washington, DC.

The legislation authorizes the VA to conduct research into the safety and effectiveness of medical cannabis as a treatment for veterans with chronic pain, PTSD, and other conditions. It also requires the VA to report to Congress at least yearly on the implementation of the research.

Senator Gillibrand has served in the Senate since 2009 and previously served in the House since 2007. Gillibrand is currently the Ranking Member of Subcommittee on Personnel in the Armed Services Committee, as well as serving on the Environment and Public Works, and Agriculture, Nutrition & Forestry Committees.

“Since 2017, IAVA has made it one of our top priorities to empower veterans who are calling for the medicinal use of cannabis to treat the wounds of war,” said IAVA CEO Jeremy Butler. “We appreciate Sen. Gillibrand’s support for advancing this bipartisan bill that simply begins research at the VA to determine whether medicinal cannabis use is effective and if it is safe.”

The VA Medicinal Cannabis Research Act, sponsored by Sens. Jon Tester (D-MT) and Dan Sullivan (R-AK), now has 4 Senate cosponsors, plus 46 in the House. The bill is among IAVA’s Big Six priorities for 2019, including Suicide Prevention, Government Reform, #SheWhoBorneTheBattle, #DefendTheGIBill, and Burn Pits/Toxic Exposure Injury Support.