WASHINGTON, DC (September 21, 2018) – 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. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) has become a cosponsor of the VA Medicinal Cannabis Research Act (S. 2796/H.R. 5520).

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.

Having served in the Senate since 2013, Warren currently sits on the powerful Senate Armed Services Committee, which is charged with oversight of the U.S. military, personnel, and national defense priorities.

“Throughout the 115th Congress, 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 Founder and CEO Paul Rieckhoff. “We appreciate Sen. Warren’s support for advancing this bipartisan bill that simply begins research at the VA to determine whether medicinal cannabis use is effective and safe for our veterans in need of support.”

The VA Medicinal Cannabis Research Act, sponsored by Sens. Jon Tester (D-MT) and Dan Sullivan (R-AK), now has 6 Senate cosponsors, plus 56 in the House. The bill is among IAVA’s Big Six priorities for 2018, including Suicide Prevention, Government Reform, #SheWhoBorneTheBattle, #DefendTheGIBill, and Burn Pits/Toxic Exposure Injury Support.