Correa Applauds 91 House Members For Supporting Ocasio-Cortez—Correa Amendment
Washington, DC - Today, Congressman Lou Correa’s (D-CA-46) applauded 91 of his colleagues for supporting life—saving research into cannabis and other restricted substances. The amendment would have allowed critical life-saving research of Schedule 1 substances by removes restrictions on using federal funds to study cannabis and other substances. At the final bell, 91 Members of the House, 84 Democrats, and 7 Republicans voted to in favor of medical research.
In the 115th Congress, Congressman Lou Correa introduced “H.R.5520 - VA Medicinal Cannabis Research Act of 2018” to push the Department of Veterans’ Affairs to conduct research into the effectiveness of using cannabis to treat PTSD and other service-connected injuries.
Rep. Lou Correa said, “I applaud 91 of my Republican and Democratic colleagues for courageously standing up for medical research. As elected leaders, we must never be afraid to take risks when our constituents' lives and health are on the line. Schedule 1 substances may controversial but they hold great medical promise.
“I am proud to join my colleague and friend Congresswoman Ocasio-Cortez in support of her potentially life-saving amendment. For far too long, we have allowed the debate surrounding schedule 1 drugs to be informed by personal opinions and not science. This amendment would have given the power back to doctors and researcher so that they can tell us what these misunderstood substances can be used for.
“Across our country, countless veterans come to me and share how helpful cannabis has been for treating the wounds. These warriors are tired of additive opioids and the deadly side effects that come with them. Cannabis and other substances have shown promise in treating numerous injuries our veterans routinely face, including chronic pain and PTSD. We owe our veterans everything. If that means researching controversial substances, then that’s what we must do.
“I will not stop fighting for those yearning for new treatments and will continue to advocate for medical research—regardless of the substance.”
Rep. Lou Correa represents California’s 46th Congressional District. He serves as Chair of the House Homeland Security Subcommittee on Transportation and Maritime Security, and as the Vice Chair of the House Judiciary Subcommittee on Courts, Intellectual Property, and the Internet. Read more here.
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