Politics
Senate Committee Floats Marijuana As Opioid Alternative, Encourages Psychedelic Research And Raises Concerns Over Cannabis-Infused Foods
A key Senate committee is directing federal agencies to consider medical marijuana as an opioid alternative as well as the therapeutic benefits of psychedelics—while also encouraging hemp cultivar and germplasm development and additionally raising concerns about cannabinoid-infused foods.
The Senate Appropriations Committee on Tuesday posted the text of two annual funding bills and attached reports that contain the cannabis and drug policy directives.
The report attached to the Fiscal Year 2027 Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies appropriations bill directs the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to study whether state medical cannabis laws are tied to a “reduction in opioid use and abuse among veterans.”
“Medical Marijuana Research.—The Committee encourages the Department to consider clinical research on medical marijuana. The Committee also recommends the Department of Veterans Affairs conduct a study on the relationship between treatment programs involving medical marijuana that are approved by States, the access of veterans to such programs, and a reduction in opioid use and abuse among veterans.”
The report also notes VA’s support for research on psychedelics, directing the veterans affairs secretary to brief Congress within 180 days on plans to integrate any psychedelic therapies approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) into the department’s clinical care systems.
“Psychedelic Assisted Care for Veterans.—The Committee is aware of the Department of Veterans Affairs’ [VA] support for psychedelic-assisted care research at VA medical centers, including multisite clinical trials, and the emerging late-stage clinical evidence supporting potential Food and Drug Administration [FDA] approvals of new therapeutics. Additionally, the Committee appreciates the formation of an Integrated Project Team [IPT] to coordinate strategic planning for future research and potential clinical implementation of any FDA-approved treatments. The Committee directs the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to develop a plan to expand VA-led clinical and implementation-focused research, alongside continued IPT activities, including workforce preparation and system readiness activities, so the Department is prepared to responsibly integrate any FDA-approved therapies into clinical care. Not later than 180 days after enactment of this act, the Secretary shall brief the Committees on Appropriations of both Houses of Congress on this plan, including the current research and activities related to these therapies, planned use of funds, research progress, and milestones for clinical readiness and implementation. Further, the Committee reminds the Secretary of the requirement included in Senate Report 119–43, to collect data such that the Department can complete a longitudinal study of veterans participating in these therapies and provide a report to the Committees at the conclusion of the 5 year study. The Department is also encouraged to consider prioritizing research on innovative therapies for treatment-resistant post-traumatic stress disorder, including but not limited to ibogaine and other psychedelic compounds, as part of its review of psychedelic-assisted care research.”
The report further notes that many military veterans travel abroad to access psychedelic therapies and encourages VA to track such therapeutic tourism.
“Veterans Seeking Treatment Abroad.—The Committee is aware that some veterans are traveling outside the United States to seek treatments not currently available domestically, including ibogaine-based therapies. The Committee encourages the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to develop a mechanism, consistent with patient privacy protections, to collect voluntary, de-identified data on the number of veterans who have pursued such treatments.”
The report also encourages VA to prioritize studies on “rapid-acting novel therapeutics,” a phrase that is often used to describe psychedelics.
“Mental Health Research.—The Secretary of Veterans Affairs is encouraged to prioritize VA-led clinical and implementation-focused research on rapid-acting novel therapeutics for post-traumatic stress disorder, suicide risk, depression, and related conditions.”
A separate report attached to an appropriations bill covering FDA and the Department of Agriculture contains a provision encouraging interagency cooperation to “improve our understanding of psychedelics” and the development of public-private collaborations to support research on the therapeutic value of substances like psilocybin, ibogaine and MDMA.
“Psychedelics.—The Committee recognizes the increased interest and need to study psychedelics, including MDMA, psilocybin, ibogaine, and 5–MeO–DMT, and their potential therapeutic effects. The Committee encourages the FDA to work with the VA, DoD, and NIH on leveraging clinical trials to improve our understanding of psychedelics. The Committee also encourages the FDA and VA, DoD, and NIH to work together in developing and supporting public-private collaborations to advance psychedelic research for therapeutic purposes, with the FDA maintaining its independent regulatory authority as an observer. The Committee requests an update on such efforts within 180 days of enactment of this act.”
The agriculture bill report includes a number of hemp-related provisions, including on cultivar development, a germplasm repository and production systems—noting that there is “emerging market potential for U.S. hemp and hemp-based products for a variety of uses.”
“Hemp Cultivar Development.—The Committee encourages ARS to conduct biotechnology and genomics research in collaboration with capable institutions to elucidate the genetic control of key production and product quality traits in hemp to facilitate cultivar development. In addition, the Committee provides no less than the fiscal year 2026 level for ARS to partner with institutions already engaged in such research to conduct hemp genetic improvement research and breeding with new breeding and editing techniques.”
“Hemp Germplasm.—The Committee recognizes the increasing demand for hemp for a variety of uses and its growing importance as a crop for U.S. farmers. When the Nation’s hemp germplasm was destroyed in the 1980s, researchers lost access to publicly available germplasm for plant breeding purposes. The Committee directs ARS to establish and maintain a hemp germplasm repository at the Plant Genetics Resources Research Unit and provides no less than the fiscal year 2026 level for this purpose. The Committee also encourages ARS and the Plant Genetics Resources Research Unit to partner with 1890 institutions that have existing institutional capacity on hemp germplasm research, education, and extension capabilities.”
“Hemp Production Systems.—The Committee recognizes the emerging market potential for U.S. hemp and hemp-based products for a variety of uses. The Committee directs ARS to conduct regionally-driven research, development, and stakeholder engagement to improve agronomic and agro-economic understanding of effectively integrating hemp into existing agricultural cropping, processing, and marketing systems. The Committee provides no less than the fiscal year 2026 level for this purpose. Research, engagement, and technology transfer shall be conducted in strict accordance with all applicable Federal and State authorities and regulations.”
“State and Regulatory Frameworks and Adequacy of Current Powers.—The Committee urges the Food and Drug Administration, to improve data sharing and coordination between State and Federal authorities, such as by continuing to support the Food and Drug Administration’s Cannabinoid Hemp Product 20.88 Information Sharing Agreement initiative.”
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The report also cites research on “botanical, cannabinoid-based therapies for chronic pain” in a section on the need to develop nonopioid treatments.
“Chronic Pain.—The Committee recognizes the significant unmet need for safe and effective nonopioid treatments for chronic pain and notes the FDA’s recent draft guidance, ‘‘Development of NonOpioid Analgesics for Chronic Pain,’’ which seeks to accelerate the availability of such therapies and reduce reliance on prescription opioids. The Committee further observes that advanced late-stage clinical trials on botanical, cannabinoid-based therapies for chronic pain have been conducted in Europe, preparing the path for near-term European approvals of these medicines, underscoring growing international alignment around providing access to innovative, regulated, nonopioid therapies for this indication. In light of these developments, the Committee urges the FDA to prioritize timely, science-based review of products intended for chronic pain, including botanical products, consistent with its non-opioid analgesic guidance, including consideration of patient-reported outcomes, the potential for improved efficacy and safety over the current standard of care and the potential to reduce or eliminate opioid use. The Committee directs the FDA to provide, within 270 days of enactment of this act, a report to the Committee detailing any scientific or regulatory gaps impeding the evaluation of botanical-derived therapies for chronic pain, and to consider opportunities to harmonize, as appropriate, with relevant evidence and experience emerging from Europe and other international regulators, consistent with U.S. statutory requirements.”
The committee, however, raises concerns about cannabis-infused foods, saying that “no cannabinoid is approved for any use in food as a food additive.”
“Food Additives.—The Committee supports the FDA’s effort to develop clear, science-based guidance to ensure product safety, consumer confidence, and regulatory clarity for plant or otherwise derived cannabinoids. However, the Committee remains concerned by the growth of food products that contain plant or otherwise derived cannabinoids as no cannabinoid is approved for any use in food as a food additive. In some of the over 110 warning letters issued to firms marketing plant or otherwise derived cannabinoid products since 2018, the FDA notes that the available data for some cannabinoids raises serious concerns about potential harm and there is little or no available information concerning the safety of their use in food. The Committee encourages the FDA, in collaboration with other relevant Federal agencies and state partners, to develop a plan to coordinate appropriate enforcement actions. The Committee directs the FDA to report to the Committee within 90 days of enactment of this act on this effort to protect consumers from unlawfully adulterated foods and food additives in interstate commerce.”
The report notes that the spending legislation sets aside $12,996,000 to support the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Hemp Production Program.
The bill itself contains a longstanding rider protecting state hemp propgrams from federal interference.
“SEC. 737. None of the funds made available by this Act or any other Act may be used—
(1) in contravention of section 7606 of the Agricultural Act of 2014 (7 U.S.C. 5940), subtitle G of the Agricultural Marketing Act of 1946, or section 10114 of the Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018; or
(2) to prohibit the transportation, processing, sale, or use of hemp, or seeds of such plant, that is grown or cultivated in accordance with section 7606 of the Agricultural Act of 2014 or subtitle G of the Agricultural Marketing Act of 1946, within or outside the State in which the hemp is grown or cultivated.”
The committee has not yet scheduled a vote on either of the appropriations bills.
Image element courtesy of Kristie Gianopulos.
