VA Medicinal Cannabis Research Act of 2021

Committee on Veterans' Affairs. Hearings held. Hearings printed: S.Hrg. 117-231.

Congressional Research Service

Official summary

Version 00 · Introduced in Senate · Apr 29, 2021

VA Medicinal Cannabis Research Act of 2021

This bill requires the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to conduct clinical trials of the effects of medical-grade cannabis on the health outcomes of covered veterans diagnosed with chronic pain and those diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder. Covered veterans are those who are enrolled in the VA health care system.

The trials must include a control group and an experimental group that are of similar sizes and structures and represent the demographics of the veteran population.

Data collected in the trials must be preserved to facilitate further research.

Under the bill, participation in the clinical trials does not affect a covered veteran's eligibility or entitlement to other VA benefits.

Read the summary on Congress.gov

PlainBill analysis is coming later. This page presents official source data. We have not yet published a PlainBill explanation for this bill.

People & committees

Who introduced it

Sen. Tester, Jon [D-MT] · D–MT

Committees

Veterans' Affairs Committee

4 cosponsorship records, including any withdrawals

Legislative record

Actions

A procedural vote is different from passage. Passage in one chamber does not establish enactment. Explore the glossary.

Jun 23, 2021
Committee on Veterans' Affairs. Hearings held. Hearings printed: S.Hrg. 117-231.
Apr 29, 2021
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
Apr 29, 2021
Introduced in Senate

Primary sources

Bill text & related measures

Text links open the official source. We currently store references to these documents.

Introduced in Senate · Apr 29, 2021 Formatted Text PDF Formatted XML

Related bills identified by Congress.gov

Source last updated: Dec 5, 2025. Consult Congress.gov for the current record.

AI Conversation Starters

Explore the bill from different angles

Choose a perspective, copy a prompt, and paste it into your preferred AI. Each prompt includes the bill version and available official source links, and asks for counterarguments as well as supporting evidence.

Neutral evidence review

Objective

Analyze S.1467 as objectively as possible. Explain its main provisions, who would be affected, possible benefits and harms, implementation, exceptions, and uncertainties. Present the strongest arguments for and against it, and identify evidence needed to assess its public impact.

View full prompt & sources

Discuss S.1467, 117th Congress: VA Medicinal Cannabis Research Act of 2021

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/117th-congress/senate-bill/1467

Text version to examine: Introduced in Senate · 2021-04-29.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/117/bills/s1467/BILLS-117s1467is.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2025-12-05T10:56:46Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Analyze S.1467 as objectively as possible. Explain its main provisions, who would be affected, possible benefits and harms, implementation, exceptions, and uncertainties. Present the strongest arguments for and against it, and identify evidence needed to assess its public impact.

Fairness and public impact

Progressive lens

Examine S.1467 through a progressive lens, focusing on fairness, access, economic inequality, and effects on vulnerable communities. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and distinguish stated goals from demonstrated outcomes.

View full prompt & sources

Discuss S.1467, 117th Congress: VA Medicinal Cannabis Research Act of 2021

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/117th-congress/senate-bill/1467

Text version to examine: Introduced in Senate · 2021-04-29.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/117/bills/s1467/BILLS-117s1467is.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2025-12-05T10:56:46Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Examine S.1467 through a progressive lens, focusing on fairness, access, economic inequality, and effects on vulnerable communities. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and distinguish stated goals from demonstrated outcomes.

Institutions and government scope

Conservative lens

Examine S.1467 through a conservative lens, focusing on fiscal responsibility, institutional stability, federalism, and the scope of government. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and any provisions that challenge this perspective.

View full prompt & sources

Discuss S.1467, 117th Congress: VA Medicinal Cannabis Research Act of 2021

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/117th-congress/senate-bill/1467

Text version to examine: Introduced in Senate · 2021-04-29.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/117/bills/s1467/BILLS-117s1467is.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2025-12-05T10:56:46Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Examine S.1467 through a conservative lens, focusing on fiscal responsibility, institutional stability, federalism, and the scope of government. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and any provisions that challenge this perspective.

Individual rights and government power

Liberty lens

Examine S.1467 through a civil-liberties and limited-government lens. Consider individual rights, privacy, voluntary choice, accountability, and government power. Explain tradeoffs, possible safeguards, and the strongest counterarguments without assuming the proposal is beneficial or harmful.

View full prompt & sources

Discuss S.1467, 117th Congress: VA Medicinal Cannabis Research Act of 2021

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/117th-congress/senate-bill/1467

Text version to examine: Introduced in Senate · 2021-04-29.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/117/bills/s1467/BILLS-117s1467is.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2025-12-05T10:56:46Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Examine S.1467 through a civil-liberties and limited-government lens. Consider individual rights, privacy, voluntary choice, accountability, and government power. Explain tradeoffs, possible safeguards, and the strongest counterarguments without assuming the proposal is beneficial or harmful.