INTRODUCTION OF THE COMPASSIONATE ACCESS, RESEARCH EXPANSION AND RESPECT STATES (CARERS) ACT; Congressional Record Vol. 165, No. 1
(Extensions of Remarks - January 03, 2019)
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[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E7]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
INTRODUCTION OF THE COMPASSIONATE ACCESS, RESEARCH EXPANSION AND
RESPECT STATES (CARERS) ACT
_____
HON. STEVE COHEN
of tennessee
in the house of representatives
Thursday, January 3, 2019
Mr. COHEN. Madam Speaker, I rise today to introduce the Compassionate
Access, Research Expansion and Respect States Act, also known as the
CARERS Act. This bipartisan bill would allow states to set their own
policies on medical marijuana, allow states to import cannabidiol to
treat patients with seizures, give the Veterans Administration
physicians the ability to recommend medical marijuana to patients and
improve opportunities for research on marijuana.
The consensus on medical marijuana is already overwhelming and
continues to build. According to a Quinnipiac University poll, 93
percent of Americans believe people should be allowed to use medically
prescribed marijuana.
93 percent of Americans rarely agree on anything.
In November, Missouri and Utah joined a growing majority of states
that have legalized medical marijuana. Thirty-two states plus the
District of Columbia have approved medical marijuana.
Yet, our federal laws continue to treat patients and the doctors and
families who care for them like criminals.
It is long overdue for our federal law to reflect the common sense
views of 93 percent of Americans and stop adding to the suffering of
those with horrible illnesses.
One such patient was my constituent, Chloe Grauer. At 3 years old,
Chloe suffered from a rare neurological disease that caused her to have
100 to 200 seizures a day. She tried dozens of medications and
underwent surgical procedures but nothing stopped the seizures.
Her family tried desperately to treat her with cannabidiol--also
known as ``Charlotte's Web'' or ``CBD'' for short--which has been shown
to treat certain diseases that cause seizures, such as the disease from
which Chloe suffered. CBD is derived from cannabis plants, and even
though it contains just trace amounts of the psychoactive ingredient in
marijuana--nowhere near enough to produce a high--but it is currently
illegal under federal law. Even this tiny amount of the ingredient,
THC, was enough for the federal government to keep a potentially life-
saving drug away from Chloe.
Chloe died without receiving CBD.
This should never have happened. We must ensure that this never
happens again.
Just as our children deserve to be treated compassionately, so, too,
do our veterans. Federal law currently prohibits VA doctors from
prescribing medical marijuana when they feel it is medically
beneficial. Our veterans deserve the best medical advice from their
doctors, not arbitrary limits on what their doctors can do to help
them. Veterans are tough. They can handle frank advice from their
doctors.
I want to thank my colleague Don Young of Alaska, for his partnership
on this bill as well as Senator Cory Booker and the bipartisan
coalition he is leading in the Senate on these issues. I urge both the
House and Senate to pass this swiftly.
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