H.R. 5520 would allow the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to conduct and support research related to the use of medical cannabis in the treatment of veterans with chronic pain, post-traumatic stress disorder, and other health conditions. The bill would codify VA’s existing authority to conduct such research. On that basis, CBO estimates that implementing H.R. 5520 would cost less than $500,000 over the 2019-2023 period, primarily to prepare and submit the necessary reports to the Congress. That spending would be subject to the availability of appropriated funds.
