Senate Republicans have blocked a procedural vote to advance a bill to the floor that would promote research into the therapeutic effects of marijuana for military veterans with certain conditions.
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) filed cloture on a motion to proceed for the VA Medicinal Cannabis Research Act last week, and that was rejected on Wednesday along party lines, in a 57-42 vote. It needed 60 votes in support to pass.
Schumer ultimately switched his own vote to a “no” in order to be able to enter a motion to reconsider under Senate rules. He said it was “regrettable that this bill, which so much helps our veterans, went down.”
“Our veterans need it. It was supported by all of our veterans groups. It had bipartisan, unanimous support in committee,” he said. “I hope that some of our members on the other side of the aisle who didn’t vote for it will reconsider.”
R’s voting Yea: Cassidy, Collins, Hawley, Moran, Murkowski, Rounds, Schmitt, Sullivan.
Schumer voted no to enter a motion to reconsider.
Feinstein did not vote. https://t.co/gNq3iBGKC1
— Senate Periodicals (@SenatePPG) April 26, 2023
Though the bill isn’t technically dead, the vote raises practical questions not
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