S.Amdt. 3712

SA 3712. Mr. MENENDEZ submitted an amendment intended to be proposed
by him to the bill H.R. 6157, making appropriations for the Department
of Defense for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2019, and for other
purposes; which was ordered to lie on the table; as follows:

At the appropriate place in title II of division B, insert
the following:

SEC. __. REPORT CONCERNING THE EFFECTS OF STATE LEGALIZED
MARIJUANA PROGRAMS.

(a) In General.--The Secretary of Health and Human
Services, in coordination with the Department of Justice, the
Department of Labor, and (to the greatest extent possible)
with relevant State agencies responsible for health programs
and activities in States that have legalized marijuana for
medicinal or non-medicinal use, shall enter into a 10-year
arrangement with the National Academy of Sciences--
(1) to complete a study, not later than 18 months after the
date of enactment of this Act, and to update such study on a
biennial basis thereafter for the duration of the arrangement
period, on the effects of State legalized marijuana programs
on the economy, public health, criminal justice, and
employment in the respective States;
(2) upon the completion of the initial study pursuant to
paragraph (1) and upon each update to the study, to prepare
or update a report on the results of such study and submit
such report to the Congress; and
(3) not later than 30 days after the date of submission of
the initial report under paragraph (2), develop and publish
best practices on data collection under subsection (e).
(b) Study Considerations.--The study pursuant to subsection
(a)(1) shall consider the effects of State legalized
marijuana programs, including yearly rates and trends over
the course of the study under such subsection, with respect
to the following:
(1) Revenues and state allocations.--
(A) The monetary amounts generated through revenues, taxes,
and any other financial benefits.
(B) The purposes and relative amounts for which these funds
were used.
(C) The total impact on the State and its budget.
(2) Medicinal use of marijuana.--
(A) The rates of medicinal use among different population
groups, including children, the elderly, veterans, and
individuals with disabilities.
(B) The purpose of such use.
(C) Which medical conditions medical marijuana is most
frequently purchased and used for.
(3) Substance use.--
(A) The rates of overdoses with opioids and other
painkillers.
(B) The rates of admission in health care facilities,
emergency rooms, and volunteer treatment facilities related
to overdoses with opioids and other painkillers.
(C) The rates of opioid-related and other painkiller-
related crimes to one's self and to the community.
(D) The rates of opioid prescriptions and other pain
killers.
(c) Study Timeframe.--The study pursuant to subsection
(a)(1) shall consider the data collected and analyzed in
connection with the items listed in subsection (b) in the
respective States to the extent possible across the period--
(1) beginning 5 years before the effective date of
legalization of marijuana in the State; and
(2) ending on a date determined by the National Academy of
Sciences to allow collection and analysis of the most recent
data available.
(d) Report Contents.--Reports pursuant to subsection (a)(2)
shall--
(1) address both State programs that have legalized
marijuana for medicinal use and those that have legalized
marijuana for adult non-medicinal use and to the extent
practicable distinguish between such programs and their
effects;
(2) include a national assessment of average trends across
States with such programs in relation to the effects on
economy, public health, criminal justice, and employment in
the respective States, including with respect to the items
listed in subsection (b); and
(3) describe--
(A) any barriers that impeded the ability to complete or
update aspects of the study required by subsection (a)(1) and
how such barriers can be overcome for purposes of future
studies; and
(B) any gaps in the data sought for the study required by
subsection (a)(1) and how these gaps can be eliminated or
otherwise addressed for purposes of future studies.
(e) Best Practices for Data Collection by States.--The best
practices pursuant to subsection (a)(3) shall consist of best
practices for the collection by States of the information
described in the items listed in subsection (b), including
such best practices for improving--
(1) data collection;
(2) analytical capacity;
(3) research integrity; and
(4) the comparability of data across States.
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