GOP Senator Wants Feds To Study Hospital Costs Caused By Marijuana Use

A Republican senator has filed an amendment that would require the federal government to track the cost of hospitalization due to marijuana use.

The proposal, from Sen. Ted Budd (R-NC), would require the secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to compile data on “Federal and State expenditures under the Medicaid program…that are attributable to costs incurred for providing medical assistance for inpatient hospital services, outpatient hospital services, and for services received at a hospital emergency room…related to marijuana use.”

The information would be due in the form of a report to Congress within one year of the measure being enacted, along with any recommendations for legislation and administrative action that the HHS secretary determines to be appropriate.

Legalization opponents have often claimed that cannabis drives an increase in hospital visits due to accidents and over-intoxication. Budd and other GOP senators sent a letter this week urging President Donald Trump not to follow through with plans to federally reschedule marijuana.

The senator wants to attach the measure, which he filed on Tuesday, to spending legislation that would fund parts of the federal government for Fiscal Year 2026 that is currently awaiting Senate floor action.

The full text of Budd’s marijuana amendment reads:

“Sec. ____. The Secretary of Health and Human Services (in this section referred to as the ‘Secretary’) shall collect data relating to the amount of Federal and State expenditures under the Medicaid program established under title XIX of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1396 et seq.) that are attributable to costs incurred for providing medical assistance for inpatient hospital services, outpatient hospital services, and for services received at a hospital emergency room (without regard to whether such services are emergency services (as defined by the Secretary)) related to marijuana use (as defined by the Secretary). Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this division, the Secretary shall submit a report to Congress that includes such data and recommendations for such legislation and administrative action as the Secretary determines appropriate.”

It’s not clear if the amendment will receive a vote on the Senate floor.