NEW: Andrey Kukushkin, indicted for allegedly funneling Russian money to officials, was set to partner w/the V.A. on cannabis research just before he was charged. The chair for several of DoD's med research programs was in loop, raising natsec concerns.

Kukushkin, a Ukraine-born cannabis investor whose marijuana projects and political donations were allegedly illegally funded by a Russian national, was set to partner w/the San Francisco Veterans Affairs Medical Center in September on a 5-year R&D agreement, which we obtained 1/

— Natasha Bertrand (@NatashaBertrand) February 3, 2020

It also suggests that the V.A., which has long been seen as stymieing cannabis research, has considered studying the plant’s effect on cancer growth with at least one private marijuana business. The agency appears to have stopped publicly listing its research agreements in 2017.

— Natasha Bertrand (@NatashaBertrand) February 3, 2020