Democratic senators are seeking to pass a series of cannabis amendments, including a proposal to legalize medical cannabis for US military veterans, as part of a defense bill to be reviewed this week.
Lawmakers seek to attach cannabis measures, along with another GOP-sponsored amendment that would strengthen the fight against fentanyl while removing barriers to research on Schedule I drugs, to the Defense Act national (NDAA).
One of the amendments, introduced by Democratic Senator Brian Schatz, would allow veterans to use medical cannabis in states and territories where the practice is legal, according to a separate bill introduced by the senator in April.
It would also protect physicians who greet patients and complete the paperwork needed to recommend the use of medical cannabis to veterans. Finally, it would require the US Department of Veterans Affairs to support clinical trials investigating the therapeutic effects of cannabis in treating conditions such as pain and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), which commonly affect veterans.
“Cannabis and its compounds show promise for the management of pain and the treatment of a wide range of diseases and disorders, including post-traumatic stress disorder,” the proposal reads. “Medical cannabis in states where it is legal may be a less harmful alternative to opioids in the treatment of veterans. »
The amendment is co-sponsored by Democratic Senators Cory Booker, Ron Wyden, John Fetterman, Alex Padilla, Mark Kelly, Tim Kaine and Peter Welch. Schatz and other lawmakers have sought to append cannabis text for veterans to earlier drafts of the NDAA in previous years, but never got a vote on the issue.
