US senators want to legalize medical cannabis for veterans

Democratic senators are seeking to pass a series of amendments on cannabis, including a proposal to legalize medical cannabis for U.S. military veterans, as part of a defense bill set to be considered this week.

Lawmakers are seeking to bundle the cannabis-related measures with another GOP-sponsored amendment that would strengthen the fight against fentanyl while removing barriers to research on Schedule I drugs under the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA).

One of the amendments, introduced by Democratic Senator Brian Schatz, would allow veterans to use medical cannabis in states and territories where it is legal, in accordance with a separate bill introduced by the senator in April.

It would also protect doctors who see patients and complete the necessary paperwork to recommend medical cannabis for veterans. Finally, it would require the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs to support clinical trials involving therapeutic effects of cannabis in the treatment of conditions such as pain and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), which typically affects veterans.

«Cannabis and its compounds show promise for pain management and the treatment of a wide range of diseases and disorders, including post-traumatic stress disorder,» the proposal states. «Medical cannabis in states where it is legal may offer 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 attach the provision on cannabis for veterans to earlier versions of the NDAA in previous years, but they never managed to get a vote on the issue.