Several veterans groups are calling for President Joe Biden and his administration to “expeditiously” ease federal restrictions on marijuana.
In a letter obtained by NBC News, veterans groups called for the Justice Department, which serves as the overseer of the Drug Enforcement Administration, to act quickly in easing restrictions.
“The men and women who served in the U.S. Armed Forces often face difficult physical and mental challenges upon returning home,” the letter said. “As such, we hope that in treating the wounds of war — both visible and invisible — that our servicemembers and veterans would have access to the widest array of possible treatments.”
Signing on the letter included the Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America, AMVETS, the American GI Forum, the American Legion, the Blinded Veterans Association, and the Minority Veterans of America.
The call for action in the letter comes six months after the Department of Health and Human Services recommended doing so.
Under current classifications, cannabis is a Schedule 1 drug, meaning it has a high potential for abuse and no accepted medical use in treatment. Other drugs with the same classification include heroin, LSD, and ecstasy.
Instead of being a Schedule 1 drug, the Department of Health and Human Services is recommending it be reclassified as a Schedule 3 drug, which is far less restrictive.
The DEA defines Schedule 3 drugs as “drugs with a moderate to low potential for physical and psychological dependence.”
Other Schedule 3 drugs include Tylenol, anabolic steroids, and testosterone.
In October 2022, Biden ordered a review of federal marijuana policies, and the formal decision from the DEA on that review is expected soon, NBC News reported.
While veterans groups might be calling for more access to marijuana, the VA and Defense Department released a joint recommendation last summer that was opposed to the use of marijuana for treatment of post-traumatic stress disorder.
However, an American Legion survey showed just how much veterans are for access to marijuana, with 82% of respondents saying they want medical cannabis as a federally legal treatment.
But, with no decision coming from the DEA, many “veterans remain uncomfortable discussing cannabis use with their VA providers due to fear of retribution,” the groups said.
“We understand that the administrative scheduling process involves several steps, but the sooner the DEA moves forward with a reclassification of cannabis, the sooner it could potentially be integrated into the [Veterans Health Administration] — our nation’s largest healthcare system,” they wrote.