The House lawmakers have approved two amendments to a must-pass defense spending bill relating to marijuana in the U.S. military. The House Armed Services Committee passed this through voice votes during a markup of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). The first of the proposal, which was sponsored by Rep. Anthony Brown (D-MD), deals with cannabis sentencing standards under the military code. The proposal seeks that the Military Justice Review Panel develop recommendations that will specify the appropriate sentencing ranges for offenses relating to the use and possession of marijuana.
He said the panel’s assignment is to investigate how sentencing for marijuana-related offenses compares to comparable offenses such as alcohol use. The proposal will also examine the overall burden of the current approach on the military justice system on marijuana-based offenses.
He said in a press release, “Today, cannabis-related offenses are treated harshly in comparison with other comparable offenses. My amendment doesn’t change current law, but what it does do is require our armed services to review and provide recommendations for potential reform.”
The second proposal was from Rep. Seth Moulton (D-MA). The proposal seeks a study that will be led by the Defense Department on how efficient cannabis is for certain conditions as compared to opioids. Recent studies have shown that cannabis can function as a substitute for prescription drugs, particularly opioids. The trend for replacing opioids with cannabis is also growing. Moulton also sponsored a bill earlier this year that would allow VA physicians to discuss medical cannabis treatment with military veterans and protect veterans who are honest about their cannabis therapy history.
In February, the VA said that even though cannabis use is still federally illegal, “veteran participation in state marijuana programs does not affect eligibility for VA care and services. VA providers can and do discuss marijuana use with veterans as part of comprehensive care planning and adjust treatment plans as necessary.”
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