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| Veterans Equal Access Act Released Dec 3, 2014 |
The U.S. Military holds a
zero tolerance for marijuana use. Federal laws govern the military
on cannabis use. New policies and studies from the federal
government show promise of a policy shift to allowing
medical-marijuana for military veterans.
Marijuana possession is a
crime under the Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ). Military
personnel can be penalized with a court martial. The zero tolerance
also includes military families on base. Possession can result in
eviction of housing or loss of job on the base.(Source)
There are 23 states that
have legalized medical-marijuana. Military personnel in these states
still have to adhere by the federal and UCMJ laws. Seventy-five
percent of the soldiers were drug tested at Joint Base Lewis-McChord
in Washington in 2013. Of the 30,836 soldiers tested, 250 tested
positive. This is down from 2012 which had 315 testing positive. At
Fort Carson in Colorado they tested all 26,000 soldiers having 254
test positive for marijuana in 2013.
“The results of our
continued drug testing demonstrate the commitment soldiers have to
the Army profession, regardless of a state’s legalization of
marijuana,” Army Spokesman Lt. Col. Benjamin Garrett commented on
the zero tolerance for marijuana. “With 98 percent of the Army
population testing negative for illicit drugs, soldiers demonstrate
their ability to take responsibility for themselves, reinforcing the
fact that our drug testing program is working.” (Source)
Signs of Change for the
Zero Tolerance
The
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs in 2010 stated that veterans may
use medical-marijuana in states where it is legal. Under federal law
it remained illegal for VA doctors to recommend cannabis as
treatment. Veterans wanting medical-marijuana would need to obtain
the prescription from a civilian doctor. This statement allowed
veterans to not fear losing benefits if they used marijuana.(Source)
The U.S. Government in
March 2014 approved to study for marijuana treatment for veterans
with PTSD. The study will have 50 veterans with PTSD use different
amounts of marijuana in a vapor or smoked form. This study may show a
shift in federal policy with regards to marijuana and the use in the
military.(Source)
On December 3rd,
2014 the Veterans Equal Access Act was released. It would allow VA
doctors to prescribe medical marijuana for veterans.(Source)
This comes at a crucial time for veterans when many suffer from PTSD
and other conditions. Currently Arizona, Connecticut, Maine and New
Mexico recognize cannabis as a treatment for PTSD.(Source)
The VA working at a federal level may help open the doors for many
other states to qualify PTSD as a condition that medical-marijuana
can treat.
Source:
http://www.columbiatribune.com/news/new-bill-would-allow-the-va-to-recommend-medical-marijuana/article_6ce3f13f-28d7-5084-8ebf-7c9d70a74fa9.html
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