Cannabis Law Group's Medical Marijuana Legal Blog
U.S. Bill Would Allow Medical Marijuana for U.S. Military
Medical marijuana has long been known to be effective in treating conditions like anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder and chronic pain. Yet the U.S. military has long taken a hard-line stance against marijuana, a position solidified during the Vietnam War as reports blasted on the evening news indicated that half of all soldiers deployed were regularly using marijuana. A study by the Pentagon later revealed the actual figure was closer to 70 percent. This, along with the crash of an aircraft carrier by soldiers later found to have marijuana in their systems led to a zero tolerance policy. 
This has led to all sorts of injustices. Historically, it’s been military policy to exclude from entrance any individual who previously used marijuana as a civilian. In recent years, waivers for “past misconduct” have risen, and are expected to continue rising. Just last year, for instance, the Military Times reported a Vietnam War veteran and head of a military school in Florida was terminated for using medical marijuana extract to treat cancer.
Now, Congressional leaders have filed twin bills in the House and Senate to change federal law that would allow U.S. veterans who abide by state medical marijuana laws to avoid federal intervention and would allow doctors with the Department of Veterans Affairs to issue medical marijuana recommendations to their patients. The Veterans Medical Marijuana Safe Harbor Act, sponsored by U.S. Senate Democrats from California and Hawaii, notes that the drug is legal in 33 states and that medical marijuana can be used to treat chronic pain without the use of dangerous and highly addictive opiates. The sponsor of the House version of the bill said in a statement, “it’s past time to end the anti-science, anti-health cannabis prohibition laws that prevent veterans from accessing health care.” Continue reading
veterans are using medical marijuana. This is in spite of the fact that the department does not allow its doctors to recommend marijuana. The department cites 
ignore marijuana crimes so along as alleged violators were in compliance with state laws. This step gave states the space to figure out how they wanted to handle recreational and/or medical cannabis laws without interference from the federal government.
While on the one hand this is a good thing, as real life evidence might not line up with FDA clinical trial requirements, there are some legitimate concerns about safety. There are also other issues that arise as a result of the fact that marijuana is a also a plant – a plant that is grown on a farm like corn, or wheat, or tomatoes. 
The first thing to understand is that marijuana, which is a plant that people consume, is classified as kitniyot, which includes other grains like corn, rice and beans. These foods are generally prohibited during Passover, as the dietary restrictions are much different and stricter than they are during the rest of the year. 
In other words, there are those that believe people who use medical marijuana are a bunch of potheads who move slowly and have the munchies. When an athlete tests positive for marijuana in the Olympics, he or she result is disqualified and there is a possibility of medals that have already been awarded could be stripped. When this happens, as it has in past, many joke that marijuana is clearly not a performance enhancer, so it should be allowed. 
Given the fact that California was the first state in the nation to legalize medical marijuana when the very bold initiative was taken back in 1996, the question is why would Los Angeles County not want medical marijuana being grown within its borders. 
The prohibition on marijuana was originally based upon a need to rid society of all “vices” and as a way to oppress minority groups in America. The so-called “War on Drugs” has cost the taxpayers unfathomable amounts of money, much of which was spent on stopping the importation and sale of marijuana, and created unjust results in the federal penal system. 
The highest schedule on the USCA is known as “Schedule I” and is reserved for the most allegedly dangerous drugs available. These drugs are supposed to have no known medical use and be highly addictive and dangerous to be listed as a Schedule I controlled substance. To get an idea of the type of drugs on Schedule I, we can look at a list of what is included. Congress has chosen to classify heroin, Quaaludes, GHB, and many other dangerous hallucinogens, as well as marijuana, at the highest schedule.