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Jackson, Ryan[jackson.ryan@epa.gov] The Washington Post Fri 11/3/2017 4:12:38 PM Federal Insider: Survey says veterans strongly back legalizing medical marijuana
Survey says veterans strongly back legalizing medical
By Joe Davidson
A worker tends to cannabis plants at a medical marijuana plantation in Israel in 2012. (Baz Ratner/Reuters)
Veterans tend to be an older, more conservative group, but that doesn't stop them from advocating for a radical change in direction from the nation's outdated policies on marijuana.
The American Legion, represents many conservative veterans, but that doesn't stop it from taking progressive positions on certain key issues.
A survey released Thursday by the American Legion, the nation's largest wartime veterans' service organization, indicates near-unanimous support among veterans for research on medical marijuana, with an overwhelming majority supporting legalization of the drug for medical purposes.
[Finally, a degree in marijuana: But it's not for stoners or slackers.]
The Legion adopted a resolution last year calling on the Drug Enforcement Administration to reclassify marijuana from its current illicit status to a
Sierra Club v. EPA, 1:17-cv-01906
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The Legion made it clear, however, that its support of marijuana ends where
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: Geography: "The support for research and legalization is spread across
i the country, in states where medical cannabis is currently legal and in
: states where it is not."
Political orientation: Among veterans and caregivers federally legalized : medical marijuana is supported by about 9 in 10 self-identified liberals, : almost as many conservatives and 7 in 10 independents.
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Age: While support for medical cannabis research and legalization drops the older veterans and their caregivers become, it remains strong even among senior citizens. Among those 60 and older, more than threequarters favored medical marijuana. All in the 18 to 30 age group agreed.
It's worth noting that 60 percent of those surveyed were 60 or older. That's one reason for the finding that "the majority of veterans surveyed that are using cannabis are over the age of 60," according to the memo.
"It is also clear from the survey that veterans are accessing cannabis to assist them in states with and without medical marijuana programs," Five Corners added.
Veterans and their caregivers are not alone in favoring a more sensible approach to medical marijuana. A Yahoo News/Marist poll found 84 percent supported it in March, including majorities of Americans of all ages. The lowest level was 65 percent among those ages 69 and older.
The Legion is making progress in its quest to change Uncle Sam's old ways. Last week, all 10 Democrats on the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs urged VA to research the impact of medical marijuana on chronic pain and post-traumatic stress disorder among veterans.
So far, however, the Department of Veterans Affairs has not changed its policy. VA Secretary David Shulkin, however, has indicated a willingness to examine medical marijuana when federal law allows.
`There may be some evidence that this (medical marijuana) is beginning to be helpful," Shulkin said when asked about it in May, the last time he commented on it. "And we're interested in looking at that and learning from that. But until the time that federal law changes, we are not able to be able to prescribe medical marijuana for conditions that may be helpful."
Read more:
Will VA chief be voice of reason on climate change and medical marijuana in Trump administration?
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creates `greater risk' for opioid abuse
New law targets managers who retaliate against
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The legislation -- approved unanimously by both chambers
of Congress -- is designed to stem management retribution
by making supervisors face disciplinary measures for their
actions.
By Joe Davidson | Columnist Read more
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