Poll Shows Veterans Overwhelmingly Support Marijuana Legalization

A new survey shows that veterans overwhelmingly support marijuana legalization. But will survey results from veterans be enough to convince the federal government to lift a controversial ban regarding it? Although the survey didn’t poll every veteran, the American Legion is confident that it represents the majority of veterans and their caretakers.

The Survey

Yesterday, the American Legion released the results of a survey they commissioned.

The topic of the survey was cannabis in relation to legality and medicine.

The American Legion surveyed 1,360 military veterans to ensure maximum diversity in the representation. The results of the survey were as follows: 82 percent of veterans are in favor of cannabis as a federally legal medical treatment. Furthermore, 92 percent want more research on weed’s medical potential.

The survey also found that one in five veterans already use cannabis to treat various mental and physical ailments. Interestingly, according to the American Legion, most of the supporters of medical cannabis for veterans were over the age of 60.

Over the summer, the American Legion passed a resolution to press the federal government to lift a ban regarding medical marijuana and veterans. The ban in question prohibits VA doctors from recommending medical marijuana to their patients. Even in states where a medical marijuana program has been established.

The ban is controversial, especially due to the research that indicates the medical value of cannabis, combined with the fact that a significant percentage of veterans suffer from physical maladies in addition to mental illnesses, including post-traumatic stress disorder.

Cannabis and Veterans

Every day, 22 United States veterans commit suicide. The available data shows that the majority of veterans who take their own lives suffered from PTSD. Furthermore, research shows that medical marijuana can treat the symptoms of PTSD, as well as other mental illnesses.

It would seem that medical cannabis and veterans would be the perfect match.

There’s a roadblock though. Due to the federal prohibition of cannabis, the doctors working with Veterans Affairs are forbidden from recommending medical cannabis to their patients. Even so, other doctors are supportive and have offered their services to guide veterans toward making informed decisions.

The American Legion has been working to correct this absolute misstep.

This long-standing non-profit organization prides itself on promoting veterans’ best interests. This includes ready access to medical cannabis. Now that they have published this recent survey, hopefully, the federal government will take note.

Veterans overwhelmingly support marijuana legalization for medical use.

Final Hit: Poll Shows Veterans Overwhelmingly Support Marijuana Legalization

By now, it should be common knowledge that cannabis has incredible therapeutic value. The amount of research and data backing it up is far too vast to be ignored. And yet, the federal government refuses to remove cannabis from the list of Schedule I narcotics. The federal government categorizes the substances on this list as having no medicinal value. Other Schedule I drugs include heroin and bath salts.

Although members of the federal government say that they support the troops and support our country’s veterans, their actions and sentiments regarding cannabis say otherwise. They express concern for wounded and mentally ill vets, but then they actively prevent them from having access to a natural medicine that can help them. Additionally, they lament the opioid abuse epidemic, while conveniently ignoring research that suggests the potential for cannabis to help solve it.

It’s not just cognitive dissonance. It is savage hypocrisy.