{"id":55483,"date":"2022-06-29T14:15:55","date_gmt":"2022-06-29T14:15:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/merryjane.com\/new-defense-bill-would-force-us-military-to-research-medical-cannabis-revise-penalties\/"},"modified":"2022-06-29T14:15:55","modified_gmt":"2022-06-29T14:15:55","slug":"new-defense-bill-would-force-us-military-to-research-medical-cannabis-revise-penalties","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/merryjane.com\/news\/new-defense-bill-would-force-us-military-to-research-medical-cannabis-revise-penalties\/","title":{"rendered":"New Defense Bill Would Force US Military to Research Medical Cannabis, Revise Penalties"},"content":{"rendered":"

Cover image <\/em>via<\/em><\/a><\/p>\n

The House Armed Services Committee just added two amendments to an annual defense budget bill that would force the US military to rethink some of its antiquated cannabis prohibition policies<\/u><\/a>.<\/p>\n

One of these amendments<\/u><\/a>, proposed by Rep. Seth Moulton (D-MA), would require the Department of Defense (DOD) to conduct a research study exploring medical cannabis as an alternative to opioids. This research would focus on off-duty soldiers suffering from PTSD, traumatic brain injury, or chronic pain who are currently taking opioid medications. To conduct the study, researchers would allow some of these patients to use medical pot, while others would stick with traditional painkillers. <\/p>\n

Over the course of the study, researchers would monitor the health of all participants and assess the effectiveness of the treatment. The DOD would be required to submit a full report to Congress one year after the study’s completion, followed by a second report two years later. The amendment would also require military officials to create an education campaign focusing on the use of medical pot as an opioid alternative.<\/p>\n