WASHINGTON − Bipartisan legislators in Congress are looking to unwind standards surrounding cannabis usage for military members − in part as a option to reinforce recruitment efforts for the equipped services.
Conservative firebrand Matt Gaetz, R-Fla., is the newest legislator to propose a modification to the military’s requirements when it comes to marijuana. The Florida agent presented an change Thursday that would end marijuana screening for military members.
He proposed the modification as an addition to the National Defense Authorization Act, or NDAA, an yearly reauthorization of military programs that Congress passes each year.
Gaetz’s change proposes removing marijuana screening at the time of a service member’s enlistment or when they are getting commission as an officer.
“Our armedforce is dealingwith a recruitment and retainment crisis unlike any other time in American history,” he tweeted. “I do not think that previous usage of marijuana oughtto leaveout Americans from getting in the equipped forces. We must accept them for stepping up to serve our nation.”
According to the National Conference of State Legislatures, medical usage of cannabis is legal in 38 states and the District of Columbia. In 23 states and the District of Columbia, legislatures haveactually passed steps to control marijuana for non-medical usage.
The armedforce hasactually been dealingwith a recruitment crisis in current years, releasing various methods to reinforce numbers such as offering benefits and rescinding for one week in 2022 the requirements that hires have a high school diploma or its comparable.
The concept of looseningup standards for cannabis as a option to recruitment isn’t brand-new. In 2017, the army unwinded the procedure for approving waivers for cannabis usage after being dealtwith with an increasing need for brand-new soldiers.
More: Army is accepting more low-grade hires, offering waivers for cannabis to hit targets
House, Senate propose changes looseningup marijuana guidelines
Bipartisan legislators in addition to Gaetz haveactually proposed modifications to the NDAA to loosenup the military’s guidelines on cannabis usage.
The Congressional Cannabis Caucus proposed an change that would enable physicians from the Department of Veterans Affairs to advise marijuana as a treatment to clients in states where it is legal for medical usage. The modification has the support from both sides of the aisle consistingof Reps. Brian Mast, R-Fla.