State Senator Michael Lazzara has outlined strong and compelling reasons why cannabis should be rescheduled from a Schedule I drug to a Schedule III drug. His argument focuses on three main benefits: expanding medical research, increasing patient access to cannabis-based treatments, and unlocking significant potential for economic growth. Shifting cannabis to a lower schedule would remove many barriers currently limiting its study, allowing researchers to fully explore its medicinal properties and develop safer, more effective therapies.
One group that stands to gain considerably from this change is military veterans, particularly those who receive treatment at the Fayetteville VA Medical Center and Womack Army Medical Center. As a retired paratrooper with three tours of duty at Fort Bragg and three combat deployments in Vietnam, I have personally witnessed the immense struggles many veterans face. Many live with the invisible wounds of PTSD and the lasting physical pain from combat injuries. Sadly, traditional treatments often fail to provide the relief they so desperately need.
Because cannabis remains classified as a Schedule I substance, veterans who primarily rely on VA health services are largely denied access to cannabis-based therapies. This classification implies that cannabis has no accepted medical use, a notion increasingly contradicted by growing research and patient experiences. Veterans, who have sacrificed so much for their country, deserve access to all effective treatment options, including cannabis, to manage chronic pain, anxiety, depression, and PTSD.
Fortunately, as Senator Lazzara highlights, there has been important movement on this issue. Former President Donald Trump has expressed his support for rescheduling cannabis, opening the door for federal agencies to reconsider outdated policies. If the federal government follows through, it would be a transformative step for countless patients and veterans who depend on cannabis-based treatments to improve their quality of life.
Beyond the individual health benefits, rescheduling cannabis could also foster economic growth by boosting the medical cannabis industry, creating jobs, and encouraging innovation in the pharmaceutical field.
Senator Lazzara’s advocacy reflects a broader recognition that change is overdue. Veterans, patients, and researchers all stand to benefit from a more rational and compassionate approach to cannabis policy — one rooted in science, health needs, and economic opportunity.