Today’s news follows an IAVA-led letter to the DEA and Department of Justice earlier this year

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: 
April 30, 2024
CONTACT: press@iava.org

Washington, D.C. — News reports today indicated that the US Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) is recommending to President Biden that cannabis be reclassified as a Schedule III drug and to recognize the medicinal uses of the drug. This follows an IAVA-led letter from veterans groups earlier this year that urged the administration to reclassify cannabis  in order to get veterans greater access to this alternative therapy to treat their wartime wounds. 

“This decision is long overdue and the type of leadership that post-9/11 generation veterans have been thirsting for for years,” said Allison Jaslow, CEO of IAVA.  “Many veterans already use cannabis to treat their war time wounds – visible and invisible. They’re paying out of pocket to do so, not just because it works, but because we’re also the generation that grew up amidst the opioid crisis and are eager for any alternative to pills. It’s time for veterans who live in states who don’t have access to legal cannabis to finally have this treatment available to them. The next step is getting the VA to pay for it.”

IAVA is the voice for the post-9/11 veteran generation. With over 425,000 veterans and allies nationwide, IAVA is the leader in non-partisan veteran advocacy and public awareness. We drive historic impacts for veterans. Join the movement at iava.org/membership.

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