This is a guest column

Serving in law enforcement is more than just a job, it is a continuation of service, a commitment that often begins in the military and extends into civilian life. Many police officers are proud veterans who have already answered the call to defend our nation, only to return home and face new battles on our streets and within themselves. The ongoing exposure to trauma, violence, and human suffering can take a heavy toll, leaving many veterans who serve in law enforcement struggling with PTSD, anxiety, and depression. As a retired police chief and someone who has served alongside these brave men and women, I understand the weight of this invisible burden and the resilience it takes to carry it.

For many veterans, cannabis is essential in managing PTSD and chronic pain—and it offers relief without the harsh, often addictive side effects of other medications. However, the existing federal regulations create substantial obstacles to safe and legal access, often forcing veterans to choose between their health and their benefits. That is why rescheduling cannabis from a Schedule I to a Schedule III drug under the Controlled Substance Act is a necessary and long-overdue step toward ensuring veterans can access the treatments they need without fear of losing the benefits they have earned.

Reclassifying cannabis would bring federal policy in line with the views of most Americans, including many Republicans. This move is supported by President Donald Trump and acknowledges that the current federal classification of cannabis is obsolete and harmful.

The current federal framework creates significant barriers for veterans seeking safe and legal access to cannabis. Physicians at VA medical centers, for instance, are currently barred from recommending cannabis-related treatments. This restriction leaves former service members with limited and inadequate treatment options. Rescheduling cannabis would enable VA doctors to discuss alternative cannabis-based treatments with their patients, ensuring veterans receive the comprehensive care they deserve. Medical cannabis is a proven, safe, and common-sense personal health management option, often without the devastating side effects associated with opiate-based drugs.

Rescheduling cannabis is also essential to advancing scientific research and unlocking its full medical potential. Under its current Schedule I classification, researchers face significant barriers that hinder critical studies into cannabis’s therapeutic properties. Moving cannabis to Schedule III would remove many of these obstacles, enabling universities and research institutions to conduct rigorous, large-scale studies. This shift would pave the way for evidence-based breakthroughs in treatment, deepen our understanding of both benefits and risks, and ensure that future medical use is guided by high-quality scientific data rather than outdated stigma or speculation.

Make no mistake—this is not about legalizing cannabis. Rescheduling is a common-sense, evidence-based step to ensure veterans suffering from PTSD, chronic pain, and traumatic brain injuries can access the care they need. It is about fulfilling our duty to those who have already fulfilled theirs.

Veterans deserve every possible avenue of relief, including promising cannabis-based treatments. The science is clear, the need is urgent, and bipartisan support is strong. It is time for the White House and federal agencies—especially the DEA—to act. Rescheduling is not just a policy shift; it is a moral obligation. Our veterans have waited long enough.

Randy Stroup is the former chief of police for the town of Jackson’s Gap and nineteen-year veteran of the Alexander City Police Department. He is also the Founder of Cater2Cops, an Alabama based non-profit that serves law enforcement members and their families.