This is a guest opinion column
After more than 25 years in military and security operations, including 23 years of service in the U.S. Army, I have seen what real sacrifice looks like. I have led troops in combat zones, advised senior military leaders, and overseen thousands of high-risk missions in Iraq and Afghanistan. I have also watched far too many of my brothers and sisters in arms return home carrying invisible wounds—physical pain, trauma, and post-traumatic stress that no number of medals or parades can heal. That is why I support the rescheduling of cannabis from a Schedule I to a Schedule III substance under federal law.
Veterans across this country are in desperate need of effective, accessible treatments for conditions like chronic pain, PTSD, traumatic brain injury, and anxiety. Alabama is home to more than 370,000 veterans, many of whom are underserved by our current healthcare system. The standard treatment options—often opioids, benzodiazepines, or powerful antidepressants—can be addictive, carry severe side effects, and do not always provide the relief our veterans need…