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.

Cannabis, on the other hand, has shown promising therapeutic potential. A 2022 analysis of data from over a 10 year time period stated that cannabis-based treatments improved overall symptoms of PTSD. But because it remains classified as a Schedule I drug—deemed to have “no accepted medical use” under federal law—research has been stifled, VA doctors remain restricted from recommending it, and veterans are left with limited options. If cannabis is not rescheduled, scientists will continue to face numerous hurdles in their research. As it stands, researchers must abide by stricter regulations such as applying for special licenses and sourcing cannabis from specific suppliers.

Rescheduling cannabis to Schedule III would be a game-changer. It would open the door to federally approved medical research and help legitimize cannabis as a treatment option within the VA system.

This is not a call for recreational use. This is about expanding medical access for those who have worn the uniform, risked their lives, and returned home looking for a way to live with dignity and peace. This is about science, safety, and solutions—not stigma.

President Donald Trump has publicly voiced his support for rescheduling cannabis. When leaders from both sides of the aisle agree on something, especially in today’s political climate, we ought to pay attention. In 2023, the Department of Health and Human Services recommended that the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) reschedule cannabis. With so many leaders weighing in and calling for this change, the DEA should move swiftly to finalize this change.

As the CEO of a security and detection services company based in Opelika, I understand the concerns around regulation, compliance, and enforcement. But I also see the opportunity—to create a responsible, medically focused cannabis framework that respects public safety while honoring those who served.

Rescheduling cannabis is not a radical idea. It is a rational step forward—and one that could change lives for thousands of veterans who call this state home. We ask our service members to fight for our freedom. The least we can do is give them the tools they need to heal.

Eric Hare serves as CEO of Global K9 Protection Group based in Opelika, Alabama.