With over 30 years of service in uniform—across both the U.S. Army and the U.S. Navy—I have had the honor of serving alongside brave men and women from every branch of the military. That experience gave me a deep understanding of the physical and emotional toll military service can take. My life’s work has been dedicated to this country—first on the battlefront, then as Alabama’s Veterans Affairs Commissioner—and I firmly believe our duty to veterans does not end when their service does.
That is why I support rescheduling cannabis from a Schedule I to a Schedule III substance under the Controlled Substances Act. This is not about politics, it is about people. Specifically, it is about the nearly 400,000 veterans living in Alabama and the millions more across this nation who are searching for relief from chronic pain, post-traumatic stress, anxiety, and other underlying conditions.
Let us be honest: the current system is not working for everyone. Many veterans are prescribed cocktails of opioids, antidepressants, and anti-anxiety medications. These drugs often come with serious side effects and a potential for addiction. Meanwhile, a growing number of veterans report that medical cannabis offers real, tangible relief—with fewer complications. A 2023 survey showed that 91% of veterans reported that cannabis improved their quality of life, with 21% using fewer opioids.
Yet, because cannabis is still classified as a Schedule I drug—grouped with substances like heroin—research into its medical potential remains severely restricted. Doctors at the VA have their hands tied and cannot even discuss cannabis as a treatment option for veterans. Scientists are limited in what they can study. And veterans are left in limbo, forced to choose between their health and the law.
Rescheduling cannabis to Schedule III would not be a radical step. It would be a responsible one. It would open the door to more comprehensive research into how cannabis can treat conditions like PTSD and chronic pain. It would give healthcare professionals more freedom to discuss cannabis as a closely monitored and regulated medical treatment option. And it would help bring this conversation into the light, where it belongs, especially when we have evidence that points to the efficacy of cannabis-based treatments. A study published in 2022 included an analysis of multiple studies from over a 10-year period that showed improvement of overall PTSD symptoms.
President Donald Trump has publicly supported rescheduling cannabis—recognizing, as many of us do, that the time for change has come. This is an issue that should transcend party lines and political agendas. It is about compassion. It is about evidence-based care. And most importantly, it is about giving our veterans every tool possible to live healthy, dignified lives after service.
When I accepted the role of Veterans Affairs Commissioner back in 2019, I made a promise: to fight for the respect and care our veterans deserve. That promise has not changed. If we truly honor our heroes, then we must be willing to explore every option that can improve their quality of life.
On a personal note, I have seen a similar scenario play out in the past. My own father, a combat-wounded World War II veteran, was suffering from what would turn out to be terminal cancer 25 years ago. He eventually suffered terribly from that cancer and the chemotherapy-induced nausea, pain, and appetite loss that came with it. Luckily, a synthetic form of a cannabis-related drug, Marinol, had just recently been rescheduled to Schedule III of the Controlled Substances Act, reflecting a finding that there were strong medical benefits from use of appropriate and medically monitored THC-based drugs. My father, one of the most conservative men I have ever known, was at first morally reluctant to try what he considered some form of cannabis. His doctor finally convinced him to do so, and it frankly made his final months bearable. I have never forgotten that, and I would love to see similar compassion shared with other suffering veterans.
Rescheduling cannabis is not the end of the conversation—but it is an essential beginning. Let us put science to work. Let us open the door to healing. And let us do right by the men and women who have already given so much for our country.
Kent Davis is a retired Rear Admiral from the United States Navy, former Alabama Veterans Affairs Commissioner, and Vice-President of the River Regions Veterans Coalition