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Veterans ’ Benefits Withheld from G . I Bill
Cannabis education and training courses , including cultivation and distribution , not authorized for GI Bill Benefits .
by Todd Scattini , contributing writer
As a
Servicemen ’ s Readjustment Act of 1944 , and today
nation , we owe a debt of gratitude to the veterans who served our country with honor and bravery . The G . I . Bill was first established in 1944 as the
it is called the “ Post-9 / 11 G . I . Bill .” This program has helped make the United States one of the best-educated countries and an exceptional world leader . For nearly eight decades , the G . I . Bill has been a critical tool for easing the transition to civilian life for these heroes , providing them with access to education and training to help them build successful careers . In fact , just one year ago , I posted on LinkedIn how ecstatic I was that two veterans , Seth Hillman and Tim Harvey , had completed their courses for Saint Louis University ’ s ( SLU ) Cannabis Science and Operations program paying for this education with their hard-earned GI Bill education benefits .
The VA ’ s decision is particularly frustrating given the opportunities for employment in the cannabis industry .
While the United States heads toward a recession , it is expected that the expanding cannabis industry will create 108,000 jobs this year , including 16,000 in Missouri alone . What makes it an even more bitter pill to swallow is the overwhelming evidence of the benefits of medical marijuana for treating conditions such as chronic pain , PTSD , and traumatic brain injuries — all of which are common among veterans . Denying our veterans access to education and training in this field not only limits their career prospects but also restricts their ability to find effective treatments for their conditions . Plus , this limits our veterans and military from having a conversation about cannabis because they lack the vocabulary to do so .
I recently spoke to Stacy Godlewski , the director of SLU ’ s cannabis program . She informed me of very disappointing news that the Veterans Affairs ( VA ) Education Service ( EDU ) has stopped allowing the GI Bill to be used for cannabis education . Last July , the Veterans Affairs Education Service ( EDU ) issued a policy advisory to numerous universities offering cannabis education , stating that training courses related to cannabis , including cultivation and distribution , are not authorized for GI Bill benefits . EDU stated that the decision was made because marijuana remains illegal at a federal level , with no exception for the use of VA educational benefits . This decision is a clear example of how bureaucracy and outdated policies can hinder progress and limit opportunities for our veterans .
The cannabis industry across the country and around the world is rapidly expanding and has an ever-increasing demand for qualified professionals in areas such as cultivation , processing , and dispensing . And as more states legalize marijuana for medical and recreational use , the need for skilled workers in this industry will only continue to grow .
Moreover , the VA ’ s decision to exclude cannabis education from the list of approved programs under the GI Bill sends a troubling message to our veterans . It suggests that the VA is more concerned with adhering to outdated policies than providing our veterans with the support and resources they need to succeed in today ’ s economy . It ’ s a message that undermines the very purpose of the GI Bill and the sacrifices that our veterans have made .
U . S . Air Force Veteran George “ Papa Biz ” Biswell ( on left ) is this month ’ s winner of a new grow tent package from Hemp For Victory , presented by Co-Founder Todd Scattini . A Vietnam-era veteran , George is a based in Kansas City and is a Vietnam Veterans of America Veteran Service Organization leader .
20 April 2023