the country , with over nine million veterans enrolled for healthcare . There are approximately 150 VA Hospitals across the country with 1,200 clinics that serve rural communities and outlying areas , and they span the 37 legal cannabis states . And uniquely , according to polls from major veteran service organizations ( VSOs , such as the American Legion , VFW , and AMVETS ), veterans and their families want access to medical cannabis as an option to treat the long-lasting wounds of war .
The Missouri Veterans Commission ( MVC ), led by Retired Colonel Paul Kirchhoff , has the responsibility of receiving , managing , and making recommendations to the Governor for the use of tax funds garnered from cannabis sales in Missouri . The MVC has been great recently in opening the conversation with the veteran community and now the cannabis community regarding the use of funds . The MVC recently explained that the expenditure of Missouri tax revenues from medical marijuana sales received by the Commission is governed by MO 11 CSR 85-1.060 . Through these provisions , the Commission formulates its priorities for medical marijuana tax funds and then submits its proposals to the Governor for consideration to be included in the annual budget . Thereafter , the Governor submits his / her budget to the General Assembly for consideration as it works its way through the appropriation process . Therefore , while the Commission ’ s preferences for how medical marijuana tax funds are utilized are certainly considered in the process , they are also not conclusive on the matter .
Formulation of the Commission ’ s priorities for medical marijuana tax funds occurs at the MVC ’ s quarterly Commission meetings , which are open to the public . Anyone may attend these meetings . A notice of when and where the meetings occur is posted to the public on the website at Missouri Veterans Commission at https :// mvc . dps . mo . gov / about .
It has long been my hope and many others within the Missouri veteran community that tax funds collected from cannabis sales could be directed toward research and helping veterans transition to cannabis , a measurably safer approach to health and wellness .
Missouri ’ s strong and creative academic institutions , public , private , land-grant , and historically black universities should be heavily engaged in the research process . Support from those such as Saint Louis University , where veterans are using their
GI Bill to obtain graduate certificates from itsCannabis Science and Operations courses , should be engaged to develop studies . One such study could be focused and coordinated in Kansas City in collaboration with the
Kansas City VA Hospital , state-legal cannabis manufacturers , dispensaries , industry leaders , and academic institutions such as
Missouri University ( UMKC ,
UMSL ,
Columbia ,
Rolla S & T ),
Kansas University Medical Center ,
Kansas State University , and more .
It would be a simple task to recruit veteran volunteers diagnosed with chronic pain to participate in this pilot program and observe them over 6-12 months . Studies would also benefit from collaboration and support from AMVETS Post 181 ( Kansas City ) and the Kansas City VA Hospital to share the message of this opportunity . Veteran volunteers could respond to electronic questionnaires and participate in an intake process to allow researchers to understand the history of the patients ’ ailments and their previous pain regimen and treatment history . Technology and normalized discussions with VA doctors would help identify dosage , types of cannabis , methods of consumption , and more that are proving effective for the veteran population .
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MO Research Framework Example : The objective of any proposed cannabis research project should be to establish a replicable model that could be rapidly expanded across the United States with assistance from veterans providing leadership throughout the cannabis industry , the Veterans Health Administration , and the academic backbone of the country . Missouri is uniquely positioned in time and space . This Memorial Day , we make recognition of the fact that we have lost more veterans to suicide and overdoses in the last decade than we did in both wars in Iraq and Afghanistan . In honor of those we have lost , I believe we owe it to them to help Missouri show vision and leadership and to serve as a pilot and host research projects and the conversation around cannabis and what it means to the veteran community .
Special Addendum : Beyond the current opportunity afforded to Missouri is an aspect of the adult-use legalization language being put forth by Legal MO 2022 , and that is special licenses being granted for those who intend to “ facilitate scientific research or education ”— See Sec II , Subsection 4 , 1 ( g )( i ) of the Legal Missouri 2022 Petition . This will further set the conditions for Missouri to be a research hub for cannabis and create an atmosphere that is safer and more effective for veterans to thrive and survive at a time when they are feeling left out or trapped by the very institution that they served while defending the Nation . So , this year , as we observe Memorial Day , please consider speaking to your lawmakers , academic institutions , and the Missouri Veterans Commission to tell them you want medical cannabis research to take place in Missouri for the betterment of our society and to advance cannabis as a medicine . The U . S . military has been leading the way in medical advances since its inception . Today should be no different .
1 . Secretary of the VA stated that he seeks to “ normalize the conversation between veterans and the VA on the subject of cannabis . www . marijuanamoment . net / va-seeks-tonormalize-marijuana-conversations-withveteran-patients-though-new-researchwebsite /
Todd Scattini is a 27-year veteran LTC , U . S . Army ( Ret .). A West Point graduate , Todd commanded troops at the platoon and company level , and served as a military diplomat and Defense Attaché in numerous countries . He deployed twice to Afghanistan , serving as a senior advisor to the coalition commander . He finished his career as an instructor at the Command and General Staff College in Ft . Leavenworth , KS . Todd has been an activist pushing for medical cannabis access for veterans across the country serving in board advisory positions at the Veterans Cannabis Project , Kansas Cannabis Coalition , and the Hemp for Victory Foundation . His company , Harvest 360 , is a full-service cannabis consulting firm specializing in helping clients become licensed operators . Todd . scattini @ harvest360 . co