National Commander Wiley praises executive order reclassifying cannabis

Reclassification will allow the FDA to conduct research into its therapeutic value for veterans.

American Legion National Commander Dan K. Wiley stood alongside President Donald Trump in the Oval Office Thursday when the president issued an executive order to reclassify cannabis in a way that will allow FDA to legally conduct research into its therapeutic value for veterans.

“This is a really important executive order, and The American Legion has long advocated for this change,” Wiley said in the White House. “Cannabis being classified schedule 1 blocks large-scale, randomized clinical trials examining cannabis’ impact on PTSD, TBI, sleep disruption, anxiety, depression, and chronic pain … conditions strongly associated with veteran suicide.”

The American Legion passed a resolution in 2016 to reclassify cannabis to recognize it “as a drug with potential medical value.”

Wiley made clear that this move does not imply American Legion support for legalization of cannabis for non-medical use.

“Reclassification is not legalization and does not mandate use,” Wiley said. “It simply removes federal barriers to research and informed decision-making. It promotes transparency, clinician oversight, informed consent, and honest patient-provider discussions – reducing unsafe self-medication. Supporting reclassification demonstrates the Legion’s commitment to science, oversight, and saving lives through evidence-based public health policy.”