Congressman Brown's Amendment To Study Cannabis Reform In The Military Justice System Passes House Armed Services Committee

Statement

Congressman Anthony G. Brown (MD-04) released the following statement on the House Armed Service Committee passing his provision to study the military's approach to cannabis-related offenses as part of the FY23 National Defense Authorization Act on a bipartisan vote:

"As states around the country and the House take steps to reform our approach to cannabis, we need to ensure the military justice system reflects those changes. Today, cannabis-related offices are treated harshly in comparison with other comparable offenses. My amendment doesn't change current law, but what it does do is require our armed services to review and provide recommendations for potential reform. This is an important step in our efforts to ensure our military justice system is providing fair treatment to every servicemember."

Congressman Brown's amendment would require the Military Justice Review Panel to develop recommendations specifying appropriate sentencing ranges for offenses involving the use and possession of marijuana. The panel is directed to study how sentences imposed for marijuana compare to the sentences imposed for comparable offenses, such as alcohol, and the overall burden on the military justice system of our current approach to marijuana-based offenses.

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