Veterans

A Florida hemp business owned by an ex-Marine was denied its service-disabled veteran-owned small business designation by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs over concerns that its recognition might amount to a federal agency endorsing a federally illegal drug.

Veterans Affairs Secretary Denis McDonough said recently that he sympathizes with veterans who have turned to medical cannabis for relief and that the VA is “looking into” improving cannabis access for veterans.

Cara Wietstock, host of Fresh Cut by Ganjapreneur, meets with Colin Wells, a US Army Infantry veteran and founder of Veterans Walk and Talk. Cara and Colin explore how he overcame his own addiction after experiencing homelessness, the veteran experience, and how the combination of cannabis, psychedelics, nature, and community can improve veterans’ lives.

Missouri officials transferred more than $6.8 million of the state’s $8.9 million in cannabis tax revenue to the Veterans Commission, as required under the state’s medical cannabis law.

U.S. Navy veteran Howard Bailey, who was deported to Jamaica over a cannabis conviction, has returned home after more than a decade.

A key Senate committee approved language that would let VA doctors make medical cannabis recommendations for veterans in states with medical cannabis programs.

North Carolina’s medical cannabis bill has passed the Senate Finance Committee, its second victory so far on its way to a potential floor vote in the Senate.

A new study shows an increase in the number of U.S. military veterans using cannabis, although Veteran Affairs doctors still cannot recommend it to patients at agency-run hospitals.

Texas lawmakers approved legislation over the weekend to study the effectiveness of psychedelics in treating PTSD among veterans and to reduce possession penalties for cannabis concentrates.

Lawmakers in the U.S. House and Senate have proposed bipartisan legislation to federally legalize medical cannabis for combat veterans.

California nonprofit Battle Brothers Foundation has been approved to launch an observational study covering the use of medical cannabis to help treat PTSD in veterans.

A recent study funded by the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment found that patients suffering from PTSD who used medical cannabis reported a greater decrease in symptoms than a control group.

Florida’s Marion County School Board has fired high school dean Mike Hickman, who is also a military veteran, over his use of medical cannabis to treat combat wound-related chronic pain.

Sean Worsley, an Iraq War veteran and Purple Heart recipient who was facing a multi-year prison sentence for cannabis possession in Alabama, has been released on parole.

Judge Samuel Junkin in Pickens County, Alabama has denied a motion to release disabled Iraq war veteran Sean Worsely from jail for cannabis possession, despite a community supervision agreement for Worsely that included an employment offer and stable, local housing options.

An amendment to the must-pass National Defense Authorization Act would give a path for service members to re-enlist in the military even if they have consumed cannabis during their time away.

Two bills aiming to improve veterans’ access to medical cannabis have passed through the House Veterans’ Affairs Committee this week.

A recent Veterans Affairs memo confirmed that employees of the agency can still be fired for cannabis use, even if they live in states where it has been legalized for personal use.

Companion legislation recently proposed in both of Florida’s legislative bodies proposes waiving medical cannabis card fees for veterans.

A recent study published in the Journal of Psychopharmacology suggests that medical cannabis could significantly reduce PTSD symptoms such as severe depression and suicidal states.

Former Veterans Affairs Secretary David Shulkin has called on the federal government to eliminate the “hoops” making cannabis research so difficult.

Jason Ambrosino is founder of the Veterans Hemp Market, a New York-based organization dedicated to providing hemp flower products for “military veterans, patriots, and the everyday warrior.”

A recent study shows that nearly two-thirds of military veterans in California have replaced prescription medications with cannabis in the treatment of chronic pain, anxiety, PTSD, depression, and insomnia.

A consultant for the Department of Veteran Affairs said that until the DEA and Department of Justice establish clear guidelines, the agency could not move forward with approval of cannabis for vets.