Veterans Compassion Network Provides Cannabis & Education To Those In Need

Veterans Cannabis Coalition (VCC), an independent advocacy group, has joined together with veteran’s charity Battle Brothers Foundation, Tikun Olam, an internationally recognized medical cannabis producer, Kannabis Works, one of the only licensed dispensaries in Orange County,  and Falcon Brands, a vertically-integrated cannabis company, to launch the Veterans Compassion Network. 

The Veterans Compassion Network is based on the recently passed Dennis Peron and Brownie Mary Compassion Act, SB-34, in California, which provides a legal means for licensed companies to donate medicinal cannabis products to verified patients. The passage of adult-use legalization in the state in 2016 eliminated several medical cannabis patient protections while also raising prices considerably, forcing many into the illicit market.

“We’ve spoken with veterans around the country who all tell similar stories of how they struggled with mental and physical challenges after their service, and the answer our healthcare system had for them were pharmaceuticals that ruined their quality of life,” said VCC founder Eric Goepel. “Those same veterans will describe how using cannabis had a life-changing impact on their health and in some cases helped them avoid becoming a statistic. That is why it is so important to make sure veterans have the access they need.”

 The event at the Kannabis Works dispensary in Santa Ana included an educational brief on current advocacy and research efforts followed by a panel with representatives from all of the participating organizations and companies. The panel focused on the intent and structure of the Veterans Compassion Network.

“Compassionate access was the very reason why California was the first state to legalize cannabis medically,” said Shelly McKay, Health & Wellness Educator at Kannabis Works.

“I am honored to be part of the Veterans Compassion Network so that retailers can provide compassionate access to veterans that suffer from PTSD and other common conditions veterans face.”

"Falcon Brands is excited and honored to be partnering with the Veterans Cannabis Coalition and contribute to their initiatives. Our mission as a company is to provide quality packaged cannabis goods at an affordable price. Our brands CRU, High Garden and Littles are accessible products for all. Cannabis for the people,” said Falcon Brands partner Mark Malatesta.

The creation of the program is a community response to the more than 100,000 veterans who have died by suicide or overdose since 9/11, according to Department of Veterans Affairs data.

Despite almost two decades and billions of dollars of government interventions, there has been no impact in the rate of veteran suicide and overdose. While the federal government ignores the potential of medicinal cannabis, according to surveys more than 20%, or nearly four million, veterans use cannabis to treat their service-connected injuries.