John,

As we celebrate the vital contributions of America’s veterans, we must not forget that many of them are still being denied access to a critically important therapeutic tool: medical cannabis.

That’s right, VA doctors remain forbidden from recommending medical cannabis to veterans – even in jurisdictions where it is state-legal and regulated.

For many years, NORML has been working diligently with members of Congress to rescind this cruel federal prohibition. Earlier this year, members of the House and Senate each approved separate versions of the MilCon Appropriations bill containing language repealing this longstanding restriction. Unfortunately, a newly negotiated version of the bill, released this past weekend, reportedly excludes this important language. This sudden betrayal is unacceptable.

Many veterans suffer from chronic pain, post-traumatic stress, and sleep disturbances – conditions that may be effectively treated with medical cannabis. That’s why 75 percent of veterans say that they “would be interested in using cannabis or cannabinoid products as a treatment option if it were available.” Reducing barriers so that more veterans can participate in state-legal medical marijuana programs will improve lives and ensure that these patients are securing lab-tested cannabis products from state-licensed facilities rather than from the unregulated market.

This Veterans Day, show your support for those who have sacrificed so much by donating to NORML so that we can ensure that America’s vets are no longer treated like second-class citizens. Help us demand that members of Congress follow through on their pledge to stand with our veterans. With your assistance, we can make sure that those who served and sacrificed for their country are no longer denied the freedom to access medical cannabis.