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Mental illness claims the lives of more American soldiers than armed conflict. In 2014, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) reported that an estimated 20 veterans commit suicide every day. Regardless of age or time of service, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), depression and other mental illnesses affect soldiers at much higher rates than the general populace. And they can make acclimating from active duty to civilian life a daily battle. There are many veterans who have found great success using cannabis to treat disorders like PTSD, and the VA reported that there was a 17 percent reduction in opioid use in veterans who consumed medical cannabis. However, many veterans still face difficulty in learning about and obtaining medical cannabis.

“We’re doing this in the hopes that we can convince the VA and the government that this is a drug with medicinal benefit, so that they can reschedule it and the VA can actually prescribe it.”

Although the VA now allows its healthcare providers to discuss cannabis, they still cannot recommend it to patients. Also, despite patients being allowed to participate in state-run medical cannabis programs, the VA will not pay for prescriptions. Finally, only 29 states have legal cannabis markets so many veterans are left with a hard decision: Take medications that have been linked to heightened suicidal thoughts, or take no medication at all. Others with access to cannabis simply cannot afford it. Fortunately, members of the cannabis community have stepped up to offer aid to our nation’s heroes.

Santa Cruz Veterans Alliance

Founded by Jason Sweatt and Aaron Newsom, the Santa Cruz Veterans Alliance (SCVA) has been assisting veterans with cannabis since 2011. As veterans themselves, Sweatt and Newsom are keenly aware of the struggle many of their comrades face day-to-day. They’ve also felt the negative side effects of pharmaceuticals. The search for alternatives led them to try cannabis, and they instantly recognized the impact it could have on veterans facing similar situations. Sweatt told CULTURE he was especially struck by the calming effect of cultivating cannabis crops.

“I started using cannabis as an alternative to the medicine the VA was prescribing, and I was living in Hawaii so it was kind of difficult for me to find quality cannabis there. So, I started cultivating myself and saw relief,” Sweatt said. “Planting something and watching it from start to finish—taking care of it, nurturing it. You know after watching a lot of death and destruction—you know mayhem—it was a very calming and rewarding aspect. The whole process.”

Sweatt met Newsom through the Farmer Veteran Coalition, and they soon began cultivating together. Realizing the similarity of their experiences, they decided to assist fellow veterans through cultivation and distribution of their harvests. From there the SCVA was formed, and the Veterans Compassion Program (VCP) was implemented. The VCP makes it possible for veterans to gather for emotional support and obtain free medical cannabis—roughly four grams—grown and tested by the SCVA. Additionally, edibles, waxes and other cannabis products are donated by local dispensaries. The meetings occur once a month, and anywhere from 100 to 150 veterans participate.

“They [veterans] still want to be on medicine; they just don’t want to be on medicine that’s prescribed [by the VA],” Sweatt said. “We’re doing this in the hopes that we can convince the VA and the government that this is a drug with medicinal benefits so that they can reschedule it and the VA can actually prescribe it.” The SCVA cultivates several high-potency—primarily indica—strains, researched and tested to be beneficial for the conditions veterans face. In June, the SCVA opened a dispensary to help fund the Veterans Compassion Program.

“We’re open to the public. We are a licensed cultivator; we wholesale to dispensaries in our area, and we continue our initial mission for all veterans in our area that are qualified to be medical cannabis patients,” Sweatt said. “Anyone can come by our cannabis group, but what really helps is the public supporting our dispensary. That covers a big portion of our gifting because the dispensary helps us continue our mission.”

High End Society

Mae Bereal isn’t a combat veteran, but she is a mother of four. And she’s dedicated to making people feel good the way only a mother can. High End Society, a Los Angeles-based business specializing in cannabis-infused treats, was conceived by Bereal after she adopted holistic approaches to raising her children. “I started getting really into all things natural,” Bereal said in an interview with CULTURE. “All organic products—things like that. And from there I just started researching into cannabis, this wonderful, natural plant and saw all the possible health benefits.”

Bereal has been cooking most of her life and found the transition from car seats to cannabis was an easy one. After months of intensive research into cannabis—plus plenty of trial and error in the kitchen—she perfected her organic baked goods. She says the idea to use her business for philanthropy came naturally. “I always had more [cookies and pies] than I needed, so I would end up giving a lot of it away,” Bereal said. “All I want to do is help people and make them feel good. Knowing how expensive [medical care] is, I started doing charity work with children with cancer, and after dating a veteran I really developed a soft spot in my heart for them.”

As a part of her “2 Buds, 1 Stone” program, for every product purchased, Bereal donates cannabis to someone in need. On the first Monday of each month she holds “Mary Jane Mondays,” working with local dispensaries to donate cannabis goods to veterans and individuals with life threatening illnesses who can’t afford medication. “I just think it’s important to break the stigma around cannabis,” Bereal said. “And giving back can bring it into a different light.”

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