New England Veterans’ Alliance: Vermont Legalization Would Benefit Veterans

March 27, 2017

OPEN LETTER TO THE VERMONT HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES FROM THE NEW ENGLAND VETERANS’ ALLIANCE

Dear Members of the House of Representatives,

The New England Veterans’ Alliance Inc represents over 150 US Military Veterans in Vermont and across New England who favor safe and legal access to cannabis.  We write to you, on behalf of our diverse membership, in support of H.170, a bill to legalize personal possession and cultivation of small amounts of cannabis by adults aged 21 and over.

While many of our military veteran members participate in, and advocate for, their respective states’ medical marijuana programs, many more remain unable to qualify as patients due to overly strict definitions of qualifying conditions.  Veterans who choose to use cannabis as a natural, plant-based option to manage physical ailments such as insomnia and anxiety are treated as criminals under the law.

As those who have personally sacrificed for freedom and liberty, we strongly believe that all Americans should have the right to use this plant, whether treating a particular medical condition, as an alternative to alcohol, or simply to sleep better at night.

Maine and Massachusetts have recently legalized the personal possession and cultivation of cannabis via referendum, significantly improving the lives of our members in those states. Passing H.170 will give Vermont veterans the option to safely and legally use cannabis without needless stigmatization or fear of prosecution.

We urge you to swiftly pass H.170, for the health and wellbeing of Vermont’s brave veterans, and the tens of thousands of Vermonters who responsibly use cannabis today.

Sincerely,

Derek Cloutier, President / Co-Founder
Corey Kupiec, VT Regional Representative

THE NEW ENGLAND VETERANS’ ALLIANCE

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ABOUT THE NEW ENGLAND VETERANS ALLIANCE INC.

New England Veterans Alliance Inc. is a non-profit organization that cultivates veterans of all conflicts regardless of age, gender, preference or orientation and their families through peer contact and alternative wellness. Our vision is to assist and advocate for higher quality of life for veterans through both self sufficiency and by connecting fellow veterans to a growing network of veteran-owned and veteran-supporting resources.

New England Veterans Alliance Inc.

P.O. Box 1632

Fitchburg, MA 01420

(508) 603-6382

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