About Us
After decades of war, veterans have been left with very few resources to find relief and comfort from the physical, mental and moral injuries derived from these conflicts.
We know statistically, the reported number of 22 veterans committing suicide a day is actually much higher. PTSD is one of the most common ailments veterans face post deployment. Currently, the only therapies available through the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) are often cocktails of heavy duty pharmaceutical medications. Many veterans choose to not want to consume these medications because of their side effects and other interactions.
The people of Michigan voted to make legal both medical cannabis and recreational cannabis in 2008 and 2018. Legalizing cannabis created an alternative method to healing that veterans did not have access to in the past. Despite legalization, veterans still often face barriers to access via not being able to afford the product, or not being able to access the product because of their disabilities.
The VAP aims to bridge that gap and not only provide veterans in need with pennied out cannabis products but also access to professionals who can inform them how best to use the products for their particular situation. The VAP believes access to education on cannabis products is just as important as the products themselves.
How does it work?
Veterans in need can visit our website and fill out a screening application. Each veteran is closely screened to evaluate their needs and to confirm their veteran status. The screening includes an evaluation of appropriate military discharge paperwork including the veteran’s DD214. Once the veteran has been properly screened and their needs determined, the veteran will then be instructed how to obtain their pennied out product through our established network of participating Michigan licensed cannabis businesses.
All participating licensees have been screened by the VAP to establish their ability to provide quality cannabis products and education to meet the needs of each assigned veteran. Once the veteran and the licensee have been paired, the veteran will visit the assigned provisioning center. The provisioning center will verify the veteran’s identity via their drivers license and their VA identification.
The VAP has received permission from the Michigan Cannabis Regulatory Agency (CRA), more specifically from Executive Director Brian Hanna to provide eligible cannabis products to veterans by “pennying out” cannabis products through the METRC system. For veterans unable to leave their homes, alternate accommodations such as licensed delivery will be used to ensure access to for veterans unable to visit a provisioning center. Each veteran will receive an allotment of licensed, tested cannabis products that have made their way through the proper regulatory channels. These allotments will be made monthly and will vary based on availability and need.
INTERESTED IN HELPING?
Listen to the Podcast
A voice for the Michigan veteran community, FOB 16:20 highlights the critically important stories of the Michigan men and women who served their country and continue to fight battles at home.
The most important factor of this program is its sustainability. Veterans must be able to not only rely on quality products, but the sustainability of access to those products. Interested licensees can reach out to the VAP at anton@veteranaccessprogram.com.
This program is about creating a coalition of licensees from all sectors of the industry. We need cultivators, processors, secure transporters and provisioning centers to help maintain access to products. By creating a coalition of brands, we are leveraging our community to help as many veterans as possible. We understand that different brands may be able to donate different quantities of products. Although the hope is to eventually have direct quantity requirements for participating brands and provisioning centers, for now, our goal is to help as many veterans as soon as possible with whatever product is available.
The VAP has already helped several veterans obtain quality cannabis products to help aid them in their recovery. The VAP is not providing the products themselves, but merely creating the access to the products. We have had veterans with serious ailments such as cancer and other devastating injuries obtain products and provide testimony to the relief those products have brought to their lives.
Your support is changing lives one veteran at a time, and we thank you for your support.