Veterans of war and medical cannabis gather to voice support for the legalization of cannabis for adults in California

Marin—A group of veterans and long-time activists join with Drug Policy Action at an 11 a.m. press conference on Friday in San Rafael to announce their overwhelming support for Proposition 64, the Adult Use of Marijuana Act, which will appear on the Nov. 8 ballot.  

Conflicting Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) policies at the state and federal level have left many medical cannabis patients who are veterans afraid to talk with their VA doctor about medical cannabis. They are afraid that they will lose their VA benefits by admitting cannabis use. And, in some cases, this has happened. Prop. 64 will allow veterans to access the cannabis they need anonymously, without risking their benefits.

Prop. 64 is comprehensive and thoughtful public policy which will strengthen California, end the failed criminalization of marijuana, and serve as a model for the rest of the nation. This measure reflects the input of hundreds of organizations and thousands of individuals and experts to create gold-standard marijuana policy in a state as important, and as complex, as California. Proposition 64 protects small businesses, industry workers, medical patients, children, communities of color, and the environment.  

What: Press conference
When: Friday, October 21, 11 a.m.
Where: Avenue of the Flags Monument, Marin Veterans Memorial Auditorium, 10 Avenue Of The Flags, San Rafael, CA 94903
Who: Lynnette Shaw: Founder of the Marin Alliance, the country’s first medical cannabis dispensary; Etienne Fontan: Veteran and Director of Berkeley Patients Group; Ryan Miller: Veteran and founder of Operation EVAC, a support group for veterans who use medical cannabis; Sgt. Aaron Augustis: Operation Iraqi Freedom Veteran, Founder Veterans Cannabis Group 

Contact:
Amanda Reiman, 510-730-2811
or Tommy McDonald, 510-679-2311

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