The top veterans’ organization in the country has entered into a partnership that is a world first with a hemp THC drink company. This licensing deal will promote veterans’ services as well as cannabis drinks, which could be a good alcohol substitute.
Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States announced on Tuesday that it had reached an agreement to produce hemp-derived THC drinks by Torch Drinks. Along with the agreement on branding, cannabis drinks will also be sold at VFW post across the United States in states where the products are legal.
The announcement states that “the VFW understands the importance to provide veterans with alternative alcohol consumption. Through this partnership, the VFW will be able to offer members in the states where Torch drinks are legal alcohol alternatives which may benefit veterans who have service-connected injury, chronic pain, or invisible wounds from war.”
It is the first time that a large veterans’ service organization has worked in this way with a marijuana company.
Select Torch Drinks products will carrying VFW branding—and proceeds from the sale of those drinks will go toward initiatives such as the organization’s national veterans service program that provides no-cost assistance in filing health claims with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), as well as another program delivering financial assistance to veteran families.
VFW Commander Carol Whitmore, in a release to the press stated: “VFW’s number one priority is to ensure that veterans and families get all benefits and services they earned for their service.” Torch’s partnership with us helps raise money for these vital programs, while also giving us the opportunity to find better ways of meeting the evolving needs of a veterans community.
The VFW has always supported reforms in legislation to increase access and research for alternative treatment options, such as medical cannabis, hemp products, and psychedelics. An official from the VFW testified in Congress on this issue earlier this year.
According to the organization, more than 1.4 millions VFW and auxiliaries are located in nearly 6,500 Posts in over 6,000 countries.
Collin Kerrigan said, “Torch Drinks, as a co-founder, is very proud to be working with the VFW in order to offer veterans a social alternative unlike any other, that is safe and federally compliant.” Torch Beverage Company co-founder Collin Kerrigan said, “Our customers tell us that Torch products promote relaxation and revitalization. That’s why we would like to offer them to more people.
It is his mission to promote research, discussions and ongoing support of the men and women in uniform who serve for the United States. It is a true honor to be able to announce this.
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While marijuana and veterans groups have launched recent campaigns to mobilize vets in an effort to persuade Republican legislators that federal cannabis reform is a good idea.
Federally funded research published in August on the relationship between PTSD and cannabis use in veterans found that marijuana is associated with milder PTSD symptoms and reduced negative affect—the tendency to experience frequent or intense negative emotions.
In the same month, Senate passed a large spending bill that included provisions allowing VA doctors to prescribe medical marijuana to veterans who live in states where it is legal.
In past years, both the House and Senate have included provisions in their respective MilConVA measures that would permit VA doctors to make the medical cannabis recommendations, but they have never been enacted into law.
Due to this, both chambers have adopted different languages this year. This will again be discussed in a conference committee, or in informal bicameral discussions, and could, therefore, end up missing from the final package that is sent to President, just as it has in previous years.
Meanwhile, a GOP senator said in August that he’s “confident” that, under the Trump administration, lawmakers will help secure alternative treatment options for veterans—including access to psychedelic medicine, as multiple veterans have personally requested from him after disclosing they’ve travelled abroad for the novel therapy.
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