The founders of Veteran-owned and operated American Weed Co. (AmWeCo), a new cannabis company that is devoting a share of its revenues to fighting the epidemic of U.S. veteran suicide and modernizing outdated federal cannabis policies, today announced they will travel to Washington, DC next week for meetings with lawmakers as a new Republican majority in the US House ramps up. Their mission: legalize weed for every veteran nationwide. And they have the backing of a former Republican Speaker of the House.
"Veterans are the reason we are all free," said AmWeCo co-founders and co-CEOs Ryan Brooks and Sean Gilfillan. "We're stepping up for change, and we're calling on Republicans and Democrats alike in Washington to do the same. Legalize weed for Veterans now."
Brooks and Gilfillan will be in Washington, DC the week of March 6 urging legislators to support the Veterans Cannabis Use for Safe Healing Act (H.R. 394), bipartisan legislation authored by U.S. Rep. Greg Steube (R-FL) that would ensure veterans receive the appropriate treatment to address their health care needs by prohibiting the Secretary of Veterans Affairs from denying a veteran benefits due to the use of medical marijuana in states where the substance is legal.
"What Sean and Ryan are doing is admirable, and my guess is it's also going to be pretty effective," said former House Speaker John Boehner (R-OH). "Hearing directly from veterans and veterans' advocates about the healing potential of cannabis is what made me start to re-examine my position when I was in office, and these guys have a very powerful message."
AmWeCo will also be donating up to 10 percent of its net profits each year to Stop Soldier Suicide, where Sean is on the advisory board. AmWeCo revenues also fund the company's involvement in the National Cannabis Roundtable, an alliance of cannabis companies and other stakeholders working to modernize federal cannabis policy on behalf of veterans and other Americans from all walks of life.
