Dear Senator or Representative: (insert name),

In the 20 years since the terrorist attacks of September 11th, the United States has been engaged in constant combat operations. Many veterans are exiting the service and finding that their transition into civilian life isn’t as easy as they thought. Much of this is due to the mental and physical wounds of war that can take a lifetime to properly heal from. Post Traumatic Stress Disorder affects 1 in 4 veterans, oftentimes when left undiagnosed this can spiral into opioid or alcohol abuse, homelessness, incarceration, and/or suicide/death.  Former service members are self medicating with cannabis, and recent research has shown great promise in it’s use to combat PTSD, substance dependency, as well as lead to a decrease in overall suicide rates. 

Cannabis is a life saving medicine, and it has been proven that ending prohibition leads to better outcomes for individuals and communities. 

For the good of all in the Old North State, legislators must come to an agreement to legalize cannabis and remove the stigma that prohibition has created. The freedom of choice should not be controversial. The North Carolina General Assembly must legalize cannabis immediately