Organic Remedies, a medical cannabis cultivation and research company, participated in the Wreaths Across America program to honor US veterans at Pennsylvania military cemeteries. The company sponsored and delivered over 1,000 wreaths to the graves of fallen heroes on December 18, 2023.
Wreaths Across America: A National Tribute to Veterans
Wreaths Across America is a nonprofit organization that coordinates wreath-laying ceremonies at over 2,500 locations across the United States, at sea, and abroad. The mission of the organization is to remember, honor, and teach about the service and sacrifice of US veterans.
The program started in 1992, when Morrill Worcester, the owner of Worcester Wreath Company, donated 5,000 surplus wreaths to Arlington National Cemetery. Since then, the program has grown to include millions of volunteers and supporters who help place wreaths on veterans’ graves every year in December.
Organic Remedies has been a proud sponsor of Wreaths Across America since 2019. The company has donated over 3,000 wreaths in total, and has also encouraged its employees, patients, and partners to join the program and volunteer at local cemeteries.
Organic Remedies: A Medical Cannabis Company with a Mission
Organic Remedies is a medical cannabis cultivation and research company based in Pennsylvania. The company operates three medical cannabis dispensaries and a state-of-the-art cultivation facility. The company is also involved in clinical research projects with several academic institutions, such as Penn State College of Medicine and Drexel University College of Medicine.
The company’s mission is to provide safe, effective, and affordable medical cannabis products to patients suffering from various qualifying conditions, such as chronic pain, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), cancer, epilepsy, and more.
The company has a special focus on serving veterans, who are disproportionately affected by some of these conditions. The company offers a 20% discount to veterans, and also provides education and outreach programs to help them access medical cannabis treatment.
The company’s CEO, Eric Hauser, is a veteran himself, who served in the US Army for 10 years. He said that honoring veterans with Wreaths Across America is a way of expressing gratitude and respect for their service.
“We are proud to support Wreaths Across America and honor our fallen heroes who made the ultimate sacrifice for our country. We are also committed to serving our living heroes, who deserve access to safe and effective medical cannabis treatment. We believe that medical cannabis can improve the quality of life for many veterans who suffer from chronic pain, PTSD, and other conditions,” he said.
The Impact of Medical Cannabis on Veterans’ Health
According to the US Department of Veterans Affairs, about 20% of veterans who served in Iraq and Afghanistan suffer from PTSD, and about 50% of veterans with PTSD also suffer from chronic pain. Additionally, veterans are twice as likely to die from accidental opioid overdoses than non-veterans.
Medical cannabis has been shown to have potential benefits for treating PTSD and chronic pain, as well as reducing opioid use and dependence. However, federal law prohibits VA doctors from recommending or prescribing medical cannabis to veterans, even in states where it is legal.
This creates a barrier for many veterans who want to try medical cannabis as an alternative or adjunct therapy. Some veterans may also face stigma or lack of information about medical cannabis, which may prevent them from seeking treatment.
Organic Remedies aims to overcome these barriers by providing veterans with education, support, and access to medical cannabis products. The company also collaborates with researchers to generate evidence-based data on the efficacy and safety of medical cannabis for various conditions.
One of the company’s research partners is Dr. Marcel Bonn-Miller, an adjunct assistant professor at the University of Pennsylvania and a former VA researcher. He is leading a clinical trial to evaluate the effects of medical cannabis on PTSD symptoms and quality of life in veterans.
The trial, which is funded by a grant from the Pennsylvania Department of Health, is the first of its kind in the US. The trial will enroll 76 veterans with PTSD, who will receive either medical cannabis products or placebo products from Organic Remedies for 12 weeks. The trial will measure the changes in PTSD symptoms, sleep quality, pain, mood, and opioid use among the participants.
Dr. Bonn-Miller said that he hopes the trial will provide valuable insights into the potential benefits of medical cannabis for veterans with PTSD.
“PTSD is a serious and debilitating condition that affects many veterans and their families. Current treatments are not effective for everyone, and some may have negative side effects or risks. Medical cannabis may offer a promising alternative or complementary option for some veterans, but we need more research to confirm its efficacy and safety. We are grateful to Organic Remedies for their support and collaboration in this important study,” he said.
