Grassroots Veteran Cannabis Organizations — VMCA & VAC

Veterans for Medical Cannabis Access (VMCA) and Veterans Action Council (VAC) represent the most authentically grassroots end of the veteran cannabis advocacy spectrum. Both are volunteer-supported, have no commercial relationships, and have track records predating the cannabis industry boom.

Authentic Grassroots

VMCA: Founded 2007 by Michael Krawitz, first American VSO for medical cannabis access. Negotiated first VA cannabis directive in 2010. No commercial relationships. VAC: All-volunteer coalition founded ~2020, no hierarchy, no headquarters, no dues. Both organizations represent cannabis advocacy without commercial entanglements.

Veterans for Medical Cannabis Access (VMCA)

Founded: 2007 by Michael Krawitz
Headquarters: Elliston, Virginia
Structure: 501(c) nonprofit, volunteer-supported
Funding: Donations; no product sales; no industry funding identified
Website: veteransformedicalcannabisaccess.org

VMCA was the first American veterans service organization designed specifically for medical cannabis access. Founder Michael Krawitz served in the U.S. Air Force (1981–1986) and experienced the VA system personally through service-connected disability and chronic pain management.

Major Accomplishments

2010: Successfully negotiated the first-ever VA system-wide medical cannabis policy directive — the precursor to VHA Directive 1315. Covered on the New York Times front page.
2020: International advocacy contributed to the UN vote removing cannabis from Schedule IV of the 1961 Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs.
Ongoing: Policy research, legislative testimony, veteran education, and coalition building with other advocacy organizations.
State-level work: Krawitz currently serves on the Virginia Cannabis Public Health Advisory Council.

Why VMCA Is Considered Authentic

No commercial relationships. No product sales, no cannabis industry funding, no corporate sponsorships.
Veteran-led and staffed. Krawitz is a disabled veteran; the organization's work reflects veteran patient perspectives.
Track record predating cannabis commerce. Founded in 2007, years before the modern cannabis industry became significant.
Policy positions sometimes conflict with industry interests. VMCA supports regulation, quality control, and patient safety measures that can be inconvenient for commercial operators.
Transparent finances. Publicly available nonprofit filings.

Veterans Action Council (VAC)

Founded: ~2020
Structure: All-volunteer coalition with no hierarchy, no headquarters, no dues
Approach: "Equal, international buddy check-in approach"
Operations: Biweekly online roundtables, policy submissions, coalition building

VAC is an unusual organization by American standards. It has no formal leadership, no employees, no headquarters, and no dues structure. Members participate as peers in biweekly online roundtables and work collectively on specific policy advocacy efforts.

Notable Work

Submitted a "Green Paper" to the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) outlining veteran cannabis policy reform recommendations
Coordinates with VMCA and other grassroots organizations on coalition advocacy
Michael Krawitz and other veteran advocates participate as members
Operates as a forum for cannabis-interested veterans to coordinate without building commercial or hierarchical infrastructure

Why VAC Represents Pure Grassroots

No hierarchy means no potential for commercial capture at the leadership level
No dues or product sales means no financial incentive beyond advocacy itself
No paid staff means participation is intrinsically motivated rather than career-dependent
Coalition model means positions reflect member consensus rather than top-down direction

What Pure Grassroots Can Do

Organizations like VMCA and VAC have strengths that commercial advocacy cannot match:

Credibility with skeptical audiences. When Krawitz speaks, he speaks as a patient advocate with no financial stake in the outcome.
Ability to take positions that conflict with industry. Grassroots organizations can support regulation, quality control, and patient-centered rules that industry may oppose.
Long-term consistency. VMCA has been consistent in its positions since 2007, across multiple political administrations and industry changes.
Moral authority. When authentic veteran voices speak, political and institutional audiences take them seriously in ways that paid lobbyists cannot replicate.

What Pure Grassroots Cannot Do

Match the lobbying resources of commercial organizations. Paid lobbyists, legal teams, and public relations operations require funding that grassroots organizations typically do not have.
Scale member outreach. Volunteer networks are inherently smaller than professionally-funded operations.
Respond as quickly to policy developments. Coordinating volunteer responses takes longer than deploying paid staff.
Sustain activity during difficult political periods. When cannabis reform momentum stalls, commercial organizations can continue while grassroots organizations may lose volunteer energy.

How Veterans Can Support Grassroots Organizations

Donate directly — even small amounts meaningfully support volunteer operations
Participate in events — VAC's biweekly roundtables are open to interested veterans
Share authentic veteran perspectives with these organizations, which can inform their advocacy
Amplify their policy work by contacting your congressional representatives about positions they support
Prioritize these organizations over commercial alternatives when your time or resources are limited