The Veterans Cannabis Project on Wednesday has launched a website for Massachusetts veterans to voice concerns about a lack of access to marijuana after an order by Gov. Charlie Baker closed recreational dispensaries during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The website, mass.vetscp.org, has a call to action, asking veterans and supporters to email Baker and state lawmakers and request that recreational marijuana shops be allowed to open.

Baker this week asked residents to stay at home and ordered that all non-essential businesses close. While licensed medical dispensaries are considered essential and can stay open, the governor ordered recreational shops to close and the state Cannabis Control Commission issued cease and desist letters.

“Our nation’s heroes deserve full access to the legal marijuana treatment options they rely on for medical care,” said Doug Distaso, the Veterans Cannabis Project executive director. “Denying access for veterans, including those who are disabled and are regularly prohibited from obtaining medical marijuana cards, is unnecessarily prohibitive for vets who depend on cannabis to help cope with physical and psychological injuries sustained on the battlefield.”

The Veterans Cannabis Project in a statement did applaud Baker and state leadership for keeping medical marijuana dispensaries open.

"We understand that maintaining public health and safety during this crisis is paramount and we all must do our part to keep our neighbors safe, Distaso said. "However, cannabis is essential to the veteran communities who rely on it as a treatment option, and denying access could cause them to seek treatment from dangerous products on the illicit market, or worse, return to opioid use.”

As of Wednesday afternoon, 15 Massachusetts residents have died from illnesses related to COVID-19 and 1,838 residents have tested positive.

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