Eric Goepel is the founder and CEO of the Veterans Cannabis Coalitions, an independent advocacy group working to end cannabis prohibition and ensure the development of cannabis-based treatments through the Department of Veterans Affairs. He is an Army veteran of the Iraq War, having served for seven years on active duty providing communications and intelligence support in a special operations unit. After the military, struggling like so many with issues relating to his service, Eric saw how many veterans were benefiting from the medicinal properties of the plant. That experience convinced him of the need to contribute to broader cannabis legalization efforts while centering the health needs of veterans and other patients. Today, Eric and VCC are focused on lobbying on federal legislation, advising members of Congress, and building grassroots donation and education networks to reduce veteran suicide and overdose risk and improve the community quality of life.