National commander: Cannabis research will aid veterans
The Legion is a longtime advocate for medical marijuana
THIEF RIVER FALLS — “Be the One” remains The American Legion’s No. 1 mission, said National Commander Dan K. Wiley. Calling for research into medical marijuana is part of that mission.
“We’ve all been impacted by suicide,” he said.
The commander completed his tour of Minnesota. Wiley served in the Air Force from 1986 to 1990 in Great Falls, Mont. He and his wife make their home in Leavenworth, Kan. He is a past commander of the Department of Kansas and has served in many other roles at various levels of The American Legion.
His theme is “Better Together.” He says posts that are welcoming to new members grow.
Wiley served 15 years as a divorce court judge in Kansas. To warm up the audience, he told the tale of a man in his early 70s who was going through his 23rd divorce.
“The guy had his own term limits,” Wiley joked. “He was a veteran. The guy was honorable in that he single-handedly helped the Auxiliary grow its membership.”
Some of the factors for veteran suicide, the commander said, are pain, homelessness, PTSD, traumatic brain injury, isolation and depression.
On Dec. 18, Wiley was invited to the Oval Office in the nation’s capital for the signing of an executive order. President Donald Trump ordered cannabis to be classified as a Schedule III drug so that research could be conducted on the drug’s impact on PTSD, TBI, sleep deprivation, anxiety, depression, chronic pain and other conditions. Federal law bans medical research on Schedule I drugs.
The reclassification of cannabis for the sake of research has been supported by The American Legion since a resolution was approved in 2016 at the national convention in Cincinnati. The organization has long-held that medical marijuana can help veterans, only now the term “cannabis” is more prevalent.
“Cocaine is a Schedule I drug,” Wiley said. “I guarantee you, marijuana is not cocaine, and it shouldn’t be classified like cocaine.”
He said the medical profession, for far too long, relied on opioids for pain management. Cannabis may provide doctors with a less-addictive or non-addictive method for providing pain relief.
“It’s a big deal that The American Legion was at the Oval Office for the signing. We even had a speaking role,” Wiley said. “I give credit to our D.C. office.”
Wiley gave different speeches at various stops. He shared the cannabis signing mainly at evening stops. He added that Trump, in mid-April, signed an order allowing research on psychedelic drugs for patients with serious mental illnesses.
Department Commander Linda Dvorak and National Commander Dan Wiley smile for the camera during a taping of Minnesota Military Radio in St. Louis Park on April 23. Visit minnesotamilitaryradiohour.com to hear the broadcast.
Upper Midwest
Clearwater Post 323 topped all stops with the highest attendance, an estimated 150 people. Most stops were about 50 people. Each stop is open to the public, not just members of the Legion Family. Many mayors and city officials stopped in to hear the commander’s message.
Wiley praised posts across the Upper Midwest — Minnesota, North and South Dakota, Iowa and Wisconsin — for having the best penetration. One example was Bagley. It has a population of 1,313, and Post 16 has 307 members, Squadron 16 has 124 members, and Unit 16 has 167 members.
He told how Dodge City, Kan., has 25,000 people, and it has just 150 members in the post.
“There something special in the sauce in the Upper Midwest,” Wiley said.
Veterans & Children’s Foundation
The National Commander’s Project raises funds for the American Legion Veterans & Children’s Foundation. During the tour, posts made donations totaling $18,100.
Funds to VCF include providing training for service officers nationwide. The American Legion filed claims giving $29.5 billion in disability payments for veterans. Wiley said the national donation becomes a local issue when veterans collect disability.
“Every dollar you give to the Veterans & Children’s Foundation gets returned to the community over and over,” he said.
America 250
Wiley reminded audience members that The American Legion wrote the original U.S. Flag Code in 1923, revised it in 1924, and it became federal law in 1942.
“Americanism is one of the four pillars of The American Legion,” he said. “It’s not special for you to come here and see me. It’s special for me to come here and meet you.”
He encouraged posts to welcome the public into their posts homes during the America 250 celebration and to be a main thrust of their community Independence Day celebrations.
“Do whatever it takes to lead the patriotic event in your community,” Wiley said.
One way, he said, is to have an open house on or near July 4.
