As a combat veteran, I’ve faced more than a few battles–some on foreign soil and some at home.

When I transitioned back to civilian life, a huge challenge was finding purpose after service. That’s why I founded VetForce Inc., a service-disabled veteran-owned and -operated business, to give fellow veterans a chance to build a career, regain camaraderie, and serve our communities.

At VetForce, we provide secure transport and delivery services for Pennsylvania’s medical marijuana industry. Every day I see how cannabis can be a lifeline–for veterans, for public safety, and for economic opportunity. It’s time for Pennsylvania lawmakers to legalize adult-use cannabis in 2025 and do it right.

Veterans Need Legal

Access to Cannabis

Like many others, I’ve seen cannabis help veterans manage chronic pain, reduce dependency on opioids, and get a decent night’s sleep. We aren’t looking to get high–we’re trying to heal. But because adult-use cannabis is still illegal in Pennsylvania, many veterans face stigma, risk their Second Amendment right to bear arms, or are forced into the illicit markets to get what they need.

That’s not how you treat people who served this country.

Polling consistently shows bipartisan voter support for adult-use cannabis, including among veterans. This isn’t a fringe issue–it’s common sense. And it’s personal. For those of us who wore the uniform, the war doesn’t always end when we come home. Legalizing cannabis gives veterans a safe, regulated alternative to opioids and alcohol–and one that could save lives.

Regulation Keeps

Our Communities Safe

Cannabis is already in Pennsylvania. The question isn’t whether it’s here–it’s whether we want to regulate it. As someone who runs a company responsible for the safe transport and handling of cannabis, I know what it takes to do this right: tight operational controls, vetted personnel, strict protocols, and compliance with every level of the law.

Unfortunately, Pennsylvania has none of that now for intoxicating hemp products–like Delta-8 THC–that are flooding gas stations and convenience stores. These untested, synthetic products exist because of a federal loophole, and they pose serious health and safety risks. They are also often sold to minors with no ID check. Sadly, I also know some veterans in our community who have turned to these untested, unregulated products because of misleading marketing, a lack of product education, or because of the social stigma the system of prohibitions has created.

Legalization is the only path to reining in this chaos.

Through a regulated adult-use market, the state can eliminate the illicit and unregulated hemp markets by giving consumers a safer option. You don’t beat an illicit market by pretending it doesn’t exist–you beat it by replacing it with regulation, security protocols, age gates, and sophisticated seed-to-sale tracking and technology systems.

Economic Opportunity

That Serves Our Own

Legalization isn’t just about personal freedom or public health — it’s also about economic opportunity. Legal cannabis could generate more than $2 billion in sales in year one alone and create over 30,000 new jobs. Imagine what that could mean for our communities–from rural towns that have lost industry to returning service members looking for meaningful work.

At VetForce, we’ve built a business model around employing veterans and law enforcement professionals–people who know what discipline and service look like. A legal, well-regulated cannabis market gives companies like ours a chance to expand, hire more vets, and support those who have given so much to our country.

A Call to Lawmakers:

Freedom, Revenue, Safety

Senate Bill 120 and House Bill 20–both bipartisan measures introduced this session–offer Pennsylvania a real chance to move forward. These bills create a smart, thoughtful regulatory framework while addressing justice reform, economic inclusion, and public safety. They’re exactly the kind of serious legislation this issue deserves. Pennsylvania is surrounded by states that have already moved forward on cannabis legalization.

Our neighbor to the south, Delaware, just launched adult-use sales in the first week of August and over the course of its first weekend (a Friday to Sunday), the state rolled in $903,000 in total marijuana sales (medical + recreational). To my Commonwealth lawmakers, I offer this: the time for half-baked measures and hesitation is over. The time to legalize cannabis in Pennsylvania is now. Why should our veterans, our entrepreneurs, and our communities be left behind?

Dave Harger, Retired 1SG, U.S. Army Reserve, is CEO & Founder, VetForce Inc.