Veterans march to White House, lobby for medical marijuana as treatment for war trauma

WASHINGTON - As the nation honored those who have served on Veterans Day, a group of veterans marched to the White House Wednesday to lobby for medical marijuana as a treatment for war trauma, including Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).

The march started at D.C.'s Veterans Affairs Headquarters, and headed down Pennsylvania Avenue to the White House. As part of their protest, the group of veterans threw thousands of empty prescription pill bottles onto the sidewalk. According to organizers, they were collected from across the country in memory of those "whose sacrifices did not end on the battlefield."

Organizers said their goal was to raise awareness of dangerous prescription medications, which they say are often prescribed to treat war trauma. They say they're being unjustly deprived of cannabis therapy. They say with a current veteran suicide rate of 22 per day, it's time for the Veterans Administration to recognize that there are alternative forms of treatment available.