Steve Ellmore, U.S. Air Force (ret.) is an award-winning filmmaker whose work has become a defining voice in the modern veteran-cannabis movement. Best known as the director of UNPRESCRIBED, the acclaimed documentary exposing how veterans turn to cannabis amid the failures of opioid-heavy VA care, Ellmore helped bring national attention to the intersection of PTSD, suicide, and medical marijuana access. His storytelling and investigative work gave a platform to veterans too often dismissed by policymakers, shifting public perception through evidence-driven, emotionally grounded narratives. Building on the film’s impact, Ellmore founded The Unprescribed nonprofit, which organizes expert panels, community events, and documentary screenings nationwide to educate the public on cannabis as medicine and to empower veterans seeking alternatives to harmful pharmaceuticals. His advocacy, interviews, and published work, most notably his profile in Cannabis Science and Technology, “A Hero’s Journey: Fighting for Medical Cannabis as a Patient, a Veteran, and an Advocate” underscore his role as one of the movement’s most influential veteran communicators, using media and public engagement to drive reform, reduce stigma, and save lives.

SOURCE: United States Military Veterans at the Frontlines of Cannabis Reform - Commissioned by IAVA and VAC for National Archives.