In an effort to help Florida’s disabled veterans access needed medicine, Senator Janet Cruz (D-Tampa) and Representative Adam Hattersley (D-Riverview) have teamed up to file legislation which will allow service-disabled veterans to obtain or renew their medical marijuana card at no cost.
This discount would be the first offered in Florida. Several other states offer discounts on medical marijuana cards for various populations, including seniors, Medicaid/Medicare recipients, and veterans.
Representative Hattersley has filed HB 543 in the House, while Senator Cruz is sponsoring SB 98 in the Senate.
Representative Adam Hattersley, an Iraq war veteran, sees this discount as an important way to help veterans deal with both PTSD and physical pain. “I’ve seen what recovery looks like for soldiers injured in active duty. As far as I’m concerned, it’s our responsibility help these service members get whatever medicine they need to get relief.”
Senator Janet Cruz stated, “We should always be seeking out ways to help Florida’s veterans, especially those with service-related injuries and disabilities. These brave men and women have served our nation with distinction and honor. Providing free medical marijuana cards for service-disabled veterans is a benefit that I hope will encourage alternative treatments methods and help address the opioid crisis facing veterans.”
In many cases, veterans seeking medicine for pain relief have become dependent on opioids. Medical marijuana could provide a less habit-forming option for patients with chronic pain.
