A.G. Gancarski
Those who sacrificed for their country may be positioned to get free medical marijuana cards in Florida under a bill advanced by a unanimous vote of the House Health and Human Services Committee.
Pensacola Republican Rep. Alex Andrade originally introduced the legislation (HB 555). He said the bill, now a committee substitute significantly pared down from the original product, would make recertifications happen every two years rather than annually, and would exempt military veterans from paying the $75 fee.
NORML Tallahassee’s Melissa Villar spoke in favor of the bill, but suggested free cards as well for the disabled, the medically needy and the low income as well as some break for fees for caregivers for the same group.
Retired combat veteran Tammy Rose said veterans “need and deserve” the proposed accommodation, noting the certification cost could be spent on medicine.
“We want to get better. We don’t want to get high,” Rose said. “I feel like we are getting a good, small victory here.”
The ultimate victory remains to be seen.
The bill has one committee stop left in the House, but no Senate version of the legislation has gotten a committee hearing yet.
One comment
Earl Pitts American
April 15, 2025 at 6:20 pm
OK, Florida, I, Earl Pitts American, agree that some injured Vets may benifit from weed. But we, The American People, must be sure not to give weed to any Vets who still need to and are able to work,
As we all know that weed kills any ambition a person may have. Those Vets who are able bodied and of sound mind must not be given the weed as will make them too lazy for gainfull employment resulting in them staying home all day and toutching themselves inappropiratly.
So if they cant work then those Vets are the ones I say “Let Them Have Weed.
Earl Pitts American