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Bill to waive therapeutic cannabis application fee for veterans draws split reaction over program funding
Summary
House Bill 205 would exempt veterans from the $50 therapeutic cannabis application fee; sponsors said it would reduce an access barrier for veterans who cannot be certified through the VA.
CONCORD — House Bill 205, which would exempt veterans from the therapeutic cannabis program application fee, drew mixed testimony Wednesday as advocates urged lowered cost barriers for veterans while oversight bodies and some veterans’ organizations warned of fiscal effects on the self-funded program.
Sponsor Representative Heath Howard (Stratford) described the bill as a response to veterans’ limited access to certification through federal VA providers; because VA clinicians cannot certify patients for state cannabis programs, some veterans must pay out-of-pocket for community providers to obtain certification. Howard said his constituent paid significantly more than the standard $50 certification fee and framed the bill as a measure to reduce that burden.
Program fundi…
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