Florida panel backs cut to veterans’ medical-marijuana ID fee to $15
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Summary
The Health Professions Subcommittee reported favorably on HB 887, sponsored by Rep. Valdez, to lower medical-marijuana registry identification card fees for honorably discharged veterans to $15; proponents said the reduction would remove a financial barrier and help nonprofit navigators expand outreach.
Representative Valdez introduced House Bill 887 to reduce the fee for issuance, replacement or renewal of medical-marijuana registry identification cards for veterans with an honorable discharge to $15, saying the amount would cover administrative costs and support research at Florida A&M University.
Proponents including Jody James of the Florida Cannabis Action Network and Jeffrey Dimona of The Grateful Veteran said the fee cut would expand access. Dimona said his nonprofit previously qualified about 1,500 veterans at roughly $77 per card and that the lower fee would allow his group to help many more veterans without altering the substance of the medical-marijuana program.
Representative Rosenwald, in debate, framed the measure as fiscally sensible and argued cannabis can be part of treatment for veterans living with post-traumatic stress disorder and related conditions. Representative Valdez closed by stressing the fee reduction is intended to remove a cost barrier that can disrupt continuity of care.
The committee called the roll and reported the bill favorably.
