Florida lawmakers want to give veterans medical marijuana cards for free

With data continuing to roll in that underscores the health benefits of cannabis, two Florida legislators aren’t waiting for clarity in the national policy debates and are sponsoring bills designed to give medical marijuana cards to military veterans free of charge.

Last week, the Journal of Psychopharmacology added yet another study to the growing body of evidence pointing to the linkage between marijuana use and the alleviation of post-traumatic stress disorder. In a cross-section survey of Canadians, the authors reported depressive episodes and suicidal ideation was not a factor among cannabis users; consequently, they cited “an emerging need for high-quality experimental investigation” of cannabis in treating PTSD.

At virtually the same time that study published, state Sen. Janet Cruz, D-Tampa, and state Rep. Adam Hattersley, D-Riverview, introduced companion measures to waive the $75 state registration fee for veterans, who are committing suicide more than 20 times a day, according to the Department of Veterans Affairs. Hattersley is an Iraq War veteran who earned a Bronze Star in the Navy. The bills will be considered in the 2020 session.

Still, the national war on marijuana continues at what appears to be an accelerating pace, according to FBI statistics released in October. [Read more at Task & Purpose]