Honor Florida’s veterans by acting on medical pot access | Opinion – Tallahassee Democrat
For months now, I’ve been making the trip to Tallahassee with my service dog, Gus, walking the halls of the Capitol and sitting down with legislators and staff. I’m not there as a lobbyist or a political insider. I’m there as a Navy veteran advocating for fellow veterans who are struggling and who deserve better.
Medical marijuana has been a lifeline for many veterans dealing with PTSD, chronic pain, traumatic brain injury, and other service-connected conditions. Yet for too many veterans in Florida, the cost of joining the state’s medical marijuana program remains a barrier. That’s why legislation has been filed this year to reduce those costs for veterans: House Bill 887, sponsored by Rep. Susan Valdés, and Senate Bill 974, sponsored by Sen. Keith Truenow.
Last year, a similar bill passed the Florida House but died in the Senate without ever getting a fair chance. That was disappointing, but not surprising. Veterans’ healthcare too often gets caught in the gears of politics instead of moving forward on its merits.
This year, there is reason for hope. The House has already acted. HB 887 passed its first committee unanimously. This is a clear sign that this is not a partisan issue, but a matter of basic fairness. Veterans who served this country should not face financial hurdles to access medicine that helps them function, work, and live with dignity.
The Senate, however, has yet to hold its first hearing on SB 974.
That silence matters, especially this week.
As the Legislature marks Armed Services Week (Feb. 2-6), lawmakers will rightly take time to honor those who served. There will be speeches, proclamations, and expressions of gratitude. Those gestures are meaningful, but they must be matched with action. Honoring veterans means more than thanking us for our service. It means addressing the real healthcare needs many of us face when we come home.
Medical marijuana is not a fringe issue for veterans. It is often the difference between relying on heavy pharmaceuticals or finding a safer alternative that allows some measure of normalcy. Reducing the cost of participation in the program is a modest, practical step the Legislature can take right now.
I’ve sat in offices across the Capitol with Gus at my side, sharing my story and listening to others share theirs. Veterans aren’t asking for special treatment. We’re asking for reasonable access to care that the state already recognizes as legal and medically beneficial.
The House has acted. Now it’s time for the Senate to do the same.
Armed Services Week is an appropriate moment to remember that supporting veterans doesn’t end with a uniform retirement ceremony. It continues in the policies in place long after the service ends.
I urge the Florida Senate to hold a hearing on SB 974 and give this bill the consideration it deserves. Veterans are watching. And more importantly, veterans are waiting.
Senior Chief Jeffrey DeMond is a 20-year U.S. Navy veteran and founder of The Grateful Veteran, a Cape Coral non-profit that offers peer to peer veteran support and provides financial assistance to veterans who cannot afford to participate in Florida’s medical marijuana program. To present, they have helped over 1,500 veterans join this program.
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