On November 11th, Veterans Day, Marijuana Doctor would like to honor all those who have served our country. Today, many veterans are considering medical marijuana to holistically treat a number of mental and physical ailments such as PTSD.
What Veterans Should Know About Medical Marijuana
Despite the federal cannabis prohibition, regulations are continuously evolving. To gain more clarity on the rules for veterans surrounding marijuana use, the US Department of Veterans Affairs has outlined some guidelines below.
As of November 2021, the regulations stand as follows:
- Veterans will not be denied VA benefits because of marijuana use.
- Veterans are encouraged to discuss marijuana use with their VA providers.
- VA health care providers will record marijuana use in the Veteran's VA medical record in order to have the information available in treatment planning. As with all clinical information, this is part of the confidential medical record and protected under patient privacy and confidentiality laws and regulations.
- VA clinicians may not recommend medical marijuana.
- VA clinicians may only prescribe medications that have been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for medical use. At present most products containing tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), cannabidiol (CBD), or other cannabinoids are not approved for this purpose by the FDA.
- VA clinicians may not complete paperwork/forms required for Veteran patients to participate in state-approved marijuana programs.
- VA pharmacies may not fill prescriptions for medical marijuana.
- VA will not pay for medical marijuana prescriptions from any source.
- VA scientists may conduct research on marijuana benefits and risks, and potential for abuse, under regulatory approval.
- The use or possession of marijuana is prohibited at all VA medical centers, locations and grounds. When you are on VA grounds it is federal law that is in force, not the laws of the state.
- Veterans who are VA employees are subject to drug testing under the terms of employment.
Although Veterans Affairs will not assist with the medical marijuana application process, veterans have the freedom to seek treatment through their state’s MMJ program if desired.
A recent government funded-analysis found that U.S. Army recruits “with a history of marijuana were just as likely as other recruits to complete their first term and make sergeant, and they were less likely to leave the Army for health or performance reasons.” (Adlin, 2021). We hope that these positive findings will lead to eventual adjustments allowing for veterans to access alternative medicine in the near future.
How Veterans Can Get A Medical Marijuana Card In Florida
The first step is to make an appointment at a Marijuana Doctor clinic near you. Then one of our state-certified physicians will evaluate you to determine if you qualify for medical marijuana. A list of qualifying conditions for medical marijuana eligibility in Florida can be found here.
Marijuana Doctor offers a discount for Florida-based veterans of $30 off medical marijuana evaluation appointments. We value our veterans, and offer this discount all throughout the year. Please note, you will need to provide a military ID or DD214 at your appointment.
Florida also has a significant population of veterans, making it the nation’s third largest veteran population while having the second highest number of military retirees in the United States.
Florida Statistics:
- 1,594,216 veterans reside in Florida
- Florida’s military & defense industry supports over 914,227 jobs
- 202,840 military retirees live in Florida
- Florida boasts 65,000+ active duty service members & families
- 70 veterans have been inducted into the Florida Veterans Hall of Fame
- 23 Medal of Honor recipients are from Florida
In Florida’s 2021 Military Friendly Guide, there are a number of benefits listed for active duty, National Guard, Reserve, Service members, Veterans, Retirees, and Families.
Some Laws & Benefits in the Sunshine State include:
- 25% discount on annual entrance passes to Florida State Parks for active duty and honorably discharged veterans of the United States Armed Forces, National Guard, or reserve units of the U.S. Armed Forces or National Guard
- Free lifetime military entrance passes to Florida State Parks for honorably discharged United States veterans who have service-connected disabilities
- Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (DHSMV) shall accept a military personnel identification card as proof of a social security card number during the application process to acquire a driver license or identification card
- The Salute Our Soldiers Military Loan Program offers military service personnel and veterans who are purchasing a primary residence and meet income and purchase price limits, a 30-year, fixed-rate first mortgage loan at a low rate and with several down payment assistance options
- Certain military and family members receive in-state tuition rates for Florida colleges and universities. As of July 1, 2019, the determination of resident status for tuition purposes is established at the time of acceptance (rather than enrollment) for the active duty member, their spouses, dependent children, and active drilling members of the Florida National Guard.
To schedule your in-person medical cannabis card evaluation appointment with one of our Florida state certified doctors, call (844) 442-0362 or visit marijuanadoctor.com/schedule.
Finally, to all veterans, thank you for your service & Happy Veterans Day!
