A bipartisan bill that cuts the cost of medical marijuana cards for Florida veterans from $75 to just $15 sailed through its second House committee Thursday with zero opposition, putting thousands of former service members one step closer to affordable cannabis treatment.
The House Health Care Budget Subcommittee voted 18-0 to advance HB 1291, sponsored by Democratic Rep. Susan Valdés and Republican Rep. Michelle Salzman. The same measure cleared its first hurdle last week in the Health Professions & Programs Subcommittee.
Veterans in Florida currently pay the full $75 fee that every other patient pays for the state-issued registry card. If the bill becomes law, they would pay only $15, an 80% discount. Valdés told fellow lawmakers the change is “a simple bill with a big impact.”
The proposal also waives the renewal fee every year for life, meaning veterans would never pay again after the first discounted card.
Why Veterans Need the Break
Florida has roughly 1.4 million military veterans, the third-highest total in the nation. Many suffer from chronic pain, PTSD, traumatic brain injuries, and other conditions that qualify for medical marijuana under state law.
Yet the current $75 price tag, plus doctor visits that can cost $150 to $300, creates a real barrier. Veterans on fixed disability incomes often tell lawmakers the cost forces them to choose between medicine and groceries.
Salzman, a Navy veteran herself and Purple Heart recipient, has made the issue personal. She told the panel many former troops turn to dangerous street drugs or alcohol because legal cannabis remains out of reach financially.
How Much Will the State Lose?
The Office of Medical Marijuana Use charges the $75 fee to cover background checks, card production, and program administration. Lawmakers asked how much revenue the state would lose by giving veterans the deep discount.
Staff analysis shows:
- About 45,000 veterans currently hold active medical marijuana cards
- Roughly 8,000 to 10,000 new veterans join the program each year
- Total annual revenue loss would land between $2.5 million and $3 million
Committee members called that price tag modest compared to the gratitude Florida owes its veterans. No one spoke against the bill Thursday.
Next Stops Before Reaching the Governor
The measure still needs approval from one more House committee and then a full floor vote. A companion bill in the Senate, SB 1356, has not yet been heard but enjoys strong backing from Senate President Kathleen Passidomo.
Lawmakers want both chambers to pass the bills before the legislative session ends in early March. Governor Ron DeSantis has supported veteran-focused cannabis reforms in the past and is expected to sign the fee cut if it reaches his desk.
Florida first legalized medical marijuana in 2016. Today more than 850,000 patients, including tens of thousands of veterans, use the program for everything from cancer symptoms to anxiety.
For years veterans have asked why they pay the same fee as everyone else when many states offer them free or heavily reduced cards. Thursday’s vote shows lawmakers finally heard that message loud and clear.
This small change in price could open the door to safer pain relief and better mental health care for the men and women who served. When a Purple Heart veteran and a Democrat from Tampa can team up and push a bill with zero no votes, it reminds everyone that helping veterans should never be partisan.
