No veteran should have to navigate it alone

The Grateful Veteran supports veterans, first responders, and their families through education, wellness connection, and responsible access to information about Florida's medical-cannabis program.

Promoting Change Through Education.

Who we are

We started in 2018 in Cape Coral, Southwest Florida, and became a recognized 501(c)(3) public charity in 2024. We are veterans, first responders, nurses, and family members who kept running into the same thing: the information exists, the programs exist, and people still get stuck. So we stopped handing out pamphlets and started walking people through it.

What we do

• Education. Clear, factual, stigma-reducing information about how Florida's medical-cannabis program actually works, and how state law, federal law, VA policy, and federal firearms law are separate questions with separate answers.
• Navigation and assistance. We help eligible veterans and first responders move through the process step by step, and we connect them to our participating physician network. Eligibility and coverage vary by campaign.
• The Red, White & Blue Tour. Free resource events at VFW and American Legion posts across Florida, one city at a time, bringing education and guidance to the halls people already trust.
• Coffee & Conversations. No agenda, no sign-in sheet, no pitch. Free coffee, real conversation, and resources only if you ask for them.
• Community and family support. Supporting a veteran is a family effort, and family members are welcome at our events.
• Advocacy. We work in Tallahassee to reduce the barriers that keep veterans out of a program they qualify for.
• Georgia. Our work has expanded into Georgia. Georgia's rules, fees, and process are separate from Florida's, and we never describe them interchangeably.

What we will and will not tell you

We will tell you what the law says, what the process costs, how long it takes, and where people usually get stuck. We will tell you when the answer is complicated.

We do not diagnose, prescribe, or guarantee certification. We do not tell anyone to change or stop a medication. A licensed physician makes every medical determination. And we do not represent anyone in a VA claim.

Leadership

Jeff DeMond, Founder and President
Andy Don, Vice President

For the record

Our legal name is GRATEFUL VETERAN INC. Our public name is The Grateful Veteran. We are a 501(c)(3) public charity under IRC 170(b)(1)(A)(vi), and our accounting period ends December 31.

Get in touch

Contact us  ·  Red, White & Blue Tour schedule and sign-up  ·  Support the mission

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The Grateful Veteran is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. Contributions are tax deductible to the extent allowed by law.

A COPY OF THE OFFICIAL REGISTRATION AND FINANCIAL INFORMATION MAY BE OBTAINED FROM THE DIVISION OF CONSUMER SERVICES BY CALLING TOLL-FREE 1-800-435-7352 WITHIN THE STATE OR AT WWW.FDACS.GOV. REGISTRATION DOES NOT IMPLY ENDORSEMENT, APPROVAL, OR RECOMMENDATION BY THE STATE. REGISTRATION NO. CH76601.