Robb Harmon, Founder of Veterans Cannabis Care – Interview Series

Despite the Veterans’ Affairs physicians’ unwillingness to discuss medical cannabis with their patients due to existing federal cannabis policies, veterans from all branches of government have begun to utilize cannabis-based medicines regardless. Luckily for our nation’s heroes, there’s a dedicated organization that helps veterans obtain their medical marijuana card. To better understand this organization and the struggles veterans face, mycannabis.com had the honor of speaking with Robb Harmon, Founder of Veterans Cannabis Care.

What topics and concepts did you mainly study while earning your MBA at Webster University? 

While earning my MBA at Webster University, I focused on the key drivers of successful business leadership, strategic management, finance, marketing, and organizational development. The program emphasized real-world decision making and helped me learn how to balance data-driven insights with human judgment.

Even though you received your Masters degree a full decade before any states would recreationally legalize cannabis, how do you feel that earning and having that degree gives you a better understanding of the cannabis industry and other similarly heavily regulated industries? 

Nothing can give you a true understanding of the cannabis industry until you experience it firsthand. A master’s degree teaches traditional business models and theory, but the cannabis industry requires real-world experience to fully comprehend its challenges, regulations, and constant evolution.

As a key producer for the mega-popular Zen Festival, what all went into planning such a large event and what skills in event planning and management did you learn during the planning of those festivals?  

The Zen Festival drew more than 100,000 people over a seven-year period, so the scale required us to think big, stay organized, and create a unique experience every year. We spent months coordinating every detail, including booking performers, securing permits, managing vendors, overseeing production, planning lighting and staging, marketing the event, and hoping each piece came together smoothly.

What I learned most was the importance of teamwork and communication. I also gained extensive experience in event logistics, budgeting, sponsorship development, and problem solving. Most importantly, I learned how to create an experience that truly connects with people.

What in particular inspired you to create Veterans Cannabis Care and what are the main values of the organization? 

I own a medical cannabis doctor’s office with more than 8,000 patients. During the first few years, we spoke to thousands of veterans who wanted an alternative to VA medications but simply could not afford the two hundred dollars for a doctor’s visit and the state fees of seventy-seven dollars and seventy-five cents. I decided to begin paying for one hundred percent of those costs myself. Veterans Cannabis Care was created, and since 2021 we have licensed more than 900 veterans completely free of charge. The mission of Veterans Cannabis Care is free access for veterans.

As someone who’s directly helped hundreds of veterans receive their medical card, what are some remarkable ways that you’ve seen cannabis-based medicines help veterans?

Many of the veterans we have licensed have completely discontinued the medications they were prescribed by the VA. Some were taking as many as fourteen different medications before switching to cannabis. I have seen melanoma spots heal after using tinctures. I have seen countless marriages rekindled and strengthened. I have witnessed dramatic improvements in overall quality of life. Many Veterans are sleeping through the night for the first time in years and are living with little to no pain.

From what you’ve seen through your extensive work with our nation’s heroes, what are the main problems for veterans caused by the VA physicians’ inability to talk about cannabis with their patients due to the federal policy of cannabis?   

This policy leaves many Veterans feeling silenced or judged when they try to speak openly to the VA about how cannabis helps them. It also causes confusion regarding federal classification and how cannabis use may affect their benefits.

How exactly do you assist prospective cannabis patients in Florida and what issues can those aspiring patients face in the process of receiving their medical card?

We handle the entire state-required application process for patients. This ensures accuracy and allows patients to visit the dispensary on the same day they see the doctor, as long as they have a Florida driver’s license or identification card and qualifying conditions.

As someone familiar with the state and cannabis industry, what are the main roadblocks when it comes to legalizing cannabis recreationally in The Sunshine State? I would imagine Governor DeSantis’ hostility towards cannabis would be an issue, but what are the other main issues? 

I believe the negative and false campaigning against cannabis, which the governor promoted, ultimately made the difference in the Amendment Three initiative not reaching the 60 percent threshold needed to pass.

What all is going into creating the network of doctors to prescribe cannabis for veterans? How are you verifying that the doctors are allowed and able to discuss cannabis and approve medical cards?  

I am partnering with licensed healthcare professionals and cannabis doctor networks that can legally recommend cannabis. They will offer two free recommendations a year for Veterans. All recommending professionals will be verified through their state medical cannabis programs.

What are some notable plans for the future for both yourself and Veterans Cannabis Care? If cannabis is rescheduled to Schedule III, how do you see that changing the operations of the organization?   

The plan for Veterans Cannabis Care is to grow the network nationwide and create something that has never been done before: a nationwide network of cannabis clinicians helping Veterans completely free of charge. We also plan to open a Veterans Cannabis Care Endocannabinoid Research and Healthcare Center.

Rescheduling is a broad topic with many opinions surrounding it. I believe it will not significantly affect our operations, because a recommendation or prescription will still be required for Veterans to obtain medical cannabis.

Thank you for joining us, Robb! For more information on Veterans Cannabis Care, please visit its website.