Category: Medical Marijuana In Florida

No. Currently the state does not allow cannabis to be smoked. Some cultivators do produce and sell flower, but it must be vaped in a device that does not allow for combustion.

No. There are no current provisions in Florida law that allow personal growing of marijuana, even for qualified patients.

No. There is no reciprocity between states’ medical marijuana programs. Just because you have a license in California, Washington, Michigan, or any other state with a medical marijuana program, doesn’t mean you necessarily qualify in Florida.

 While the doctor may – at any point – revoke a patient’s order for cannabis, the state of Florida has stipulated the following actions can result in a patient being removed from the Compassionate Use Registry:

• Patient not being seen by the ordering physician at least once every 90 days after the order has been entered.
• No call/no shows to our clinic.

The Department of Health may revoke a Compassionate Use Registry identification card for any of the following:

• The patient or legal representative makes material misrepresentations in his or her application;
• The patient uses his or her card to obtain cannabis for another individual;
• The legal representative uses his or her card to obtain cannabis for an individual who has not designated them as their legal representative or who is not a qualified patient;
• The patient or legal representative purchases, obtains, possesses, or uses cannabis not sold by an approved dispensing organization, or
• The patient is no longer a qualified patient.

The Florida Department of Health has created a system for issuing and renewing Compassionate Use Registry identification cards for patients and their legal representatives. In combination with the Compassionate Use Registry, identification cards will further allow patients and legal representatives to quickly demonstrate that they are registered in the Compassionate Use Registry.

Florida rule 64-4.011, F.A.C. requires all patients and legal representatives to have a valid Compassionate Use Registry identification card to obtain low-THC cannabis, medical cannabis, or a cannabis delivery device. To apply for a Compassionate Use Registry identification card, a patient must:

1. Be a Florida resident,
2. Be a qualified patient in the Compassionate Use Registry,
3. Submit a completed application to the Office of Compassionate Use

Patients and legal representatives may apply for a Compassionate Use Registry identification card electronically on the Compassionate Use Registry, or mail a completed application to the Office of Compassionate Use. Applicants must have an email address added to their Patient Profile to submit an electronic application.

All applications must be submitted to the Office of Compassionate Use, and must include a full-face, passport-type color photograph taken within 90 day, and a registration fee of $75. Compassionate Use Registry identification cards remain active for one year.

Patients who are minors must designate a legal representative on his or her application, and in the Compassionate Use Registry. Legal representatives must also submit a completed application to the Office of Compassionate Use to obtain a Compassionate Use Registry identification card.

Once a card application has been approved, the patient and legal representative may receive a temporary card from the Office of Compassionate Use. A patient must have an approved card application prior to filling an order at a dispensing organization.

For a patient to receive medical marijuana in Florida, current statute stipulates the following:

• The patient has an established relationship with the ordering physician.
• The ordering physician has completed a physical examination and health history review of the patient.
• The ordering physician has diagnosed the patient with a debilitating condition.
• The patient has tried other methods of treatment unsuccessfully.
• The benefits of using cannabis as a treatment method outweigh the risk to the patient.

After receiving an examination, health history review, debilitating illness diagnosis, and completing their establishment period, the ordering physician must enter you into the Compassionate Use Registry.

Once in the Registry, a patient will receive two separate emails from the state of Florida – one with a username, the other with a password and link. This information will be used to allow the patient access to an online ID card application.

Upon validation of the application, the state will send the patient a temporary email verification that will allow for the patient to visit any of the state’s dispensaries or call for home delivery of medicine.

Florida’s medical marijuana program is available to patients suffering from a debilitating medical condition. Per the Florida statutes:

“Debilitating Medical Condition” means cancer, epilepsy, glaucoma, positive status for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS), post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), Crohn’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, multiple sclerosis, or other debilitating medical conditions of the same kind or class as or comparable to those enumerated, and for which a physician believes that the medical use of marijuana would likely outweigh the potential health risks for a patient.

The last sentence “or other debilitating medical conditions of the same kind or class as or comparable to those enumerated, and for which a physician believes that the medical use of marijuana would likely outweigh the potential health risks for a patient” allows for Dr. Craig Amshel to qualify you based upon his professional discretion, provided you have a debilitating illness.

There are three disqualifying factors that make you ineligible for Florida’s medical marijuana program:

• If you aren’t a Florida resident or cannot prove residency.
• If you have a personal history of schizophrenia.
• If you have a direct familiar history of schizophrenia (mother, father, siblings)

To obtain your medical marijuana ID card from the state, patients must submit a copy of a valid Florida driver license or Florida identification card. If you do not possess a valid Florida driver license or Florida identification card, you may submit a copy of a utility bill in the patients’ name including a Florida address, or a Florida voter registration card. The name and address on the documents provided for residency must match the name and address in the application. For minor patients, the parent or designated legal representative must submit proof of residency of the parent or designated legal representative. “Snowbirds” who live in FL for at least 30 consecutive days are eligible.

Yes.