Florida Medical Marijuana Cards
How to get a Florida marijuana card in 3 Easy Steps
Getting a Florida marijuana card can be a simple process if you follow the necessary steps. Here are the 3 easy steps to getting a Florida medical marijuana card:
Step 1: Schedule an Appointment with a Recommending Marijuana Doctor
The first step is to schedule an appointment with a qualified medical marijuana clinic in Florida who is registered with the Florida Department of Health’s Office of Medical Marijuana Use (OMMU).You can schedule an appointment online or over the phone. During the appointment, a certified medical marijuana doctor will evaluate your medical history and determine if you qualify for medical marijuana use. When approved, they will provide you with a signed certification form, which you will need for the next step.
Step 2: Register with the Florida Department of Health
Once the doctor approves you for medical marijuana use, the next step is to register with the Florida Department of Health’s Office of Medical Marijuana Use. You will need to submit the approval, a valid Florida ID, and payment for the registration fee. Many doctors office will walk you through this process right there on a tablet. Once your application is approved, you will very quickly receive a temporary medical marijuana card that will allow you to buy cannabis products from licensed dispensaries.
Step 3: Get Your Florida Marijuana Card
Florida Medical Marijuana Cards show up in the mail. This is the final step, to get your MedCard from the registry. Once you receive your card, you will be able to purchase medical marijuana from licensed dispensaries and possess regulated cannabis products.
Getting a Florida marijuana card is a simple process that involves getting approval from a qualified MMJ doctor, registering with the Florida Department of Health, and obtaining your physical card. With your Florida marijuana card, you can access the medical benefits of cannabis legally under the state’s regulations. Fill out the Patient Registration form below to get started today!
MMJ Patient Registration Form
Florida Marijuana Card Guide
What is the Florida OMMU?
The Florida Office of Medical Marijuana Use is a department of the Florida Department of Health. The OMMU was formed for the purpose of implementing and overseeing the state’s medical-marijuana program. Florida has more than 560,000 qualified medical marijuana patients and more than 2,500 qualified physicians, all overseen by the OMMU.
residency requirements - Full Time & Seasonal Residents
Both permanent and seasonal residents are able to get Florida medical marijuana cards. A state-issued driver’s license or ID card is required to prove residency. For online applications, the Registry is connected to the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (FLHSMV) demographic database. If there is a match to the information on your profile, your state residency status can be automatically added to your application and approved.
According to the OMMU website:
Seasonal Florida residents who do not possess a valid Florida driver license or Florida identification card must submit a copy of two of the following documents:
- A deed, mortgage, monthly mortgage statement, mortgage payment booklet, or residential rental or lease agreement.
- One proof of residential address from the seasonal resident’s parent, step-parent, legal guardian, or another person with whom the seasonal resident resides and a statement from the person with whom the seasonal resident resides stating that the seasonal resident does reside with him or her.
- A utility hook-up or work order dated within 60 days before registration in the medical use registry.
- A utility bill, not more than 2 months old.
- Mail from a financial institution, including checking, savings, or investment account statements, not more than 2 months old.
- Mail from a federal, state, county, or municipal government agency, not more than 2 months old.
Qualifying conditions
Follow the link for the official list of qualifying medical conditions to get a marijuana card in Florida.
Age Requirements for Florida MedCards
Patients must be 21 years of age or older to apply for a medical marijuana card in Florida. A parent or guardian can apply for a minor patient’s. Minor patients must submit a certified copy of a birth certificate or a current record of registration from a Florida K-12 school and a copy of the minor patient’s parent or legal guardian’s valid Florida driver’s license or identification card.
What are the qualifications for physicians to be certified to recommend medical marijuana in Florida?
A physician may only approve a patient for a Florida medical marijuana card if he or she holds an active, unrestricted license as a physician under Chapter 458, Florida Statutes, or an osteopathic physician under Chapter 459, Florida Statutes.
Additionally, a qualified physician must have successfully completed a 2-hour CME course and examination titled Florida Physician Medical Marijuana Course. Completion of the 2-hour course and exam is required each time the physician renews his or her medical license. A link to the course can be found here.
Does health insurance or Medicare cover medical marijuana?
Until Federal Law changes, and then it’s still not likely, Health insurance and Medicare do not cover medical marijuana. Check with your insurance provider to confirm.
Can Florida medical marijuana patients designate a caregiver?
Florida medical marijuana patients are permitted to assign a caregiver to purchase and administer their medicine. Caregivers must be at least 21 years old and must apply to the Department of Health for a caregiver identification card. A parent or legal guardian must act as a caregiver for patients under age 21.
Does Florida offer reciprocity for out-of-state cards?
The state does not currently permit out-of-state residents with medical marijuana cards to shop at Florida dispensaries. Out-of-state cardholders have no protections from marijuana possession laws. Possession penalties for out-of-state residents are the same as for non-cardholders in the state.
The issue of reciprocity in Florida needs to be addressed. Currently, patients with a valid medical marijuana card from another state are required to suspend their treatment while visiting Florida. Not offering reciprocity to patients from other states such as Texas, Ohio, New York, Missouri, and Pennsylvania discourages travel and tourism in the state. Moreover, advocates of reciprocity in Florida point out that compassion should not stop at the border.
Florida medical marijuana Resources & Contact Information
The Office of Medical Marijuana Use is open weekdays, 8 am – 6 pm, EST (excluding state holidays)
- Phone 800-808-9580, 850-245-4657
- Fax 850-487-7046
- Email
- General Questions and Inquiries: MedicalMarijuanaUse@flhealth.gov
- Public Record/Data Requests: OMMUInformationRequests@flhealth.gov
- General Complaints: OMMUComplaints@flhealth.gov
- Address Office of Medical Marijuana Use, PO Box 31313, Tampa, FL 33631-3313
Individuals who utilize TTY devices may contact the OMMU through Florida Relay or by dialing 7-1-1.
OMMU resources and Links:
- The Florida Department of Health Office of Medical Marijuana Use (OMMU)
- Florida medical marijuana registry
- Florida medical marijuana application
- Registry Instructional Guides
- Patient ID Card Application (Initial and Renewal)
- Caregiver ID Card Application (Initial and Renewal)
- Change, Replacement or Surrender Request Form
New FLHSMV Database Integration Guides:
- Initial Application instructions using FLHSMV data
- Initial Application instructions when there is no FLHSMV data match
- Updating my address/Submitting an Address Change application
- Renewal Application instructions using FLHSMV data
- Renewal Application instructions when there is no FLHSMV data match
- Uploading documents from a desktop computer
- Uploading documents from a mobile device