While weed is still illegal for recreational use in Florida, you can obtain legal weed under certain circumstances. Florida has one of the most successful medical marijuana programs in the United States, with over 10,000 new patients signing up to dispensaries each week according to recent statistics.

However, getting legal weed in Florida isn’t as easy as just walking into a dispensary and buying it. You’ll have to gain approval from a certified marijuana doctor first, and medical cards are only available to patients with certain qualifying conditions. So who’s eligible, how do you get your medical card, and where can you buy weed? Here’s everything you need to know about legal weed in Florida.

Is Marijuana Legal In Florida?

Although many states are beginning to legalize weed, marijuana is still illegal in Florida for everyone except licensed medical marijuana patients. To use marijuana, you’ll need to have one of the qualifying conditions set by the state and gain approval from a doctor to obtain your medical card.

Using marijuana without a medical card will still result in strict legal punishment. The possession of up to 20 grams of marijuana is a misdemeanor offense, punishable by up to a year in prison and fines of up to $1000. Possession 20 grams to 25 lbs is a felony, resulting in up to five years in prison and fines of up to $5,000.

Patients with debilitating conditions can get medical marijuana, but they must go through the process of getting a medical card first. Patients can buy up to 2.5 ounces of cannabis flower every 35 days, as well as other kinds of medical marijuana products such as oils and topicals.

How Can I Get Medical Marijuana in Florida?

Before you can buy medical marijuana in Florida, you must go through the process of getting a physician’s recommendation and obtaining your medical card. It can take some time and a few doctor visits, but as long as you have a qualifying condition, you should have no problem getting your medical card.

First, you must book an appointment with a doctor who’s certified to issue recommendations for medical marijuana to patients. Not all doctors can approve patients for medical marijuana. They must be state-licensed physicians who have completed a course enabling them to act as medical marijuana doctors.

You’ll need to provide your medical records to your marijuana doctor. They’ll also need to assess your current health status to confirm that you have a qualifying condition for medical marijuana. If you’re approved, you’ll be placed on the Compassionate Care Registry and you can apply for your medical marijuana card.

You’ll receive an email allowing you to apply online for your Registry Identification Card. You’ll need to provide your personal details as well as an application fee of $75. If your application is approved, you should receive your medical card within 8 weeks, allowing you to buy medical marijuana from Florida dispensaries.

Going through the whole process can be tricky, especially as you’ll need to find a qualified medical marijuana doctor and ensure all your paperwork is correct before applying. If you need help, don’t hesitate to contact MY FLORIDA GREEN. We can connect you with a Florida marijuana doctor and make getting your Florida medical card quick and hassle-free.

What Are the Qualifying Medical Conditions?

To get a medical card, you must have one of the qualifying conditions for marijuana in Florida set by the state. Currently, the 2019 Florida statutes list the following medical conditions as qualifying conditions:

If you don’t have one of the conditions explicitly listed, there’s still a chance you can gain approval for medical marijuana. Physicians are able to make their own judgment on whether other conditions qualify for medical marijuana. However, this generally only applies in cases where patients have a debilitating condition that has not been helped by other treatments.

Where Can I Purchase Marijuana in Florida?

Once you have your Registry Identification Card, you’ll be able to buy medical marijuana products in one of the many marijuana dispensaries in Florida. These are operated by fourteen major companies with over 100 dispensaries across the state. Whether yo are in Naples, Sarasota, St. Petersburg, Miami or any other Florida Location, you can get medical marijuana near you.

Popular dispensaries include FLUENT, Curaleaf, Trulieve, VidaCann, and Liberty Health Sciences. You’ll be able to find many of these across all counties in Florida. Be sure to bring your medical card and another valid form of identification when you buy medical marijuana.

The state recently made smokable marijuana legal for Florida medical marijuana patients, so you can now find cannabis flower in many dispensaries. You can also find products such as tinctures, topicals, vape oils, and more infused with THC, CBD or both.

When Will Recreational Marijuana Be Legal in Florida?

While recreational marijuana is still illegal in Florida, it does seem as though the state is moving towards full legalization. More states are beginning to make marijuana legal, and Florida could potentially follow the trend within the next few years.

There are many advocates for recreational legalization in Florida. Recently, Orlando lawyer John Morgan backed a campaign to legalize recreational marijuana by 2020. Recent polls also show that a large majority of Florida voters want to see recreational marijuana become legal.

There has also been a recent bill to decriminalize the possession of marijuana. While this wouldn’t make marijuana legal for recreational use, residents would no longer face harsh penalties for possessing small amounts of marijuana.

Marijuana for recreational use in Florida could potentially become legal within a couple of years. However, for now, only medical marijuana patients can use marijuana legally in the Sunshine State.

The Takeaway

Legal weed is currently available to patients with chronic or debilitating conditions in Florida. However, they must first gain approval from a marijuana doctor and apply for a medical card to use it. If you need help getting medical marijuana in Florida, contact MY FLORIDA GREEN for guidance.