Medical Marijuana Card Florida New Patient Guide
If you have been wondering, is medical marijuana legal in Florida, and how to get a medical marijuana card in Florida, then you have come to the right place! Releaf Medical is here to help you with the process of getting your Florida medical marijuana card. For permanent Florida residents, the process is straightforward; however, for seasonal residents, it can be more complicated, and the requirements differ. In general, the process of obtaining a medical marijuana card in Florida is straightforward and varies based on the patient’s residential circumstances, but the cannabis card benefits make the effort worthwhile!
Determining your status is quite simple. The state of Florida defines a permanent resident as anyone with a valid Florida driver’s license or Florida ID card. If you DO NOT HAVE a Florida driver’s license or Florida ID card, the state considers you a SEASONAL RESIDENT. Is weed legal in FL for seasonal residents? Yes, but it is a different process. Please visit our Seasonal Residents page; we are happy to help you with your cannabis card benefits, but the requirements to prove your state residency differ.
Permanent Residency Requirements
If you have a valid Florida driver’s license or Florida ID card, then please continue reading this new patient guide. The state of Florida verifies a patient’s residency either using a driver’s license or ID number, date of birth, and Social Security number. The state of Florida only guarantees instant approval with a valid, in-good-standing Florida driver’s license. Florida driver’s licenses that are still valid by their expiration date but are not in good standing with the state typically will not receive instant approval. Florida ID cards will work as proof of permanent residency, but instant approval is not guaranteed. Florida ID cards sometimes offer instant approval, but in other cases, we will have to file the application manually. The approval timeframe for both of these manual application scenarios is up to 10 business days.
The Medical Marijuana Use Registry database connects to the Florida state DMV records. If patients do not currently live at the address displayed on their driver’s license or ID, they can apply for a mail forwarding through USPS. New patients must bring in a form of photo identification at the time of their initial evaluation. If you have any further questions about the residency requirements for permanent Florida residents, please call us at 561-778-5323 for our Boynton Beach location, or 561-954-5323 for our West Palm Beach location to speak to a member of our knowledgeable staff.
To check your Florida driver’s license status, visit the FLHSMV website.
If you have a valid Florida driver’s license in good standing or a Florida ID, that is perfect. An overview of how to get a medical marijuana card in Florida is located below. If you have any questions or just do not feel like reading all the information below, call us at 561-778-5323 for our Boynton Beach location or 561-954-5323 for our West Palm Beach location. Permanent residents of the state of Florida are ready to receive cannabis card benefits; they just need to schedule an appointment and show up for the first doctor’s visit in person, and the Releaf Medical staff will handle the rest. No more need to wonder, is weed legal in FL? The process of getting your medical marijuana card in Florida is risk-free with Releaf Medical, so book an appointment today!
Is Medical Marijuana Legal In Florida
How To Get A Medical Marijuana Card In FL
Florida Medical Marijuana Program Summary | Important Dates
Now that you know that the answer to the question, “Is medical marijuana legal in Florida?” is a resounding yes, let’s look at the Florida Medical Marijuana Program summary, aka how to get a medical marijuana card in Florida. To start, there are technically two certifications necessary to purchase medical marijuana legally. Each certification has a different validity period. Not to worry, we at Releaf Medical understand this is a headache, to say the least, which is why we are dedicated to reminding you of your upcoming required recommendation renewals and why we offer telehealth services for all future doctor visits.
The two certifications with the separate expiration dates are the doctor’s recommendation and the actual state registration card. Let’s take them in the order they are assessed and issued. The first certification is the doctor’s recommendation, which you receive by visiting Releaf Medical in person, where our doctor can evaluate your qualifying condition. The state of Florida requires your first doctor’s appointment to be in person, and all subsequent doctor’s appointments can be done through our telehealth services. Once your recommendation is issued, you have 210 days (7 months) before it expires. The temporary state registration card is issued via email at your first doctor’s visit through the Office of Medical Marijuana Use and is valid for one year. While we can help you register with the state and get instant approval (with a valid FL driver’s license), we are not notified of your yearly renewal of the state-issued card. The state will send you an email with 45 days’ notice, and your renewal will also be approved instantly, provided your license is still valid and in good standing. Even though Releaf Medical is not notified of your upcoming state card expiration, we can still assist you in the process of renewing.
To maintain your cannabis card benefits, you will receive a reminder from us two weeks before your doctor’s recommendation expires, which is every 210 days, asking you to attend your next appointment. The staff at Releaf Medical will have scheduled your follow up at the time of your last evaluation. You need both your state card and your doctor’s recommendation to be active to shop at any dispensary, so it’s essential to stay on top of your renewals. After your first in-person visit with our doctor, our telehealth services are available for all renewal appointments!
Don’t worry, Releaf Medical takes care of everything for our patients!
How To Get A Medical Marijuana Card In FL
1. Medical Records
Do not get intimidated by the process of providing medical records for your Florida medical marijuana card. One of the most common questions we receive at Releaf Medical is how to get a medical marijuana card without medical records. If patients have their medical records on hand, it is very helpful to bring them to their appointment. If patients do not have access to their medical records or are unable to provide them at the time of their appointment, Releaf Medical staff can still verify the patient’s eligibility. Medical records and documentation are useful in helping our marijuana doctors determine a patient’s qualifying condition for a Florida medical marijuana card, but are not necessarily required. The Releaf Medical staff can obtain a patient’s previous medical records using a Medical Release Form included in our standard new-patient intake forms. This Medical Release Form is HIPAA-compliant and authorizes our staff to contact a patient’s previous physician or medical facility where the patient received treatment and to obtain copies of the patient’s medical records. Our knowledgeable and experienced marijuana doctors at Releaf Medical evaluate each patient on an individual basis to determine the best qualifying condition for a Florida medical marijuana card. If the Releaf Medical marijuana doctors are not able to provide a potential patient with a qualifying condition for a medical marijuana card, there is no fee for the appointment!
2. Medical Marijuana Doctor Evaluation
New patients are required to have an in-person evaluation performed by a state-certified physician who is qualified to provide recommendations for the use of medical marijuana in the state of Florida. The medical marijuana doctor must diagnose the qualifying patient as having a debilitating or chronic medical condition, of which there are too many to list here, so it may be best to come in for your evaluation even if you’re unsure. When arriving at Releaf Medical marijuana clinic, patients will have filled out the standard state-required medical marijuana use forms, which are HIPAA compliant, that have been sent via email when the appointment is made. The patient can also complete these forms at their appointment, and Releaf Medical will incorporate the HIPAA-compliant forms into their medical records. The medical marijuana doctor at Releaf Medical will then conduct a comprehensive medical evaluation to determine if the use of medical marijuana will specifically benefit the patient’s debilitating or chronic medical condition. At Releaf Medical, we want our patients to be as informed and comfortable as possible when they arrive for their evaluation, so please ask the staff and doctors as many questions as you would like. If our marijuana doctors determine a patient does not qualify for the use of medical marijuana in the state of Florida, then there is no fee for the evaluation; the process is RISK FREE!
2. Medical Marijuana Doctor Evaluation
New patients are required to have an in-person evaluation performed by a state-certified physician who is qualified to provide recommendations for the use of medical marijuana in the state of Florida. The medical marijuana doctor must diagnose the qualifying patient as having a debilitating or chronic medical condition, of which there are too many to list here, so it may be best to come in for your evaluation even if you’re unsure. When arriving at Releaf Medical marijuana clinic, patients will have filled out the standard state-required medical marijuana use forms, which are HIPAA compliant, that have been sent via email when the appointment is made. The patient can also complete these forms at their appointment, and Releaf Medical will incorporate the HIPAA-compliant forms into their medical records. The medical marijuana doctor at Releaf Medical will then conduct a comprehensive medical evaluation to determine if the use of medical marijuana will specifically benefit the patient’s debilitating or chronic medical condition. At Releaf Medical, we want our patients to be as informed and comfortable as possible when they arrive for their evaluation, so please ask the staff and doctors as many questions as you would like. If our marijuana doctors determine a patient does not qualify for the use of medical marijuana in the state of Florida, then there is no fee for the evaluation; the process is RISK FREE!
3. Recommendations
Once a new patient completes their in-person evaluation with a Florida state-certified marijuana doctor and the physician determines that a debilitating or chronic medical condition fulfills the Florida Department of Health requirements for the use of medical marijuana, the doctor will provide the patient with a recommendation for the use of medical marijuana. A written recommendation from a marijuana doctor is very similar to writing a prescription, but cannot be labeled a prescription because medical marijuana is not legal on a federal level. A medical marijuana recommendation is a statement from a state-certified marijuana doctor that expresses their professional opinion that the use of medical marijuana would be beneficial to the patient based on their qualifying condition. The evaluating marijuana doctor determines how long recommendations for the use of medical marijuana in the state of Florida are valid. Recommendation validation dates range from 1 to 7 months. At Releaf Medical, we give the maximum time allowed for recommendations, which is 210 days, or roughly seven months. Our doctors establish individualized treatment programs for patients based on their specific needs and incorporate the marijuana delivery routes that the patient is most comfortable with. Releaf Medical Marijuana Clinic provides our patients with all the delivery routes offered in the state of Florida: smokable flowers, oral, edibles, topical, sublingual, and inhalation. If the product is available for purchase at the dispensary, then our patients can buy it. You can find more details about the various delivery routes in the “Medical Marijuana Delivery Routes and Limits” section below.
4. State Registration
After patients have received a recommendation for the use of medical marijuana, the office staff at Releaf Medical will register the patients’ information with the Florida Health Medical Marijuana Use Registry. The Florida Department of Health will email the patient their website login credentials and a temporary password. With the assistance of the Releaf Medical staff, the patient will log in to the state website, update their password, complete the medical marijuana card application, and pay the state-required $75.00 application fee ($77.75 with the state’s convenience fee). Once the state registration is complete and payment to the state of Florida has been made, the state will immediately issue a temporary medical marijuana card to the patient via email. That’s right, INSTANT APPROVAL! This temporary Florida medical marijuana card will allow patients to purchase medical marijuana from any licensed dispensary located within the state of Florida, even before receiving their physical permanent medical marijuana card. The state will send the permanent Florida medical marijuana card to the address listed on the patient’s driver’s license or ID by regular mail within four to six weeks after receiving the temporary card via email. If patients do not currently live at the address displayed on their driver’s license or ID, they can apply for a mail forwarding through USPS. Permanent medical marijuana cards are valid for a period of 12 months. Releaf Medical marijuana clinic will contact patients to schedule their re-evaluation appointments to update their doctor recommendations, which occur every 7 months. The state of Florida will send the patient a renewal email about their medical marijuana cards 45 days before the cards expire. A patient must keep both their recommendations and medical marijuana card active to prevent any lapse in medication and treatment. Is medical marijuana legal in Florida? For you, it is now!
4. State Registration
After patients have received a recommendation for the use of medical marijuana, the office staff at Releaf Medical will register the patients’ information with the Florida Health Medical Marijuana Use Registry. The Florida Department of Health will email the patient their website login credentials and a temporary password. With the assistance of the Releaf Medical staff, the patient will log in to the state website, update their password, complete the medical marijuana card application, and pay the state-required $75.00 application fee ($77.75 with the state’s convenience fee). Once the state registration is complete and payment to the state of Florida has been made, the state will immediately issue a temporary medical marijuana card to the patient via email. That’s right, INSTANT APPROVAL! This temporary Florida medical marijuana card will allow patients to purchase medical marijuana from any licensed dispensary located within the state of Florida, even before receiving their physical permanent medical marijuana card. The state will send the permanent Florida medical marijuana card to the address listed on the patient’s driver’s license or ID by regular mail within four to six weeks after receiving the temporary card via email. If patients do not currently live at the address displayed on their driver’s license or ID, they can apply for a mail forwarding through USPS. Permanent medical marijuana cards are valid for a period of 12 months. Releaf Medical marijuana clinic will contact patients to schedule their re-evaluation appointments to update their doctor recommendations, which occur every 7 months. The state of Florida will send the patient a renewal email about their medical marijuana cards 45 days before the cards expire. A patient must keep both their recommendations and medical marijuana card active to prevent any lapse in medication and treatment. Is medical marijuana legal in Florida? For you, it is now!
5. Visit A Florida Dispensary
Now that you understand the answer to, is weed legal in FL, and you know how to get a medical marijuana card in Florida, you can visit any of the many Florida dispensaries. Patients can place orders at dispensaries by physically going into the medical marijuana treatment center, also known as a dispensary, or by placing the order online. Patients can either pick up the order at the local dispensary or schedule a delivery, if said dispensary offers that service. At Releaf Medical, we advise all patients to start slowly and take advantage of the new-patient discounts available around town! If you’re unsure about these discounts, Releaf Medical is a friendly resource and would be happy to explain all the benefits. You can also view many of these discounts on the dispensary overview pages on our website. Remember, everyone is unique and responds differently to various strains and routes of delivery, so experiment, starting slow, to find the best dosages and delivery methods that work for you as a patient and your specific condition. The staff at Releaf Medical is available six days a week for our patients, so please do not hesitate to call or stop into our medical marijuana clinic if you have any questions or would like to review your medical marijuana treatment plan. No more grief, just RELEAF!
Is Medical Marijuana Legal In Florida
How To Get A Medical Marijuana Card In FL
Medical Marijuana Rolling Limits And Delivery Routes
Medical Marijuana Limits On Purchasing
Now that we understand the answer to the question, is medical marijuana legal in Florida, it’s time to look at how much and what products you can purchase. Medical marijuana delivery routes can break down into two categories: Smokable Flower and Medical Marijuana Products. The first, smokable, is pretty straightforward, as it refers to the flower of the cannabis plant that can be inhaled in a variety of ways. You can purchase this by its weight (eg. 1/8th or 3.5 grams) or by pre-rolled joints that are sold by the unit. Medical Marijuana is everything else, from vape to edibles to topicals to concentrates. As soon as the flower is processed into some other form of delivery, it is referred to as medical. This is industry speak and good to know when your local budtender is offering you a popular product, and this distinction will determine your limits when purchasing medical marijuana. Each category has its own independent limit, and purchasing from one category does not affect your ability to purchase from the other. Using your smokable flower limit has no impact on your medical marijuana product limit, and vice versa.
Florida does not reset your medical marijuana amount on a certain day or once a month. Instead, the state uses a rolling limit, which means it always looks back to see how much you have already used. Think of it like a moving window of time. Each day, the system reviews your past purchases and subtracts them from your allowed limit. As those previous purchases expire from their rolling limit time window, that amount becomes available to you again.
For smokable flower, Florida allows up to 2.5 ounces within a 35-day rolling period. There is no “refill date”. If you reach the 2.5-ounce limit, you will be unable to purchase more flower until previous flower purchases expire (after 35 days).
For medical marijuana products such as vapes, edibles, concentrates, topicals, etc the system works the same way but uses milligrams (mg) instead of ounces and a 70-day rolling window. All medical routes share a total aggregate limit of 24,500 mg. This means every medical product you purchase pulls from the same total amount, regardless of the route. Once the full 24,500 mg has been dispensed, you will not be able to buy additional medical products until previous purchases expire and milligrams return to your account (after 70 days).
(Think of it like one bank account—spending money at different stores still comes out of the same balance.)
Smokable Flower / Medical Marijuana Credit Card Analogy:
- You have a credit card with a $2,500 limit
- You don’t get a brand-new card every month
- As you pay off old charges, your available credit comes back
If these limits are hindering your ability to treat your condition, please come speak to our team about filing for a Request for Exception (RFE). Our doctor will listen to your case for a limit increase, an RFE, and we will file that free of charge to maximize your cannabis card benefits. Other marijuana doctors in Florida do not offer this service, as it does take time, and the doctor must be in perfect standing with regulators to even consider asking. Another reason to choose Releaf Medical!
OMMU Helpful Links For Understanding Patient Orders & Limits
Viewing and Understanding Patient Orders
Understanding Allowance Calculation with Rolling Purchase History
Medical Marijuana Delivery Routes
Smokable Flower
When patients visit a medical marijuana dispensary in Florida, they will see an option labeled “Smokable Flower” or simply “Flower.” The term “flower” refers to the bud of the cannabis plant, which contains all the therapeutic compounds like THC and CBD. Flower is traditionally consumed in pipes, bowls, pre-rolls, or hand-rolled joints. Medical marijuana treatment patients can purchase up to 2.5 ounces every 35 days and be in possession of 4 ounces at a time as long as the flower is in a marked container from a licensed medical marijuana treatment center. Smokable flower has an immediate onset, with effects felt within 1-5 minutes after consumption, and typically lasts 1-4 hours. Smokable flower is sold at dispensaries in pre-rolls, 3.5-gram containers, 7-gram containers, and 14-gram containers. Different dispensaries offer different products, amounts, specials, and pricing. Releaf Medical advises our new patients to shop around, take advantage of new-patient discounts, and determine which products work best for their specific condition and lifestyle.
Oral
The oral medical marijuana delivery route is very popular and offers patients a plethora of products that do not require smoking or inhaling. The biggest challenge to oral cannabis consumption is calculating dosage amounts due to fluctuation in metabolism and absorption rates in each individual. The onset time frame is also highly variable and ranges from 30 minutes to over 2 hours. A delayed onset may lead some patients to consume more products too quickly. Overmedicating orally can result in patients experiencing high levels of anxiety, paranoia, and nausea. Remember, GO SLOW; patients can always consume more but can’t take less. The duration of the effects from oral medical marijuana products can last from 4 to 8 hours, but vary due to fluctuations in metabolism and absorption rates. Oral products include tablets, oral syringes, capsules, powders, distillate oils, oral sprays, RSO syringes, and RSO capsules. Is weed legal in FL, yes, but you need to have a valid medical marijuana card Florida to be able to purchase at a licensed dispensary to take full advantage of the cannabis card benefits.
Edibles
Cannabis edibles are defined as foods that are infused with cannabis extract, a much-desired smoke-free option. Cannabis edibles are a unique consumption method because there is a considerable delay in the onset of effects, which can take anywhere from 30 minutes to over 3 hours. The delay is caused by the product’s digestion, which creates another unique feature: the first-pass effect. When THC delta-9 passes through the liver, it is converted into a more potent THC 11-hydroxy. THC 11-hydroxy is five times as strong as delta-9, meaning a 10 mg dose could potentially feel like a 50 mg dose. For all medical marijuana products, particularly cannabis edibles, it is advisable for patients to begin with a lower dosage and gradually increase it over time. You can feel the effects of cannabis edibles for 4 to 8 hours after the initial onset. Florida state regulations limit the maximum dosage of edibles to 10 mg per serving, but they are sold in 100 mg containers. Edible cannabis products differ from each dispensary but are typically sold as cookies, gummies, brownies, chocolate products, drinks, etc. Dispensaries offer different variations of cannabis edibles, with an example being nanotechnology products, which offer a faster absorption rate.
Topical
Topical medical marijuana products include any cannabis product that is applied to the skin. Topical products are absorbed locally into the endocannabinoid receptors in the skin and do not cross the blood-brain barrier, so there is no psychoactive effect. Topicals are effective for relieving localized body pain and muscle spasms, and they do not cause a “high,” making them an excellent option for pain relief when working or on the go. The onset for topical products ranges from 20 to 60 minutes, with the duration lasting up to 4 hours. Topical products are sold in gel, lotion, and cream formats, and transdermal patches, gels, and creams. Transdermal topical products have a duration of up to 72 hours. It is essential to inform your marijuana doctor before trying any topical products if you have any previous known skin conditions or allergies. If you would like the cannabis card benefits of the topical products make sure you get a medical marijuana card Florida with Releaf Medical.
Sublingual
Sublingual delivery of medical cannabis is the process of administering cannabis medicine under the tongue or to the other mucous membranes in the mouth. The benefits of a sublingual delivery route include rapid onset of usually within 15 minutes, moderate duration, and easy use. Sublinguals are typically held in the mouth under the tongue for a period of 60 seconds and swallowed. Sublingual products are sold in tincture format, as an oral solution, or a dissolvable compound. Tincture products are typically produced with alcohol or glycerin, which adds to the sublingual absorption. The duration of sublingual effects usually lasts from 2 to 6 hours. Sublinguals allow for discreet and easy consumption. Is weed legal in FL, yes, but you need to have a valid medical marijuana card Florida to be able to purchase at a licensed dispensary to take full advantage of the cannabis card benefits.
Inhalation
Inhalation is probably the most common marijuana delivery method for cannabis consumers. This delivery route delivers terpenes and cannabinoids to the bloodstream very quickly. The onset is almost immediate, with patients feeling effects within 1-3 minutes after consumption, and the duration can last 1-4 hours. There is a subset of products that fall under the inhalation delivery route: vape products, concentrates, inhalers, etc.
Is weed legal in FL, YES, so start reaping the cannabis card benefits and schedule an appointment with Releaf Medical for your medical marijuana card Florida!
