Florida Cannabis Laws

Yes, medical marijuana patients in Florida can have a caregiver. Caregivers will complete their own application form and must also be listed on the patient’s application form. Caregivers and patients must renew their physician certification 45 days prior to the card expiration date.

Caregiver Requirements:

• Be a Florida resident and 21 years of age or older.
• Not be a qualified physician.
• Not be employed by or have economic interest in Medical Marijuana Treatment Centers (MMTCs) or a Certified Marijuana Testing Laboratory (CMTL).
• Successfully complete the caregiver certification course within the Medical Marijuana Use Registry every 2 years.
• Pass a background screening, unless the medical marijuana patient is a close relative of the caregiver.
  • After June 12, 2023, all NON-CLOSE RELATIVES applying for a caregiver Medical Marijuana Use Registry identification card must complete a level 2 background screening. More information can be found here.
• Be registered to no more than one qualified patient, unless:
  • The caregiver is a parent or legal guardian of more than one minor who is a qualified patient.
  • The caregiver is a parent or legal guardian of more than one adult who is a qualified patient and who has an intellectual or developmental disability that prevents the patient from being able to protect or care for himself or herself without assistance or supervision.
  • All qualified patients the caregiver has agreed to assist are admitted to a hospice program and have requested the assistance of that caregiver with the medical use of marijuana; the caregiver is an employee of the hospice; and the caregiver provides personal care or other services directly to clients of the hospice in the scope of that employment.
  • All qualified patients the caregiver has agreed to assist are participating in a research program in a teaching nursing home pursuant to s. 1004.4351, Florida Statutes.

Here’s how to apply as a caregiver:

• Retrieve your login credentials for the Medical Marijuana Use Registry from your email.
• Access the “Your Card” page in the Medical Marijuana Use Registry to complete your online application.
• Supply all necessary documentation and submit your payment information for the $75 processing fee, plus a $2.75 convenience fee.
• Once your application is approved, you will be sent a Medical Marijuana Registry ID card. You can check the status of your application while it is under review.

State Resources:

• Caregiver Initial Application Instructions
• Caregiver Renewal Instructions

Please note: At the moment, we can only renew existing a medical marijuana patient previously approved with Leafwell via telehealth and not process initial applications.

Some states recognize out-of-state medical marijuana cards, allowing non-resident patients to purchase medicine. This is called medical marijuana reciprocity.

The following states and territories accept out-of-state medical cannabis cards, including a Florida medical marijuana card:

• Arizona
• Arkansas *
• Hawaii *
• Louisiana
• Maine
• Michigan (at the dispensary’s discretion)
• Nevada
• New Hampshire
• New Jersey *
• New Mexico
• Oklahoma *
• Puerto Rico
• Rhode Island
• U.S. Virgin Islands *
• Utah * (up to two 21-day periods in a calendar year)
• Washington, D.C.

*Visitors must complete a visiting patient application with the state program.

States that have recreational cannabis for adults 21 and older but do not accept out-of-state cards include:

• Alaska
• California
• Colorado
• Connecticut
• Illinois
• Maryland
• Massachusetts
• Minnesota (currently only tribal dispensaries)
• Missouri
• Montana
• New York
• Oregon
• Vermont
• Washington

Have the following ready before you begin your application:

• Photo ID 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 in your profile, your Florida ID card or driver’s license photo can be automatically added to your application and approved.
• Proof of Residency Documentation
• $75 payment fee (Plus $2.75 convenience fee)

How do I apply for the state program in Florida?

• After your appointment with a Leafwell physician, you will receive 2x emails with the subject line “Medical Marijuana Use Registry New User Account” (here’s a walkthrough for step 1).
  • One email contains your username (your email address).
  • The second email contains a temporary password – these passwords are case-sensitive.
  • Click the link in the email to log into the Medical Marijuana Use Registry https://mmuregistry.flhealth.gov/.
  • Click login in the top left and then enter your email, and password and click the login button.
  • Type the temporary password into the ‘current password’ box, then set your own.
  • Once this is done, you will be automatically redirected to your registry homepage.
• Click on “Your Card” and then click “Begin Initial Application.”
• Click “Supply a Photo” to supply either your State ID photo or a passport-style photo to your application.
  • Clicking “Check My State ID” will upload your driver’s license photo from the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (FLHSMV) demographic database.
  • Clicking “Supply My Own” will allow you to upload your own photo from your device. (Using the FLHSMV sourced data will automatically approve the photo and may cut down on processing time, while supplying your own photo may increase the processing time.)
• Scroll down to the “Proof of Residence” section and click “Check State Residency Status” to obtain your Driver’s License or Florida State ID from FLHSMV, or click “Supply My Own” to supply your own proof of residency document.
• Review all data to make sure it is accurate. Then click “Apply.”
• Electronically sign your application and click “Submit My Card Application.”
• Pay the application fee.
• Click “Print for your Records” to print the payment confirmation for your records.
• The entire application review process takes a total of 10 business days from the date of submission. Once the application is approved, you will receive an electronic temporary card to use while the physical official card is printed. The official card will be mailed to you within five business days.