Get a Florida Medical Marijuana Card

2 documents needed to apply for a Florida medical marijuana card

To apply for a medical marijuana card in Florida, you must follow a few essential steps to ensure your eligibility and successful registration.

1. Proof of Identity
   You will need a government-issued photo ID, such as a Florida driver’s license or Florida state identification card. You may also submit an out-of-state driver’s license or state identification card with two proofs of Florida residency (for seasonal Florida residents). For minors,  a certified birth certificate or FL school registration record, AND legal guardian’s FL Driver’s License or State ID.
2. Medical Marijuana Recommendation
   Once approved, you will receive two emails from the state. One includes your username (email), and the other includes a temporary password that expires in 24 hours. Use those credentials to log into the Florida Medical Marijuana Program website to complete your online application.

Next steps after approval

Please note that we are temporarily closed in Florida at this time. We apologize for the inconvenience.

Congratulations on getting approved for your medical certification. Here’s a guide to what you need to do next.

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 state ID 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)

Here is the process for applying in Florida

For detailed instructions with images, click here.

1. 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).
   1. One email contains your username (your email address).
   2. The second email contains a temporary password – these passwords are case-sensitive.
   3. Click the link in the email to log into the Medical Marijuana Use Registry https://mmuregistry.flhealth.gov/.
   4. Click login in the top left, enter your email and password, and click the log in button.
   5. You will then be able to set your password – type the temporary password into the ‘current password’ box then set your own.
   6. Once this is done, you will be automatically redirected to your registry homepage.
2. Click on “Your Card” and then click “Begin Initial Application.”
3. Click “Supply a Photo” to supply either your State ID photo or a passport-style photo to your application.
4. 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.
5. Review all data to make sure it is accurate. Then click “Apply.”
6. Electronically sign your application and click “Submit My Card Application.”
7. Pay the application fee.
8. Click “Print for your Records” to print the payment confirmation for your records.
9. 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. Within 5 business days, the official card is mailed to you.

Additional Resources:

• Logging in for the first time
• Instructional Guides

How to renew your medical cannabis ID card in Florida

It’s easy to renew your Florida medical marijuana card with Leafwell.

You must renew 45 days before your card expires, and Florida patients can only be seen by their previously approved provider via telemedicine.

Renewal Application Process:

1. Sign in to your existing Leafwell account.
2. Update your renewal registration and book an appointment.
3. After getting approved, the provider will refill your medication order.*
4. If your state card is due to expire, log into the Florida Medical Marijuana Program to complete the state-side renewal application.
5. Receive email approval from the Florida state agency and legally purchase cannabis from a licensed dispensary.

Is there anything I need to do before renewing my Florida medical marijuana card/certification?

Please note that we are temporarily closed in Florida at this time. We apologize for the inconvenience.

All renewing patients who meet with a new physician must self-deactivate and leave their current physician in the Medical Marijuana Use Registry before the consultation. If you are not changing doctors from your last visit, there is no need to self-deactivate.

Your new physician won’t be able to activate you under their care and complete your certification until you’ve self-deactivated, so it’s important to complete this step before your appointment to avoid delays.

Follow these steps to leave your current physician:

1. Log into the Medical Marijuana Use Registry https://mmuregistry.flhealth.gov/.
2. Navigate to the “YOUR PROFILE” menu option at the top of the page to view your information.
3. Scroll to the bottom of your profile page, then click “LEAVE YOUR CURRENT PHYSICIAN.”
   1. If the “Current Physician” states “No Current Physician,” or you do not have a button for “LEAVE YOUR CURRENT PHYSICIAN,” you are not currently active with a qualified physician.
4. Click “Confirm” to save your changes.

The state guide — with screenshots — can be found here.

Next steps after renewal

Please note that we are temporarily closed in Florida at this time. We apologize for the inconvenience.

Before you start, have these supporting documents ready:

• Leafwell Physician Certificate
• A debit or credit card

Renewing Your Florida Medical Marijuana Card

Here’s the state’s official guide, including photos – or you can read ours below too.

1. Log into the Medical Marijuana Use Registry: https://mmuregistry.flhealth.gov/
2. Navigate to the “YOUR CARD” menu option at the top of the page to view your Application History page.
3. Click “BEGIN RENEWAL” to open a renewal application. You may start a renewal application beginning 45 days prior to your card’s expiration date. The number of days until you can begin a renewal application will be listed on this page. If your previous card is still valid, renewing your card will not affect your ability to obtain products.
4. Click “PROCEED.”
5. Review all data to make sure it is accurate, then click “APPLY.”
6. Read the confirmation message and click “APPLY” to confirm.
7. Click “SUPPLY A PHOTO” to supply either your Florida State ID photo or your own passport-style photo.
   1. Clicking “CHECK STATE ID PHOTO” will upload your driver’s license photo from the Florida Department of High Safety and Motor Vehicles’ (FLHSMV) demographic database.
   2. Clicking “SUPPLY MY OWN” will allow you to upload a 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.)
8. Scroll down to the “PROOF OF RESIDENCE” section and then click “SUPPLY PROOF.”
9. Click “CHECK STATE RESIDENCY STATUS” to obtain your Driver’s License or Florida State ID from FLHSMV. If you wish to upload your own photo, click “SUPPLY MY OWN” to supply your own proof of residency document. Select the file you wish to upload and click “OPEN.” The document will appear below the “SUPPLY PROOF” button.
10. Review your information for accuracy, then click “APPLY.”
11. Electronically sign your application. Scroll to the bottom of the page to the Signature section to type in your first name and last name in the boxes provided.
12. Click “SUBMIT MY CARD APPLICATION.”
13. Electronically sign your application and click “Submit My Card Application.”
14. Pay the application fee.
15. Click “Print for your Records” to print the payment confirmation for your records.
16. The current processing time for the new application review process is 10 business days from the date of submission. For renewals, this should be instant. Payments take (5) business days to fully process and post in the Medical Marijuana Use Registry. Once your payment is processed, the application review period can take up to an additional 5 business days. If any part of an application is rejected or missing or invalid documentation, the processing time will be delayed.

Legal limitations for Florida cardholders

Navigating the legal landscape can be tricky, but we’re here to break it down for you. Here are some key points you should know if you have a medical marijuana ID card in Florida.

No Public Consumption: Patients can not consume cannabis in public places or on public transportation.

Cultivation is Off-Limits: Patients cannot cultivate cannabis plants. Growing a marijuana plant even as a medical patient is not permitted.

Medical Marijuana Treatment Centers: Licensed medical marijuana treatment centers (MMTCs) are vertically integrated and are the only businesses in Florida authorized to dispense medical marijuana and low-THC cannabis to qualified patients and caregivers. They are also commonly referred to as medical marijuana dispensaries or clinics.

Daily Dose Amount Limit: According to a 2022 emergency rule “a qualified physician may not issue a physician certification for more than three 70-day supply limits of marijuana or more than six 35-day supply limits of marijuana in a form for smoking.”

Recreational Use Is Prohibited: Florida Medical Marijuana Laws prohibit anyone in Florida to possess marijuana flower or low-THC cannabis unless it is sealed in a tamper-proof container sold at a medical marijuana clinic.

No Gun Permit If You Have a Medical Card: Medical marijuana use prohibits you from obtaining a weapons permit in Florida, as the federal government considers medical marijuana as a Schedule 1 controlled substance, which is against federal law.

How to become a caregiver in Florida

If you’re looking to become a medical marijuana caregiver for a medical marijuana patient in Florida, there are some important rules and steps to follow.

Picking Up for Patients

As a caregiver, you can pick up medicine from a medical marijuana dispensary on behalf of a patient with terminal illnesses or in hospice care.

Caregiver Limitations

If a caregiver is not a close relative of the qualified patient they are assisting, they must also pass a background screening. If the patient is a minor, having a caregiver is a must.

Application Process

When applying to become a caregiver, applicants must provide the following:

• A completed caregiver application.
• A copy of the caregiver’s proof of residency.
• A $75 check or money order to cover the application fee payable to the Florida Department of Health.
  • A $2.75 convenience fee applies to online payments.
• A 2×2-inch photograph taken within 90 days. The photo must be passport style, in color, and show the caregiver’s full face.

Note: Your Medical Marijuana Registry ID card expires after one year and must be renewed 45 days before expiration.

Eligibility Criteria

According to the Office of Medical Marijuana Use, medical marijuana caregivers in Florida must:

• Be 21 years of age.
• Be a Florida resident.
• Agree in writing to assist with the qualified patient’s medical use of marijuana.
• Be registered in the Medical Marijuana Use Registry of no more than one qualified patient.
• Complete a caregiver certification course provided by the Florida Department of Health or its designee.

If a caregiver is not a close relative of the qualified patient they are assisting, they must also pass a background screening.

Can I use my Florida medical card in other states?

Florida does not offer medical marijuana reciprocity to visitors with a medical card from other states.

That said, these states will recognize Florida medical marijuana cards:

• Arizona
• Arkansas *
• Delaware
• 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.

Minor patient information

If a qualified patient is younger than 18 years of age, only a caregiver may purchase or administer medical marijuana for the qualified patient. Patients who are minors may not purchase marijuana.

The patient’s qualified physician is the only person able to add a caregiver to a patient’s profile in the Medical Marijuana Use Registry. See the Caregivers section for requirements.

Both adult and minor patients should follow the Steps to Medical Marijuana Treatment. The first step is to visit a qualified physician. However, Florida law has specific requirements for the medical use of marijuana by minors. These requirements include:

A qualified physician must determine that the medical use of marijuana would likely outweigh the potential health risks for all patients.

If the patient is younger than 18 years of age, a second physician must concur with this determination and such concurrence must be documented in the patient’s medical record.

The parent or legal guardian of a qualified minor patient must provide the Office of Medical Marijuana Use (OMMU) with written consent for the patient to use medical marijuana.

The patient’s qualified physician must submit the parent’s/guardian’s Consent for Minor Patient (CMP) form to the OMMU prior to the minor patient beginning an MMUR ID Card application.

Qualified medical marijuana patients who are under the age of 18, must designate a caregiver in the qualified patient’s application and in the Medical Marijuana Use Registry. Designated caregivers must also submit a completed application to the OMMU to obtain a Medical Marijuana Use Registry Caregiver identification card.

Medical marijuana patients under the age of 18 may not obtain a certification for marijuana for medical use by smoking unless the patient is diagnosed with a terminal condition and a second physician, who is a board-certified pediatrician, agrees with the determination.