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.