FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Medical Marijuana
General FAQs
What is medical marijuana?
Medical marijuana uses the marijuana plant or chemicals in it to treat diseases or conditions. It’s basically the same product as recreational marijuana, but it’s taken for medical purposes.
The marijuana plant contains more than 100 different chemicals called cannabinoids. Each one has a different effect on the body. Delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD) are the main chemicals used in medicine. THC also produces the “high” people feel when they smoke marijuana or eat foods containing it.
What is medical cannabis used for?
Researchers are studying whether medical marijuana can help treat a number of conditions including:
- Alzheimer’s disease
- Appetite loss
- Cancer
- Crohn’s disease
- Diseases affecting the immune system like HIV/AIDS or Multiple
Sclerosis (MS) - Eating disorders such as anorexia
- Epilepsy
- Glaucoma
- Mental health conditions like schizophrenia and post-traumatic
stress disorder (PTSD) - Multiple sclerosis
- Muscle spasms
- Nausea
- Pain
- Seizures
- Wasting syndrome (cachexia)
What is the difference between Low-THC marijuana and medical cannabis?
“Low-THC cannabis” refers to any product produced from a plant from the genus Cannabis containing 0.8% or less of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and more than 10% of cannabidiol (CBD).
“Low- THC cannabis” has no psychoactive effect (no high).
What is a Medical Marijuana Use Registry Identification Card?
Qualified patients & caregivers are required to have a Medical Marijuana Use Registry ID card to purchase & be in possession of medical marijuana in Florida.
Ex. A Medical Marijuana Use Registry Identification Card
Once you are certified by one of our physicians, you can apply for a Florida medical marijuana ID card that will allow you to fill your physician’s order at any medical cannabis dispensary within Florida. Medical Marijuana Use Registry Identification Cards cost $75 (paid directly to the state) & are valid for one year.
What is a Medical Marijuana Certification?
A Certification is a document that states a specific person has a qualifying medical condition in which a doctor recommends they procure medicine for treatment purposes.
After the physician completes an evaluation for the Medical Marijuana Certification, then orders which contain the routes (such as inhalation, oral, topical etc.) and recommended amounts the patient can receive from a dispensary are entered into the system. One certification can be given up to a Florida state maximum of 210 days with a scheduled renewal period every 70 days during this time.
This certification consists of (3) order types:
- Smoking Marijuana (Flower): 35-day allotment
- Medical Marijuana (Oral, Edibles, Topical, Sublingual, Inhalation): 70-day allotment
- Low-THC Cannabis: 70-day allotment
A Certification is NOT a prescription as Medical Marijuana is voluntary and not medically necessary.
Both your MEDICAL MARIJUANA IDENTIFICATION CARD and CERTIFICATION must be valid in order to purchase at any Medical Marijuana Treatment Center (MMTC).
Can I smoke medical cannabis?
Yes, however, the way you use medical marijuana is up to you! Every method varies in its effects on your body and mindset. For example, smoking or vaporizing marijuana will cause you to feel the effects more quickly. Whereas, if you eat it, it will take much longer (typically between one to two hours to experience the peak effects from edible products).
Getting Started
New Patient FAQs
Do I qualify for medical cannabis?
Qualifying conditions include (but are not limited to):
- Cancer
- Epilepsy
- Glaucoma
- HIV/AIDS
- Crohn’s Disease
- Parkinson’s Disease
- Multiple Sclerosis (MS)
- Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
- Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS)
- Medical conditions of the same kind or class or comparable to those listed above
- A terminal condition diagnosed by a physician other than the qualified physician issuing the physician certification
- Chronic nonmalignant pain caused by a qualifying medical condition or that originates from a qualifying medical condition & persists beyond the usual course of that qualifying medical condition
If you have seen a physician in the past for your condition, it can help (but is not required) to have your medical records for the doctor’s approval. Schedule a risk-free consultation with one of our physicians now to see if you qualify by clicking here, or by calling/texting us at (407) 434-9866.
What is the cost of a medical marijuana certification?
First time patient certifications are $179 & will be valid for up to 210 days (7 months). Our service fee is all inclusive except for the $75 medical marijuana use registry identification card fee paid directly to the state of Florida following the consultation.
Recertifications are $149.
Dispensary employees qualify for a $99 flat fee for renewal appointments. You will need to bring your industry ID, or some other form of proof verifying your employment.
Our service is risk-free with a money back guarantee. If you do not qualify for medical marijuana, we issue a full refund.
How do I prove I'm a Florida resident?
At least one of the two documents submitted must be from this list:
- A Florida voter’s registration card.
- A Florida driver’s license or Florida identification card.
- A Florida vehicle registration.
- Proof of a permanent home in Florida which is occupied as a primary residence by the individual or by the individual’s parent if the individual is a dependent child.
- Proof of a homestead exemption in Florida.
- Transcripts from a Florida high school for multiple years (if Florida high school diploma or GED was earned within last 12 months).*
- Proof of permanent full-time employment in Florida for at least 30 hours per week for the most recent and consecutive 12-month period.
How much do I pay the state for a Florida Medical Marijuana Card?
Once your qualified Marijuana Doctor has registered your information into the Medical Marijuana Use Registry (MMUR), you will be able to proceed with your application for a Medical Marijuana Use Registry Identification Card.
For online payments, once you submit your application, a button will appear that reads, “Click Here to Pay Online.” Click that button to access the Bill2Pay system to supply your $75 payment information. Credit cards and eChecks are accepted. A $2.75 convenience fee applies to each online payment. If your payment is declined, a $15 service fee will be charged to your account.
For paper applications, include a $75.00 check or money order made out to the Florida Department of Health with your application. Please remember to include on it your Patient ID Number and DOB. Cash is not accepted.
For instructions on how to fill out an MMUR ID application, click here.
Can Florida seasonal residents qualify for medical marijuana?
The term “seasonal resident” refers to any person who temporarily resides in this state Florida for a period of at least 31 consecutive days in each calendar year, maintains a temporary residence in Florida, returns to the state or jurisdiction of their residence at least one time during each calendar year, and is registered to vote or pays income tax in another state or jurisdiction.
Seasonal residents can qualify for medical marijuana in Florida. If you do not possess a valid Florida ID, you must submit a copy of two of the following documents: a lease, mortgage, or deed; recent mail from a financial institution; or a recent utility bill/work order.
My employer is a substance-free workplace. Will I lose my job if I take medical marijuana?
Only “qualified patients” are entitled to use medical marijuana, which requires certification by a physician of a debilitating medical condition: cancer, epilepsy, glaucoma, HIV, AIDS, PTSD, ALS, Crohn’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, multiple sclerosis, other medical conditions “of the same kind or class as or comparable” to the ones specifically identified, a terminal condition, and chronic nonmalignant pain.
Florida’s law specifically provides that no employment accommodations are required for any on-site medical marijuana use. Thus, an employee can use medical marijuana on-site only if permitted by the employer. Further, in order to qualify for a 5% discount on worker’s compensation premiums, employers are required to comply with the Drug Free Workplace Act, which demands a zero tolerance of illegal drug use (including marijuana, which is still illegal under federal law).
How It Works
Existing Patient FAQs
How do I renew my MMJ Card?
To maintain an active Medical Marijuana Use Registry Identification Card, patients & caregivers must annually submit a renewal application. Renewal applications are available beginning 45 days prior to the expiration date of the card. The expiration date of the identification card is printed on the front of the card. The renewal application can be completed at mmuregistry.flhealth.gov. Detailed step-by-step instruction for renewal can be found here.
What do I need to renew my MMJ Card?
Your state issued Medical Marijuana Patient ID Card must be renewed annually via Medical Marijuana Use Registry MMUR website (see How do I renew my MMJ Card for steps)
*Your certification must be renewed every 210 days (7 months) by a certified physician (See what is a certification for details).
How often do I need to see the doctor?
A certification is valid for up to 210 days (7 months). The state of Florida requires medical marijuana patients to be re-evaluated every 7 months by their doctor to continue partaking in the medical marijuana program to purchase medical marijuana from dispensaries. Our renewal appointments for current medical marijuana patients costs $149. To book your certification renewal, click here to get started, or call/text us at (407) 434-9866.
Where can I use medical marijuana in Florida?
Qualified patients can use medical marijuana at home or on private property. Public use is illegal, except for low-THC cannabis.
Can I bring medical marijuana to another state?
Although medical marijuana is available in Florida, it remains federally illegal. Because of this, you can’t take it in or out of the state.
Where can I buy medical marijuana?
Here is a list of some of the top-rated medical cannabis dispensaries in Orlando, Florida: