Medical marijuana doctor for Brandon patients

Do you have a Brandon location?

No. We have one office, in Temple Terrace, and that is where Brandon patients have their first exam.

Brandon is an unincorporated community in eastern Hillsborough County. Because it sits right next to I-75, the drive north to our office is fairly simple.

What is the best route from Brandon?

Head west on Brandon Boulevard (State Road 60) to I-75. Take I-75 north for about seven miles to the Fowler Avenue exit.

Go west on Fowler Avenue for about two miles, then turn north on North 56th Street. East 131st Avenue is just past Fowler.

We measured about 14 miles and roughly 20 minutes on open roads. The I-75 stretch between I-4 and Fowler can back up at peak hours, so leave a cushion.

• From north Brandon near I-75: you can join I-75 north directly and skip most of Brandon Boulevard.
• Coming along I-4 instead: I-4 east meets I-75, then follow I-75 north to Fowler Avenue.

What should Brandon patients expect at the first visit?

Florida law sets the rule: Before an initial certification, the physician must do an in-person physical exam, meaning the physician is physically in the same room as the patient.

The physician will ask about your symptoms and past care and look at any records you bring, then decide whether your condition qualifies under state law.

Many Brandon patients bring a printout of recent visit notes from their primary care doctor or specialist. Anything that documents your diagnosis and past treatment is useful.

Why do telehealth renewals help Brandon patients?

A round trip from Brandon is close to 30 miles, and I-75 traffic is hard to predict. Doing renewals by video removes that trip for most of the year.

Telehealth is allowed only for renewals: a physician who already certified the patient after an in-person physical exam may do that patient's later exams and re-evaluations by telehealth.

You will need a re-evaluation at least once every 30 weeks. A video visit only needs a quiet room and a phone or computer.

How does the Brandon trip compare with other nearby cities?

By distance, Brandon is about as far from us as downtown Tampa. The difference is the road: Brandon drivers use I-75, which skips downtown Tampa traffic completely.

The busiest point is usually where I-75 crosses I-4, a little north of Brandon. If traffic is heavy there, the rest of the drive up to Fowler Avenue tends to move better.

Patients in Riverview, Valrico, or Seffner often follow the same I-75 route. We do not have an office in any of those places either; everyone comes to Temple Terrace for the first exam.

What comes after the physician certifies me?

The physician enters your certification in the Medical Marijuana Use Registry (MMUR), run by the Florida Department of Health, Office of Medical Marijuana Use. You then apply for the state ID card yourself.

The card fee is $75, paid to the Florida Department of Health (plus a $2.75 convenience fee when paying online). It is paid to the state, separate from our visit fee.