Multiple Sclerosis and a Florida Medical Marijuana Card
Yes. Multiple sclerosis is listed at § 381.986(2)(j) of Florida's medical marijuana law. A Florida qualified physician must examine you in person and confirm the diagnosis, usually from neurology notes and MRI reports. Later re-evaluations, at least once every 30 weeks, can be done by telehealth with the same physician.
What does Florida law say about MS?
"Multiple sclerosis" is paragraph (j) of the statute's list, the last condition named individually before the comparable-conditions paragraph:
Florida law lists: cancer; epilepsy; glaucoma; positive HIV status; AIDS; post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD); ALS; Crohn's disease; Parkinson's disease; multiple sclerosis; conditions of the same kind or class as or comparable to those; a terminal condition diagnosed by a physician other than the certifying physician; and chronic nonmalignant pain.
What is multiple sclerosis?
MedlinePlus describes MS as a disease that affects the brain and spinal cord by damaging myelin, the protective coating around nerve cells.
Which records confirm an MS diagnosis?
- Neurologist notes naming MS and its type, such as relapsing-remitting
- Brain and spinal cord MRI reports
- Lumbar puncture or evoked-potential results, if done
- A history of relapses or flares with approximate dates
- Your disease-modifying therapy and other current medicines
What if my diagnosis is not confirmed MS?
Some people have a working diagnosis, such as clinically isolated syndrome, before MS is confirmed. Only multiple sclerosis is named in the statute. A condition not named in the law can qualify if the physician judges it to be of the same kind or class as, or comparable to, the listed conditions. The physician must send supporting documentation to the state medical board within 14 days. The physician decides case by case, and the answer may be no.
How should I prepare for the visit?
Ask your neurologist for the latest visit note and MRI reports, and keep a short list of relapses with approximate dates.
If heat or fatigue is a problem, book the time of day that works best for you, and bring someone to drive if you need to.
What happens at the first visit?
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 reviews your neurology history, checks the state prescription monitoring database and the Registry, and goes over the informed consent form, including possible drug interactions with your MS medicines.
How do later visits work?
Re-evaluation: at least once every 30 weeks. 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. During a flare, a telehealth re-evaluation may be easier than a trip to the office.
Can someone assist me if mobility is limited?
Yes, a registered caregiver can. A caregiver must be a Florida resident age 21 or older, agree in writing to help, complete a state caregiver course (renewed every two years), pass a background screening unless a close relative of the patient, hold a caregiver ID card, and generally assist only one patient. A caregiver cannot be a qualified physician or have ties to a dispensary, and may not be paid beyond actual expenses.
Common questions.
Do I need a recent MRI?
Florida law does not require a specific test or date. MRI reports are a common way to document MS, but the physician looks at your full record.
Does my MS need to be active or progressing?
The statute lists multiple sclerosis without naming a type or severity. The physician confirms the diagnosis and completes the benefit-and-risk determination the law requires.
Should I keep taking my disease-modifying therapy?
Yes, unless your neurologist tells you otherwise. Certification does not replace MS care, and your neurologist should know about it.
Can a family member come with me to the first visit?
Ask when you book. Many patients bring someone along for the trip and history, and that person may also plan to register as a caregiver.
Can I be certified if I'm pregnant?
A physician may not certify marijuana, other than low-THC cannabis, for a patient who is pregnant. The physician must determine and document whether you are pregnant, so share that at the visit and with your neurologist.
Bring your MS records
Book an in-person evaluation at our Temple Terrace office.
Book your evaluation