Florida medical marijuana card: frequently asked questions

You must be a Florida resident with a qualifying condition confirmed by a qualified physician at an in-person exam. 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.

It may still qualify. 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. Only the physician can make that decision, at your exam.

Yes. Adults prove Florida residency with a valid Florida driver license or Florida ID card. Seasonal residents without one may submit two proof-of-address documents (such as a lease, deed, recent utility bill, or recent government or bank mail). Minors submit a birth certificate or Florida K-12 school record plus a parent or guardian's Florida license or ID.

Not for most forms. A physician may not certify marijuana, other than low-THC cannabis, for a patient who is pregnant. Tell the physician at your visit if you are pregnant or planning a pregnancy.

Yes. 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. At Horizon Releaf, first visits take place at 5340 E 131st Ave, Suite 106, in Temple Terrace.

Bring your Florida driver license or Florida ID card, any records that describe your condition, and a list of your current medications. You complete a short medical history and the Florida consent form online before the visit.

No. Certification is a medical decision the physician makes at your exam, based on Florida law and your health. If you do not qualify, the physician tells you why.

The initial in-person evaluation is $85, down from $130. Renewals and transfers are $85, down from $110. The state ID card fee is paid separately to the Florida Department of Health.

Yes, for returning patients from the second visit on, with proof of eligibility. Veterans save $25, Seniors save $20, industry, faculty and USF members save $15, and a friend referral saves $15.

No. Health insurers and government agencies are not required to reimburse any expenses for the medical use of marijuana, and marijuana is not reimbursable under Florida workers' compensation. Visits at Horizon Releaf are self-pay.

After the physician enters you in the Registry, you apply yourself. After the physician enters you in the Registry, you apply online in the Medical Marijuana Use Registry (or by mail) with a photo, proof of Florida residency, an e-signature, and the $75 fee. Online applications average about 10 business days to approve. Since July 27, 2026, you can only apply or renew if you have a current or scheduled certification with open orders in the Registry.

$75, paid to the Florida Department of Health (plus a $2.75 convenience fee when paying online) You pay it to the state when you apply, and again each year when you renew.

One year. The state ID card must be renewed every year; the renewal application can be sent starting 45 days before the card expires.

Florida requires a new physician evaluation before each new certification: at least once every 30 weeks. This is separate from your yearly state ID card renewal.

The certification is your physician's medical order, renewed at each re-evaluation. The card is your state registration, renewed once a year with the Florida Department of Health. Keeping one current does not keep the other current.

Yes, if our physician already certified you after an in-person exam. 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.

No. Florida law requires an in-person physical exam before an initial certification. That also applies when you switch to a new physician.

Yes. A patient may have an active certification from only one qualified physician at a time; the physician checks the Registry before certifying. Your first visit with our physician is in person, and later renewals can be by telehealth. A transfer visit is $85.

Yes, with safeguards. Patients under 18 can qualify, but a second physician must agree that the benefits likely outweigh the risks, a parent or guardian must give written consent, and only a registered caregiver may buy or give the marijuana.

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.

Your personal identifying information in the Registry is confidential and exempt from Florida's public records law under Fla. Stat. § 381.987. Access is limited to groups named in that law, such as treatment centers verifying a certification, physicians and practitioners treating you, and law enforcement investigating a violation of the marijuana laws.

That depends on the other state's rules, so check with the state you plan to visit. In Florida, the rule runs the other way: Florida does not accept out-of-state medical marijuana cards.

No. Florida does not accept out-of-state medical marijuana cards. Visitors need a Florida certification and a Florida ID card, which requires Florida residency.

No. A qualified physician may not be employed by, or have any direct or indirect economic interest in, a medical marijuana treatment center or testing lab. We do not recommend or refer to any particular dispensary or product.