1. Is recreational marijuana legal in Florida?
No. Florida does not currently have a legal adult-use recreational marijuana system like some other states.
Licensed Florida Medical Marijuana Treatment Centers (MMTCs) serve patients who are properly certified and registered in Florida's medical marijuana program.
You may also see stores selling CBD, hemp-derived THC, or other hemp products without requiring a medical marijuana card. Those products are regulated under a separate legal framework and are not the same as recreational marijuana sold through a state-licensed adult-use dispensary system.
For a fuller explanation of that distinction, see Hemp-Derived THC, CBD, and Similar Products in our Visiting the Keys? guide.
2. Can I use an out-of-state medical marijuana card in Florida?
No. Florida does not recognize out-of-state medical marijuana cards for purchases at licensed Florida Medical Marijuana Treatment Centers (MMTCs).
Even if you are registered in another state's medical marijuana program, that card does not transfer into Florida's system or allow you to purchase medical marijuana from a Florida MMTC.
To purchase through Florida's medical marijuana program, you must meet Florida's requirements and be properly registered in the state's Medical Marijuana Use Registry.
Some part-year Florida residents may qualify separately under Florida's seasonal-resident rules, but a normal short-term visit does not qualify.
For the visitor-specific explanation, see Can I Use My Out-of-State Medical Marijuana Card? in our Visiting the Keys? guide.
3. What medical conditions qualify for medical marijuana in Florida?
Florida law specifically lists several qualifying conditions, including:
- Cancer
- Epilepsy
- Glaucoma
- HIV-positive status
- AIDS
- Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
- Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS)
- Crohn's disease
- Parkinson's disease
- Multiple sclerosis
Florida law also allows a qualified physician to certify certain comparable conditions, as well as qualifying terminal conditions and chronic nonmalignant pain tied to a qualifying condition.
Conditions such as anxiety, migraines, fibromyalgia, or lupus are not separately named in the statute, but a qualified physician may determine that a condition is comparable to one of the statutory qualifying conditions.
For the full explanation, including the important distinctions around comparable conditions, terminal conditions, and chronic nonmalignant pain, see Who Can Qualify in our Florida Medical Marijuana 101 guide.
4. How do I get a Florida medical marijuana card?
The process starts with a qualified Florida physician.
In general, you must:
- See a qualified Florida physician for the required initial in-person examination.
- Receive certification for a qualifying condition.
- Be entered into Florida's Medical Marijuana Use Registry.
- Complete the state identification-card application and pay the required state fee.
- Wait for state approval and active registration.
Once those requirements are complete, qualified patients may purchase medical marijuana from licensed Florida Medical Marijuana Treatment Centers (MMTCs).
For the full step-by-step process, see How to Get a Florida Medical Marijuana Card in our Florida Medical Marijuana 101 guide.
5. Can seasonal residents qualify for Florida's medical marijuana program?
Yes. Some people who live in Florida only part of the year may qualify as seasonal residents if they meet the state's residency and documentation requirements.
A normal short-term vacation or brief visit does not qualify someone as a seasonal resident.
For the full requirements — including the residency period and documentation rules — see Seasonal Residents in our Florida Medical Marijuana 101 guide.
6. Can I grow my own medical marijuana in Florida?
No. Florida's medical marijuana program does not allow qualified patients or caregivers to grow marijuana at home for personal medical use.
Medical marijuana for qualified patients must come through Florida's licensed Medical Marijuana Treatment Center (MMTC) system.
For current program rules, verify through the Florida Office of Medical Marijuana Use and Florida Statute §381.986.
7. Is smokable flower legal for Florida medical marijuana patients?
Yes. Florida allows smokable marijuana for qualified patients when it is properly certified within the state's medical marijuana program.
For Florida's program, smokable marijuana generally includes:
- Whole flower
- Ground flower
- Pre-rolls
Smokable marijuana is subject to its own 35-day dispensing limits and related possession rules, which are different from the limits that apply to other forms of medical marijuana.
For the full explanation, see What Counts as Smokable Marijuana and Purchase and Possession Limits in our Florida Medical Marijuana 101 guide.
8. How much medical marijuana can I buy or possess in Florida?
Florida uses different limits depending on the form of medical marijuana and the patient's certification.
For smokable marijuana, the state uses a 35-day supply framework with separate ounce limits. Other forms of medical marijuana generally fall under a 70-day supply framework.
The exact amount available to a patient can depend on the route of administration, physician certification, prior dispensations, and any state-approved exception.
Rather than repeat all of the 35-day, 70-day, and possession numbers here, see Purchase and Possession Limits in our Florida Medical Marijuana 101 guide for the full breakdown.
9. Do I have to keep medical marijuana in its original packaging?
Yes. Florida law requires medical marijuana purchased by a qualified patient to remain in its original packaging.
This is not just a minor storage preference. Removing medical marijuana from its original MMTC packaging can create legal problems even when the patient is properly registered and the product was lawfully purchased.
For the fuller explanation, see Purchase and Possession Limits in our Florida Medical Marijuana 101 guide.
10. Can I bring weed into Florida from another state?
Do not assume that marijuana legally purchased or possessed in another state can legally be brought into Florida.
Crossing state lines with marijuana can raise federal as well as state legal issues, even when the marijuana was obtained lawfully under another state's medical or adult-use program.
Because the rules can depend on how and where you are traveling, verify the law that applies to your specific situation before bringing marijuana into Florida.
For the fuller visitor-specific explanation, see Can I Bring Weed With Me to Florida? in our Visiting the Keys? guide.
11. What are the "THC — No Medical Card Needed" stores?
Some Florida Keys retailers sell CBD, hemp-derived THC, and other hemp products without requiring a Florida medical marijuana card.
Those stores are not necessarily licensed Florida Medical Marijuana Treatment Centers (MMTCs). Products sold under Florida's hemp framework are regulated separately from medical marijuana sold through the MMTC system.
So a sign advertising "THC" or "no medical card needed" does not mean Florida has legal recreational marijuana dispensaries.
Because individual stores and products can vary, verify what a business is actually licensed to sell rather than assuming every THC-related storefront operates under the same rules.
For the fuller explanation, see Hemp-Derived THC, CBD, and Similar Products in our Visiting the Keys? guide.
12. Are dispensary rules and services the same everywhere?
No. Florida's state medical marijuana laws and program requirements apply statewide, but individual dispensaries can differ in their day-to-day operations.
Store hours, inventory, delivery availability, pickup options, accepted payment methods, and other store policies or services can vary by location and operator.
That means two licensed Medical Marijuana Treatment Centers (MMTCs) may follow the same state program rules while still offering a different customer experience.
Before visiting, check the specific location's current information rather than assuming every dispensary operates the same way.
For Florida Keys locations, see our Dispensary Directory for the store information we have verified.
13. Where are licensed dispensaries in the Florida Keys?
Based on the state and operator information verified for this guide:
- Key West has licensed Medical Marijuana Treatment Center (MMTC) storefronts.
- Tavernier has a licensed MMTC storefront.
- Marathon, Islamorada, and Key Largo do not currently have an OMMU-listed MMTC storefront in our verified launch dataset.
Because dispensary locations can change, use our Dispensary Directory for the most current Florida Keys locations we have verified before you go.
14. How do I know a dispensary is actually licensed?
The best place to verify a Florida medical marijuana dispensary is the Florida Office of Medical Marijuana Use (OMMU) and its official dispensing-location information.
For our Florida Keys Dispensary Directory, we build listings from:
- Florida's official MMTC dispensing-location information
- Each operator's own official location page
- A final re-check before publication
Because dispensary locations, hours, phone numbers, and services can change, our Directory should be treated as a carefully verified guide rather than a real-time state database.
If you ever want to confirm whether a location is currently part of Florida's licensed Medical Marijuana Treatment Center system, check the official OMMU locator directly.
15. Where should I verify current Florida marijuana rules?
For the most current and authoritative information, use official Florida sources.
The primary resources are:
- Florida Office of Medical Marijuana Use (OMMU) — patient registration, card information, program guidance, MMTC information, and official dispensing-location resources
- Florida Statute §381.986 — Medical Use of Marijuana — the primary state statute governing Florida's medical marijuana program
- Florida Statute §581.217 — State Hemp Program — the separate statute governing hemp and hemp-derived products
- Florida MMTC Dispensing Location Search — the state's official resource for checking currently listed licensed dispensing locations
Because laws, rules, fees, limits, and dispensary information can change, these official sources should control if anything on this site becomes outdated or conflicts with current state information.
Closing Disclaimer
Short Disclaimer
This FAQ is provided for general informational purposes only and is not legal, medical, or other professional advice.
Florida's marijuana laws, medical-marijuana program requirements, hemp laws, fees, limits, and dispensary information can change. Always verify current requirements through the Florida Office of Medical Marijuana Use, applicable Florida law, or another official state source.
Nothing on this site creates a doctor-patient relationship, determines whether you qualify for Florida's medical marijuana program, or authorizes possession, transport, cultivation, or purchase of marijuana.
Florida Keys Dispensary Guide is an independent informational resource. It is not a licensed Medical Marijuana Treatment Center, does not sell, distribute, ship, prescribe, or facilitate the purchase of marijuana or marijuana products, and is not affiliated with the State of Florida or its Office of Medical Marijuana Use (OMMU).