Overview
Florida Medical Marijuana 101
If you're new to Florida's medical marijuana program, here's the short version: you can't simply walk into a licensed dispensary and make a purchase. You first need certification from a qualified Florida physician and active registration in Florida's Medical Marijuana Use Registry.
Once those requirements are met, qualified patients may purchase medical marijuana from licensed Medical Marijuana Treatment Centers (MMTCs) in Florida.
This guide walks through each part of the process: who may qualify, how physician certification and state registration work, the two separate renewal schedules, current state fees, seasonal-resident rules, and the general limits on purchasing and possessing medical marijuana.
Florida's laws and administrative rules can change. We link to official state resources throughout this guide, and if information here ever conflicts with an official Florida source, the official source controls.
Official source: Florida Office of Medical Marijuana Use
Who Can Qualify
Florida law lists specific medical conditions that may qualify a patient for medical marijuana certification:
- 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 a patient for a medical condition that is of the same kind or class as, or comparable to, one of the conditions listed above.
A terminal condition may also qualify when it is diagnosed by a physician other than the qualified physician issuing the medical marijuana certification. In practical terms, the terminal diagnosis and the marijuana certification must come from separate physicians.
Florida also recognizes chronic nonmalignant pain, but not as a stand-alone category. The pain must be caused by, or originate from, a qualifying medical condition.
That distinction matters. Conditions such as anxiety, migraines, fibromyalgia, lupus, and others are sometimes listed online as if Florida law names them individually. It does not. A qualified physician may determine that a condition is comparable to one of the statutory qualifying conditions, but that is a physician determination rather than a separate condition expressly listed in the statute.
Think you may qualify? Continue to How to Get a Florida Medical Marijuana Card to see what happens next.
Official source: Florida Statute §381.986 — Medical Use of Marijuana
How to Get a Florida Medical Marijuana Card
The process starts with a qualified Florida physician. Your first certification requires an in-person examination, and the physician must determine that you have a qualifying condition and that the medical use of marijuana is appropriate under Florida law.
Once certified, the physician enters your information into Florida's Medical Marijuana Use Registry. You then complete the state application for your Medical Marijuana Use Registry identification card and pay the required state fee.
After the state approves your application and your registration is active, you may purchase medical marijuana from a licensed Florida Medical Marijuana Treatment Center (MMTC).
The basic process
- See a qualified Florida physician for the initial in-person examination.
- Receive physician certification for a qualifying condition.
- Be entered into the Medical Marijuana Use Registry.
- Complete the state identification-card application and pay the state fee.
- Wait for state approval and active registration.
- Purchase only from a licensed Florida MMTC.
A physician's office may help explain the registration process, but the physician and the State of Florida perform different roles. Physician certification and the state identification card are separate requirements.
Official source: Florida Office of Medical Marijuana Use
Renewals: Two Different Clocks
Florida's medical marijuana program has two separate renewal schedules, and they are easy to confuse.
State ID Card Renewal
Your Medical Marijuana Use Registry identification card is valid for one year. To maintain an active registration, the renewal application, required fee, and supporting documents must be submitted 45 days before the card's expiration date.
Beginning July 27, 2026, patients also need a current or scheduled physician certification with one or more open orders in the Medical Marijuana Use Registry before they can complete an initial or renewal identification-card application. Questions about certifications or orders should be directed to the patient's qualified physician.
Renewing the card keeps your state registration active, but it does not replace the separate physician-certification requirement.
Physician Certification Renewal
Your physician certification runs on a different schedule. A qualified physician must re-evaluate you at least once every 210 days (30 weeks) before issuing a new certification.
After the initial in-person examination, renewal evaluations may be conducted by telehealth with the same qualified physician who performed the original in-person exam.
If you change to a different physician, a new in-person examination may be required before that physician can certify you.
Why this matters
Your card can still be current while your physician certification has expired, or your certification can be current while your card is nearing expiration. Both need to stay active for you to continue using Florida's medical marijuana program.
Official source: Florida Office of Medical Marijuana Use
Fees
Florida's state fee for a Medical Marijuana Use Registry identification card is $75.
If you pay online, the total is currently $77.75 because of the online convenience fee.
A separate $15 fee may apply for certain card changes, replacements, or surrender-related requests.
These are state fees only. Qualified physicians and medical marijuana clinics set their own charges for initial certification visits and renewal evaluations, so physician costs can vary.
Because state fees and payment methods can change, verify the current amount through the Florida Office of Medical Marijuana Use before submitting an application or renewal.
Official source: Florida Office of Medical Marijuana Use
Seasonal Residents
Florida's medical marijuana program is not limited only to permanent Florida residents. Certain seasonal residents may also qualify if they meet the state's residency requirements.
Under Florida law, a seasonal resident generally must:
- live in Florida for at least 31 consecutive days each calendar year,
- maintain a temporary residence in Florida,
- return to their home state or jurisdiction at least once each year, and
- be registered to vote or pay income tax in another state or jurisdiction.
Seasonal residents who do not have a Florida driver license or Florida identification card may need to provide two acceptable documents showing their temporary Florida residence, such as a lease, utility-related documentation, mail from a financial institution, government correspondence, or other documentation accepted by the state.
This pathway is intended for people who actually maintain a seasonal residence in Florida. It does not mean a short-term tourist visiting the Keys for a week or two can simply register for Florida's medical marijuana program.
If you spend part of the year in Florida and think you may qualify as a seasonal resident, verify the current documentation requirements with the Florida Office of Medical Marijuana Use before applying.
Official source: Florida Office of Medical Marijuana Use
What Counts as Smokable Marijuana
Florida treats smokable marijuana as its own category within the medical marijuana program.
For this purpose, smokable marijuana generally includes:
- Whole flower
- Ground flower
- Pre-rolls
Vaporizable marijuana products are handled under a different route of administration and do not fall under the smokable-marijuana category used for Florida's 35-day flower limits.
That distinction matters because Florida applies different dispensing limits depending on the form and route of medical marijuana involved.
Official source: Florida Office of Medical Marijuana Use
Purchase and Possession Limits
Florida uses different limits for smokable marijuana and other forms of medical marijuana.
Smokable Marijuana
For marijuana in a form for smoking:
- A patient generally may not receive more than one 35-day supply within any 35-day period.
- That 35-day supply may not exceed 2.5 ounces, unless the Florida Department of Health approves an exception.
- A qualified patient generally may not possess more than 4 ounces of smokable marijuana at one time, unless a higher amount has been specifically approved through the state exception process.
Other Forms of Medical Marijuana
For non-smokable forms, an MMTC generally may not dispense more than a 70-day supply within any 70-day period.
Florida also uses route-specific daily dose limits set by rule, so the actual amount available to a patient can depend on the form of marijuana, the physician certification, prior dispensations, and any approved exception.
Physician Certification Limits
Under the current statute, a qualified physician may issue no more than:
- three 70-day supply limits for non-smokable marijuana, and
- six 35-day supply limits for marijuana in a form for smoking before a new physician certification is required.
Exceptions
Florida allows a qualified physician to request an exception to certain daily-dose, 35-day supply, and 4-ounce possession limits when appropriate. An exception is not automatic; it must be requested and approved through the state process.
Keep Medical Marijuana in Its Original Packaging
Florida law requires medical marijuana purchased by a qualified patient to remain in its original packaging.
That requirement should be treated seriously. Removing medical marijuana from its original MMTC packaging can create legal problems even when the patient is otherwise properly registered and the product was lawfully purchased.
Official source: Florida Statute §381.986 — Medical Use of Marijuana
Where Medical Marijuana Can Be Purchased
In Florida, medical marijuana may be purchased only from a licensed Medical Marijuana Treatment Center (MMTC).
MMTCs are the state-authorized businesses that cultivate, process, and dispense medical marijuana to qualified patients. Before completing a sale, the dispensary verifies the patient's active status through Florida's Medical Marijuana Use Registry.
Medical marijuana should not be confused with hemp, CBD, or hemp-derived THC products sold by other retailers. Those products are regulated under a separate legal framework and are not part of Florida's MMTC medical marijuana system.
For current locations in the Florida Keys, use our Dispensary Directory, which lists verified MMTC storefronts in Key West and Tavernier and explains where no current storefront is listed in Marathon, Key Largo, and Islamorada.
Official source: Florida Office of Medical Marijuana Use — MMTC Dispensing Locations
Official Florida Resources
For the most current information about Florida's medical marijuana program, use the state's own resources first.
- Florida Office of Medical Marijuana Use (OMMU) — patient registration, card applications and renewals, MMTC information, program updates, and official guidance.
- Florida Statute §381.986 — Medical Use of Marijuana — the primary Florida statute governing the state medical marijuana program.
- Florida Statute §581.217 — State Hemp Program — the separate Florida law governing hemp and hemp-derived products.
- Florida MMTC Dispensing Location Search — the state's official tool for checking currently listed licensed dispensing locations.
Because laws, rules, fees, limits, and store listings can change, these official sources should control if anything on this site becomes outdated or conflicts with current state information.
Short Disclaimer
This guide is provided for general informational purposes only and is not legal, medical, or other professional advice.
Florida's medical marijuana laws, administrative rules, fees, program requirements, and dispensary information can change. Always verify current requirements through the Florida Office of Medical Marijuana Use or other official Florida sources.
Nothing on this site creates a doctor-patient relationship, determines whether you qualify for medical marijuana, or replaces advice from a qualified physician or attorney.
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).