After gaining approval in late 2016, Florida is one of 31 states in the U.S. with a full-fledged medical marijuana program. Known as Amendment 2, the law went into effect in 2017, and it allows for patients with certain conditions to apply for a medical marijuana card. The program is still in its infancy, but thousands of people are already beginning to benefit from the new law.
If you live in the Sunshine State and are curious how to obtain a medical marijuana card legally, you will be relieved to know that the process is pretty straightforward and can be quite simple with the guidance of a licensed medical marijuana physician. Here is what you need to know to obtain your MMJ card in Florida.
Who Qualifies for an MMJ Card in Florida?
To apply for a medical marijuana card, you must be a legal resident in the state of Florida and be at least 18 years of age.
If you are legal U.S. resident from another state, it is still possible to get a Florida medical marijuana card. However, these cases are decided on a patient by patient basis by Florida’s Department of Health.
Meeting with an MMJ Doctor
If you are a permanent legal resident in the state and over 18, your first step is to meet with a licensed, certified doctor and obtain your medical records from them. A qualified doctor is a physician registered in Florida with a valid medical marijuana license. He or she will then determine if you qualify to be entered into the state’s registry program.
What Conditions Qualify for Medical Marijuana in Florida?
As per Amendment 2, under the Florida Medical Marijuana Legalization Initiative,patients in Florida diagnosed with one or more of the following “debilitating medical conditions” are given legal protection.
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS/Lou Gehrig’s disease)
Anxiety
Anorexia
Arthritis
Back Pain
Cachexia
Cancer
Chronic Pain/Severe Pain
Crohn’s disease
Cyclical Vomiting Syndrome
Diabetes
epilepsy
glaucoma
Hepatitis C
HIV/AIDS
Irritable Bowel Syndrome
Lyme Disease
Migraines
Multiple sclerosis
Muscular Dystrophy
Muscle Spasms/Chronic Muscle Spasms
Parkinson’s disease
post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
Seizures
Severe Nausea
Sickle Cell Anemia
Spasticity
or any other ailment/condition of the same severity/symptoms, when determined by a physician’s opinion that the medical use of marijuana would surpass any potential health risks
a terminal condition/terminal illness
Obtain Your MMJ Card in Florida
Once a certified medical marijuana doctor deems you eligible to qualify for medical marijuana, your name and information will be entered into the state’s Marijuana Use Registry. You must officially be in the registry before you apply for your MMJ card.
After you are registered, your physician will submit the official application on your behalf making the process that much easier. This can be the longest part of the process as it can sometimes take up to two months for the DOH to review your application. Once the DOH reviews and approves your application, they will issue your MMJ card.
Ex Alt Med is Here to Help
Though the process is not complicated, the paperwork and appointments can become tedious for someone with a busy work or school schedule. The team of qualified professionals at Ex Alt Med takes understands this and is committed to providing patients with everything they need to make their application process as easy as possible.
Led by Dr. Eric J. Exalbert, Ex Alt Med is committed to improving lives by making medical marijuana easily accessible to those who may benefit from it. The friendly team of qualified medical marijuana doctors are open to any questions or concerns and will be happy to help you through the entire process, from the first to the last step.
For more information on Ex Alt Med and how medical marijuana may be right for you, call (786) 584-2895 or contact Dr. Eric himself at [email protected].
