Weed is certainly a burning issue in Florida.
Currently, marijuana is only legal in the Sunshine State for those who have a Medical Marijuana ID Card, which is given to those who have been diagnosed with a qualifying condition.
Back in September, medical marijuana advocate site Leafwell analyzed Google searches to see which state was looking for information on medical marijuana, and people in Florida are intensely interested in the topic.
The number one search: “how to get a medical marijuana card in Florida.” Florida ranked 1st with an average monthly search of 231 times per 100,000 residents. The state in second, Arkansas, wasn’t even close (an average of 159 per 100,000 residents).
Marijuana is a greenish-gray mixture of the dried flowers from the Cannabis sativa or Cannabis indica plant, according to the National Institute of Drug Use.
The main psychoactive chemical in marijuana, responsible for most of the intoxicating effects that people seek, is delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol, or THC. The chemical is found in resin produced by the leaves and buds primarily of the female cannabis plant.
The plant also contains more than 500 other chemicals, including more than 100 compounds that are chemically related to THC, called cannabinoids.
According to Good Rx, medical and recreational cannabis are the two categories cannabis legalized by some U.S. states.
Recreational marijuana, or adult-use marijuana, is for adults 21 and older to use for enjoyment rather than for health benefits. Merriam-Webster says recreational drugs are often “used without medical justification” for their effects.
While adult-use cannabis is solely consumed for its enjoyable mind-altering effects, the product can be beneficial to those with chronic pain. Cannabis is one of the oldest medicines in the world and many currently use medical cannabis to treat conditions like pain, multiple sclerosis, and nausea from chemotherapy.
Medical cannabis is not regulated like pharmaceutical medicines, as the Food and Drug Administration has not approved any of the products at medical cannabis dispensaries. They have only approved one cannabis-derived medicine, Epidiolex, as a treatment for a rare form of childhood epilepsy.
Once you receive your card, you can visit any medical marijuana dispensary in the state.
A person may apply for a Medical Marijuana ID Card if they meet the following requirements:
Registration is $75. Your card must be renewed every year within 45 days of the card’s expiration for an additional $75. This is in addition to whatever your physician may charge for an office visit.
Yes. According to state law, you must keep an active Florida Medical Marijuana certification by seeing a qualified physician every seven months for an evaluation.
The OMMU maintains a list, or you can use their physician search tool. There are currently 2,640 qualified physicians in Florida.
As of March 2024, the state’s Department of Health, Office of Medical Marijuana Use lists 627 licensed dispensaries in Florida. You can search for one near you at knowthefactsmmj.com/mmtc/#search
Possibly.
Currently the state’s Supreme Court is mulling a decision on the language of an amendment that would authorize the use of recreational marijuana for people 21 and older while also allowing individuals to possess up to 3 ounces of marijuana. It is sponsored by Smart & Safe Florida, which is backed by the state’s largest medical marijuana producer, Trulieve.
If the Supreme Court decides by April 1 to green light the amendment proposal, voters will be able to decide on Nov. 5 on recreational marijuana, which needs a 60% supermajority to pass.
Contributing reporting: C. A. Bridges, USA TODAY NETWORK – Florida