Florida Marijuana Information & FAQ

The Charlotte's Web Bill in Florida was signed into law which creates a system for Florida doctors to prescribe CBD as a last resort for patients suffering from certain conditions including severe epilepsy and cancer. Patients can register for the program and purchase CBD oil from 5 dispensing organizations to be determined.

Qualified physicians may order low-THC cannabis for an eligible patient suffering from (1) cancer or (2) a physical medical condition that chronically produces symptoms of seizures or severe and persistent muscle spasms, to alleviate symptoms of such disease, disorder, or condition, if no other satisfactory alternative treatment options exist for the qualified patient. See section 381.986, Florida Statutes.

A qualified physician may order medical cannabis for an eligible patient with a terminal condition that is attested to by the patient’s physician and confirmed by a second independent evaluation by a board-certified physician in an appropriate specialty for that condition. Florida law defines a terminal condition as a “progressive disease or medical or surgical condition that causes significant functional impairment, is not considered by a treating physician to be reversible even with the administration of available treatment options currently approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration, and, without the administration of life-sustaining procedures, will result in death within one year after diagnosis if the condition runs its normal course.” The medical use of low-THC cannabis or medical cannabis does NOT include the following: The possession, use or administration of low-THC cannabis or medical cannabis by smoking. The transfer of low-THC cannabis or medical cannabis to a person other than the qualified patient for whom it was ordered or their legal representative. The use or administration of low-THC cannabis or medical cannabis on any form of public transportation, in any public place, in a qualified patient’s place of employment, if restricted by his or her employer, in a state correctional institution, on the grounds of a preschool, primary school, or secondary school or any school bus or vehicle.

Low-THC cannabis means a plant of the genus Cannabis, the dried flowers of which contain 0.8 percent or less of tetrahydrocannabinol and more than 10 percent of cannabidiol weight for weight; the seeds thereof; the resin extracted from any part of such plant; or any compound, manufacture, salt, derivative, mixture, or preparation of such plant or its seeds or resin that is dispensed only from a dispensing organization. Low-THC cannabis contains very low amounts of the psychoactive compound THC, and typically does not result in the “high” often associated with medical cannabis. Medical cannabis means all parts of any plant of the genus Cannabis, whether growing or not; the seeds thereof; the resin extracted from any part of the plant; and every compound, manufacture, sale, derivative, mixture, or preparation of the plant or its seeds or resin that is dispensed only from a dispensing organization for medical use by an eligible patient as defined in s. 499.0295. Medical cannabis contains significant levels of the cannabinoid THC, and can result in the euphoric “high” sensation.

Patients suffering from cancer or a physical medical condition that chronically produces symptoms of seizures or severe and persistent muscle spasms may be eligible for non-euphoric, low-THC cannabis.

A qualified physician may only order medical cannabis for a patient with a terminal condition that is attested to by the patient’s physician and confirmed by a second independent evaluation by a board-certified physician in an appropriate specialty for that condition. Patient is defined in section 499.0295, Florida Statutes. Florida law defines a terminal condition as a “progressive disease or medical or surgical condition that causes significant functional impairment, is not considered by a treating physician to be reversible even with the administration of available treatment options currently approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration, and, without the administration of life-sustaining procedures, will result in death within one year after diagnosis if the condition runs its normal course.”

Florida law has several requirements for patients to be eligible to receive low-THC cannabis or medical cannabis. A patient must have been diagnosed with a qualifying condition. A patient must be a Florida resident. If under the age of 18, a patient must have a second physician agree to the use of low-THC cannabis or medical cannabis in order to obtain an order from a qualified physician. A patient must have tried other treatments without success. An ordering physician must determine the risks of using low-THC cannabis or medical cannabis are reasonable in light of the benefit to the patient. A patient must be registered with the Compassionate Use Registry by their ordering physician.

A list of physicians authorized to order low-THC cannabis, medical cannabis or cannabis delivery devices for patients is located on the Patient’s tab on the Office of Compassionate Use website.

A qualified patient must first seek treatment from a qualified physician for at least three months immediately preceding their order for low-THC or medical cannabis. Once the ordering physician inputs the patient’s information and the order information into the Compassionate Use Patient Registry, the patient or the patient’s legal representative will then be able to contact one of the six licensed dispensing organizations and fill the order.

No.

Qualifying physicians can order no more than a 45-day supply and a cannabis delivery device needed by the patient for the medical use of low-THC cannabis or medical cannabis.