Becoming a Florida medical marijuana patient
Florida works differently from every other state we serve: your first visit has to be in person, and you'll be managing two separate expiration dates. Here's the whole thing, in order.
Why Florida can't be done by phone
Every other state we certify in runs on telehealth. Florida doesn't. State law requires a qualified physician to physically examine you in the same room before issuing a first certification, so there's no online shortcut — not with us, and not with anyone advertising one.
Our Florida visits are at our Fort Lauderdale office. Plan on being there in person, and check what to bring to your visit before you come.
New The state changed the order of operations on July 27, 2026
Florida's Office of Medical Marijuana Use now blocks the ID card application — first-time or renewal — unless you already have a current or scheduled certification with open orders in the Medical Marijuana Use Registry.
In plain terms: see the doctor first, then apply for the card. Patients used to be able to do it in either order. If you've read an older guide telling you to start your card application before your appointment, that route is closed now — the Registry will stop you. A scheduled appointment does count, so you don't have to wait until after your visit to begin.
The five steps
Most patients are shopping within two weeks of their appointment.
Book your in-office visit
Pick a time at our Fort Lauderdale office and complete the short intake form when you book. The visit is $199, paid to us; the state's fee comes later and separately.
Bring a Florida driver's license or state ID. If you're a seasonal resident rather than a full-time one, you can still qualify — you'll need proof of your Florida residence instead, so call us before you book and we'll tell you exactly what counts.
Your physician examines you and enters your certification
If you have a qualifying condition, your physician examines you, discusses what's appropriate, and enters your certification and your orders directly into the Medical Marijuana Use Registry during the visit.
You'll then get an email from the OMMU at the address on file, pointing you to your card application. Check spam if it doesn't appear — and make sure we have an email address you can actually get into, because everything downstream runs through it.
Apply for your state ID card
Follow the link in that OMMU email and complete your Registry ID card application. Online is much faster than mail. You'll need:
- Your Florida driver's license or state ID, or your proof of seasonal residency
- A passport-style photo — only if your photo isn't already in the state's driver-license database, which for most Florida license holders it is
- The $75 state application fee, paid by card or electronic check (there's a small extra processing charge for paying online)
This is the step the July 27 rule change affects — it will only let you through once your certification and orders are showing in the Registry.
The state approves you
The OMMU reviews your application and emails you an approval. Here's the good part: that approval email is usable immediately — you can fill an order at a licensed dispensary with it while your physical card is still being printed and mailed. You don't have to wait for plastic to arrive.
Visit a Medical Marijuana Treatment Center
Florida calls its dispensaries Medical Marijuana Treatment Centers, or MMTCs. Bring your photo ID and your approval email or card. Your physician's orders are already in the Registry, so the dispensary pulls up what you're authorized for.
Your orders cover a set supply — for smokable cannabis that's up to 2.5 ounces per 35-day period. The dispensary tracks it against the Registry, so you can't accidentally over-purchase.
What it costs
Two separate payments to two separate places. Nobody can waive the state's.
⏳ You'll be managing two different expiration dates
This is the single thing that trips up Florida patients, and it catches people every year:
- Your physician certification lasts up to 210 days — roughly seven months. It covers up to three 70-day supply orders. In practice you'll see a physician about twice a year.
- Your state ID card lasts one year and costs $75 to renew. The state wants your renewal application 45 days before it expires.
Seven months and twelve months don't line up, so the two dates drift apart over time. Patients let the certification quietly lapse, then turn up at the dispensary with a perfectly valid card and get turned away — because the orders behind it expired.
Since July 27, a lapsed certification also blocks your card renewal outright. Track both dates. We'll remind you about the certification side; the card renewal is on you and the state.
Common questions
What Florida patients ask us most.
Can I do my certification online instead?▾
Not for a first certification. Florida law requires a qualified physician to examine you in person before certifying you, and that applies to any physician you're seeing for the first time — including if you're moving over from another Florida doctor. Our Florida visits are at the Fort Lauderdale office.
Do I have to live in Florida full-time?▾
No. Florida's program covers both permanent and seasonal residents. Full-time residents use a Florida driver's license or state ID; seasonal residents document their Florida residence another way. If you're a snowbird, call us before booking and we'll confirm what you'll need to bring.
I already have a medical card from another state. Does it work here?▾
No. Florida doesn't offer reciprocity — an out-of-state medical card won't let you purchase at a Florida dispensary, no matter how recently it was issued. You'd need to go through Florida's own process, starting with an in-person certification.
I already see another Florida doctor. Is this the same process?▾
Close, but not identical, and it's priced differently. Moving to a new certifying physician is a transfer — you keep your Registry record and your card, but your new physician still has to examine you in person before issuing a certification. See transferring from another Florida doctor.
How soon can I actually buy something?▾
Once the state approves your card application — typically around ten business days for an online submission — you'll get an approval email you can use at a dispensary right away. You don't have to wait for the physical card in the mail.
Is the $75 state fee included in what I pay you?▾
No — they're separate. Our $199 covers the physician visit and certification. The $75 goes directly to the Florida Department of Health when you submit your card application, and it repeats every year when your card renews. Be wary of anyone quoting a single all-in price that sounds too good; the state fee isn't waivable.
Can I smoke it?▾
Smokable cannabis is available to Florida patients, but where you use it is restricted — a private residence, not in public, not in a vehicle, not at work or school. And it can't leave the state: Florida's protections stop at the border and federal law prohibits carrying cannabis across state lines.
What if my certification expires before I get back in?▾
Your dispensary access stops — the orders behind your card are what the MMTC actually reads, so an expired certification means no purchases even with a valid card in your wallet. There's no grace period. Book your recertification before the 210 days run out rather than after, and note that since July 27 a lapsed certification will also block your annual card renewal.
Do you certify patients under 18 in Florida?▾
No. Our Florida practice certifies adults only — you'll need to be 18 or over to book with us. Florida's program does have a pathway for younger patients through other providers, so if you're looking for care for a minor, we'd point you to the state's qualified physician directory to find a practice that takes them.
Can a family member pick up for me?▾
Only if they're registered as your caregiver with the state and hold their own Registry ID card, which has its own application and fee. Since July 27, a caregiver application also requires being connected to a patient with a valid, active Registry profile — so get your own card sorted first.
Ready to get certified?
In-office visits with our Fort Lauderdale physician. $199, and you'll leave with your certification already filed with the state.
📅 Book my FL office visit Questions first? Call 814-360-5353 — Florida has more moving parts than most states and we're happy to walk you through it.Florida links
Reviewed July 2026 against Florida Office of Medical Marijuana Use guidance, including the July 27, 2026 Registry change. State requirements change — the Registry is always the final word.