Marijuana Legality in Florida: What You Need to Know
The United States has a storied history with cannabis. It all started in the 17th century when the government ecnouraged the growth of hemp, a variant of cannabis. The plant was used to produce sails, clothing and rope. As time went on, people discovered marijuana and its relaxing and hallucinogenic effects. It became a medicine, and soon after, a recreational drug. It wasn’t truly outlawed until 1952 when The Boggs Act proposed strict mandatory sentences for people who used marijuana and similar drugs.
Cultivation laws today
Today, a variety of states have legalized the medical use of marijuana. States like Colorado have legalized its recreational use. In 2019, the U.S. House of Representatives approved the Marijuana Opportunity Reinvestment and Expungement Act, which decriminalized marijuana use at a federal level. However, it’s still illegal to grow marijuana at home. Those caught doing so will need a lawyer knowledgeable in cultivation laws.
Florida’s lawmakers passed Amendment 2 in 2016. This legalized the use of medical marijuana in the sunshine state. Its recreational use is still being deliberated, as Florida lawmakers filed a bill to legalize it just this January. Orlando and Pinellas County representatives stated that the proposed bill would help create a strong and free-market approach to the cultivation, processing, and sale of both medical and recreational marijuana.
If passed, the legislation would allow citizens 21 and older to buy and use limited amounts of marijuana without using a cannabis card. It would also let adults purchase 2.5 ounces of weed and even products with up to two grams of tetrahydrocannabinol or THC. THC is the component of cannabis that significantly contributes to the high and hallucination of a person who uses marijuana. However, smoking marijuana in public will remain illegal under this bill.
Because of economic and public health opportunities, marijuana use continues to make its way into being completely legal in Florida. ‘Til that time comes, however, there are still limits to its use in the state. If you plan to visit or move to Florida, here’s what you need to know about its cannabis use laws.
How to get a prescription
Just like any other drug, you need to get a prescription from a doctor, but not just any physician. You must be prescribed by a doctor with state certification to prescribe the drug. Because you’re going to acquire medical marijuana, you need to prove with actual medical records that you have an approved condition for marijuana treatment.
Doctors in Florida can only prescribe marijuana to a limited set of conditions. These include anxiety disorder, cancer, epilepsy, HIV/AIDS, Parkinson’s disease, multiple sclerosis, Crohn’s disease, anorexia, glaucoma, and ALS. They may also make exceptions for other conditions, so long as they’re considered to be “debilitating.”
You also need to prove that you’ve tried other forms of treatment, and they just didn’t suit you. These will be evaluated by the Florida state-certified doctor before they actually write you a prescription. Such examination is needed to ensure that you aren’t just faking a condition to gain access to weed. This evaluation can run you up to $250.
Get your cannabis card
Getting a prescription is only half the battle. It’s one of the requirements to get a cannabis card. Fill up an application form from the Florida Department of Health for a card. Once done, send it, along with your prescription and $75 to the DOH. In a few weeks, you’ll receive a card from them. This allows you to buy medical marijuana from certified dispensaries in the state. This is only valid for about seven to eight months. You’ll have to check back in with your doctor for another examination to renew your eligibility.
Purchasing from dispensaries
You can buy from almost any state-certified dispensary. However, if you came from a state that’s quite liberal with marijuana, like Colorado, you should lower your expectations. Marijuana is sold like medicine in Florida, instead of a recreational drug. The packaging is opaque, and you can only buy up to 2.5 ounces every month.
Other products are sold in tinctures, extracts and oils instead of the fun gummy bears and brownies you may be used to. Edibles are still out of the picture because of their significantly high potency. It’s up to you to consume your marijuana in a method you enjoy. Take it directly or mix it with your low carb pasta or breakfast cereal. The possibilities are nearly endless.
Remember, Florida still doesn’t allow public marijuana smoking. If you abuse the state’s rules, you may get your access revoked for an indefinite period.