How to Become a Medical Marijuanas Doctor in Florida
We are currently seeking doctors for our Sarasota and Fort Myers offices.
Please email us if you are interested.
Any Florida physician with an active, unrestricted license (who is not employed as a medical director by a cannabis dispensing organization) can recommend medical marijuana to their patients. However, the state requires doctors to complete a continuing education course to officially earn that ability.
If you believe in marijuana's medicinal value and want to join Florida’s list of authorized providers, you can complete the certification process in no time.
What is a medical marijuana doctor in Florida and what do they do?
Any licensed medical doctor or doctor of osteopathy in good standing with the state of Florida can apply to become a medical marijuana doctor. The Office of Medical Marijuana Use (OMMU) oversees the certification process.
If you become a medical marijuana doctor, your primary responsibility in that role will be to meet with patients in person, assess their eligibility for medical marijuana, and describe the benefits and drawbacks of cannabis as a treatment for their qualifying medical condition(s).
Under Florida law, medical marijuana doctors are required to adhere to the following guidelines:
- You must conduct an in-person examination of each patient and review their medical history.
- You must determine that the risks of treating each patient with low-THC cannabis or medical marijuana are reasonable in light of the potential benefits.
- If a patient is younger than 18 years old, a second physician must concur with your medical marijuana recommendation.
- You must have each patient complete the state’s consent form each time you issue a medical marijuana certification.
- As the ordering physician, you must enter each order of low-THC cannabis or medical marijuana for each patient into the state’s Medical Marijuana Use Registry and update them as necessary.
- You may not order more than a 70-day supply of low-THC cannabis or medical marijuana for any patient.
Note that even if you become a certified medical marijuana doctor, you won’t be obligated to recommend medical cannabis to your patients.
What Conditions Qualify a Patient for Medical Marijuana?
In Florida, physicians may only order low-THC cannabis or medical marijuana for patients who’ve been diagnosed with at least one of the following conditions:
- Cancer
- Epilepsy
- Glaucoma
- HIV
- AIDS
- Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
- Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS)
- Crohn’s disease
- Parkinson’s disease
- Multiple sclerosis (MS)
- Medical conditions of the same kind or class as or comparable to the others listed.
- A terminal condition diagnosed by a physician other than the qualified physician issuing the physician certification.
- Chronic nonmalignant pain caused by a qualifying medical condition or that originates from a qualifying medical condition and persists beyond the usual course of that qualifying medical condition.
What Are the Requirements to Become a Florida Medical Marijuana Doctor?
To join the OMMU’s medical marijuana doctor registry, you must possess an unrestricted license to practice medicine in the state of Florida as an MD or DO.
Beyond your medical or osteopathic training, you are required to complete a continuing medical education (CME) program administered by the Florida Medical Association (or Florida Osteopathic Medical Association). The course is conducted online and costs $250. To pass, you’ll be required to score at least 80% on the final examination.
The course will prepare you to do the following:
- Discuss relevant state rules and regulations governing medical marijuana in Florida
- Identify the allowable conditions and delivery mechanisms for medical marijuana in Florida
- Recognize the legal restrictions and parameters that physicians must observe when certifying patients as eligible for medical marijuana in Florida
- Decide whether to certify patients as eligible for medical marijuana based on an understanding of the legality of such activity under federal law
The course must be completed each time you renew your medical license.
What Happens After You Finish Your Training?
Once you complete the CME course and pass the exam, the Florida Medical Association will automatically notify the OMMU. Within twelve to twenty-four hours of that notification, a medical marijuana order indicator will show up on your license, and you’ll be able to register with the OMMU.
The information in the OMMU’s list of all physicians who’ve completed the required training is automatically populated with the information from physicians’ practitioner profiles. Specifically, it is pulled from the primary practice location and phone number fields.
The only way to change that information is to change the information listed in your practitioner profile. That profile can be updated by going to www.flhealthsource.gov > “Provider Services” > "Update Profile"
If you complete the training and decide you no longer want to recommend marijuana, you can have the "Authorized to Order" designation removed from your license by contacting the DOH's Medical Quality Assurance service department.
Penalties for Physicians Who Don’t Follow Florida Medical Marijuana Laws
Since medical marijuana became legal in Florida, the state has held lawbreaking medical marijuana doctors accountable. The DOH enforces stiff penalties, including the suspension or revocation of licenses, for physicians who violate OMMU policies. Additionally, you may be liable for criminal prosecution if you engage in illegal conduct.
As a registered medical marijuana provider in Florida, you’ll be the only one who can render medical cannabis services to your patients. You won’t be able to delegate examinations or educational discussions to your staff members or other physicians. In addition, you will be the only individual allowed to access and use your OMMU provider account.
FAQs
The DOH offers an online search tool you can use to find a qualified medical marijuana doctor.
Yes, Florida only allows licensed medical doctors and doctors of osteopathy in good standing to recommend medical marijuana.
Since cannabis is federally illegal, Florida medical marijuana doctors can’t technically prescribe marijuana, but a recommendation from one will enable you to shop at Florida dispensaries.
The state does not collect a fee from doctors who want to join the OMMU’s registry and issue cannabis recommendations. However, all doctors who want to recommend cannabis must complete the Florida Physician Medical Marijuana Course, which costs $250.
The steps to get a Florida medical marijuana card are as follows:
1: Schedule an Appointment with a Medical Marijuana Doctor
The first step to obtaining a Florida medical marijuana card is scheduling an appointment with one of the Sanctuary’s licensed medical marijuana doctors. You can call us or book online. This initial consultation must be conducted in-person.
2: Meet with a Florida Medical Marijuana Doctor
At your appointment, the medical marijuana doctor will evaluate your health and confirm you have one of the state’s qualifying conditions. If they deem you eligible for medical cannabis treatment, they’ll enter your information into the Medical Marijuana Use Registry (MMUR) overseen by the Florida Office of Medical Marijuana Use (OMMU).
3: Apply for a Florida Medical Marijuana Card
Every prospective patient added to the MMUR will receive an email from the state with instructions for logging into the MMUR online portal. You can submit your medical marijuana card application through that portal or by mail. You’ll need to provide proof of Florida residency and a passport-style photo, as well as pay a $75 fee.