No. There are no marijuana dispensaries in Gainesville as marijuana remains a banned substance under Florida Statutes.
Yes. There are dispensaries selling medical marijuana in the City of Gainesville. Medical marijuana dispensaries are permitted in the city, provided the businesses selling medical cannabis have obtained the relevant licenses and city permits.
You can purchase medical cannabis online from Gainesville medical cannabis dispensaries. Recreational cannabis is not permitted and cannot be bought from any authorized business in the city.
Visiting a Gainesville weed dispensary can be unnerving, especially if you are a first-time visitor. You can calm any potential nerves by following the steps provided below:
Provide a Valid Reason for Cannabis Use: With Florida banning the use of marijuana for recreational purposes, you can only enter a dispensary in the city if you have legitimate reasons to use medical marijuana. An employee at the dispensary will ask you to provide a diagnosis that you have one of the approved conditions for medical cannabis use in the state
Have Proper Documentation: Entry is permitted into a Gainesville dispensary upon providing a Florida Office of Medical Marijuana Use medical card. The card proves that you have obtained certification from a Florida-licensed healthcare provider. You should also take a government-issued ID to a Gainesville dispensary. The ID serves as proof of identity
Purchase Limit: You must be aware of the cannabis purchase limit so that you do not attempt to buy more cannabis products than are allowed. Gainesville medical marijuana businesses will not sell more than 35 days’ worth of smokable cannabis and 70 days’ worth of other cannabis forms. Medical marijuana is available as tinctures, oils, dried flowers, concentrates, lotions, and balms
Understand the Forms of Payment: Gainesville dispensaries typically accept cash as the preferred payment mode for cannabis products. You may also be able to pay using a debit card. However, credit cards are not generally accepted
Consumption Policy: Even though you are purchasing cannabis for medical reasons, it is prohibited to use cannabis on the premises of a medical marijuana dispensary. You should only open your package when you get home
The Gainesville City Code contains no regulations for the operations of cannabis dispensaries in the city. Hence, medical marijuana treatment centers established in the city operate in compliance with state laws. Per state law, Gainesville MMTCs:
Must verify the identities and the medical marijuana use registry (MMUR) enrollments of buyers before allowing them to buy marijuana
May not permit the consumption of cannabis on their grounds
Dispensaries must not be located within one mile of other medical marijuana dispensaries
Dispensaries may not sell above the consumption limits stipulated under the law
Cannabis use for recreational reasons is illegal in Gainesville. However, under Section 893.13 of Florida Statutes, possession of small amounts (up to 20 grams) of marijuana will be charged with simple possession of marijuana offense. A Gainesville resident may be charged with this offense if the individual possesses any part of the part, such as a leaf or seed. Note that this does not include the resin of the cannabis plant or anything that may be created from resin.
In accordance with Florida Statute 893.13, a conviction for simple possession of marijuana may be charged with a first-degree misdemeanor. A first-degree misdemeanor may be penalized by up to one year in prison, a $1,000 fine, or both.
In addition, a first-degree misdemeanor may result in the suspension of the offender's driver's license for two years with the inability to obtain a work-related or provisional license during the first year, difficulty getting certain jobs, and restricted access to certain forms of government assistance. It is also illegal to drive while under the influence of cannabis and to possess cannabis on federal lands and properties.
Medical cannabis products may be possessed and used legally in Gainesville under Amendment 2, approved by Florida voters in 2016. Although the Compassionate Medical Cannabis Act is the state's medical cannabis legalization act, Amendment 2 was the measure that expanded access to medical cannabis by increasing the number of medical conditions that may be treated with medical cannabis. Initially, the Florida Compassionate Medical Cannabis Act only permitted patients with cancer and epilepsy to use low-THC cannabis. The expanded list of conditions now includes cancer, HIV/AIDS, PTSD, and chronic non-malignant pain.
To access medical cannabis, Gainesville residents suffering from approved medical conditions must obtain medical cannabis certifications from approved physicians and medical marijuana cards issued by the Office of Medical Marijuana Use. Consequently, they may obtain up to 35-day supplies of smokable cannabis and 70-day supplies of other forms of marijuana. State law prohibits the use of medical cannabis in public areas and federal properties. The consumption of marijuana obtained from outlets other than licensed medical marijuana treatment centers is unlawful, as is the transfer of medical marijuana to other persons. The state does not permit operating a motor vehicle while under the influence of medical cannabis and the home cultivation of cannabis.
Although cannabis is typically open to patients under 18, the Florida Medical Cannabis program allows Gainesville residents under 18 with qualifying conditions to access medical cannabis through their adult caregivers.
Only Gainesville residents enrolled in the state Medical Marijuana Use Registry (MMUR) may obtain medical marijuana in the city. Before you may be permitted to enroll in the registry, you must live permanently in Gainesville (although an individual with proof of seasonal residence in the city qualifies) and have obtained a medical cannabis certification for an approved medical condition under the Florida Medical Cannabis Program.
The conditions approved for medical cannabis use under the Florida MCP are:
Crohn’s disease
Multiple Sclerosis
Parkinson’s disease
Epilepsy
PTSD
Cancer
HIV/AIDS
Glaucoma
A terminal health condition diagnosed by a physician who is not the physician issuing the medical marijuana certification
Chronic non-malignant pain due to a qualifying medical condition
Medical conditions comparable to the conditions listed above
On the website of the Office of Medicinal Marijuana Use (OMMU), you may find a list of certified physicians in Gainesville who are authorized to issue patients with medical cannabis certifications. The OMMU website also features a physician search function to find authorized physicians. Note that only certifications issued by OMMU-approved physicians are valid.
After issuing you a medical cannabis certification, your certifying physician will add you to the Florida MMUR. A notification of your successful registration in the MMUR will be sent to you via the email address you provided to your physician.
The next step is to apply for a medical marijuana card using your MMUR account. You can submit your application either electronically or through regular mail. When you apply for a license or registration online in Florida, the information from your MMUR is cross-referenced with the state's FLHSMV demographic database. Your application will be granted in ten business days if the information in both databases matches.
To complete your application by mail, the following will be required:
A completed patient application form
A passport-style photo
A $75 check or money order made payable to the state Department of Health with your Patient ID Number on the memo line
Send a completed application to:
Office of Medical Marijuana Use
PO Box 31313
Tampa, FL 33631-3313
For further inquiries on obtaining medical marijuana cards in Gainesville, contact the Florida OMMU at (800) 808-9580 or review the OMMU step-by-step application guide.
In Gainesville, you cannot use cannabis in private or public. However, if you are a registered medical cannabis patient, you may use medical cannabis on private property.
Only medical cannabis purchase is legal in Gainesville, as there are no adult-use cannabis dispensaries in the city. To purchase medical marijuana from a medical marijuana dispensary, you must find the physical address of the dispensary or purchase online from an approved dispensary. To find approved medical cannabis dispensaries in Gainesville, search online using the phrase "medical marijuana dispensaries near me.” Note that you will need a government-issued ID card and a Florida OMMU-issued medical marijuana card before you can be permitted to buy medical marijuana.
In Gainesville, a gram of pre-rolls costs about $14, while one gram of cannabis concentrates costs between $45 and $65.
Some popular cannabis strains in Gainesville are:
Bubba Punch
Jack Herer
Tahoe OG
No. Smoking cannabis in public areas, including bars, schools, bars, parks, and inside motor vehicles, is unlawful.
Registered medical marijuana patients in Gainesville can possess up to 2.5 ounces of weed over a 35-day period. They may also possess 4 ounces of medical cannabis or no more than 70-day supplies of medical cannabis.
No. Transporting cannabis into Gainesville over state lines is unlawful, as transporting marijuana across state lines is deemed an offense under federal law. Note that the federal Controlled Substances Act classifies marijuana as a controlled drug.
You cannot order recreational cannabis online in Gainesville, as there are no adult-use marijuana dispensaries in the city. However, you may order medical marijuana online if you are a registered medical cannabis patient.
No. There are no weed dispensaries in the city operating 24 hours a day.
Persons with approved seasonal resident status who have obtained OMMU-issued medical marijuana cards are permitted to purchase medical cannabis. However, tourists cannot use recreational cannabis dispensaries as no legal cannabis retail outlets are selling adult-use cannabis in Gainesville.
You cannot buy recreational weed in Gainesville, as it is illegal statewide. If you are a registered patient, you must provide a Florida OMMU-issued medical marijuana card issued in your name and a government-issued ID to purchase medical cannabis at an approved MMTC in the city.
MuV, VidaCann, and Cannabist are some of the best weed dispensaries in the city.
Gainesville medical marijuana dispensaries will scan your ID to verify your identity. The dispensary will also check your medical marijuana card to ensure you are registered in the medical marijuana use registry in Florida.
There are 11 medical marijuana dispensing locations but no recreational cannabis dispensaries in Gainesville.
Gainesville MMTCs do not accept credit cards. Transactions are usually completed with cash.
You can visit multiple Gainesville MMTCs in one day. However, you cannot buy more medical cannabis than is permitted under Florida medical cannabis law.
No. Cannabis dispensaries in Gainesville do not take health insurance.
Yes. Gainesville MMTCs are required to track sales of medical cannabis and medical cannabis products.
At 18, you can visit an MMTC in Gainesville. If you are not yet 18, you must have your approved caregiver purchase medical cannabis for you at a licensed MMTC.
The state Office of Medical Marijuana Use (OMMU) is the cannabis regulator for the City of Gainesville and other Florida locations. You may contact the OMMU at:
Office of Medical Marijuana Use
PO Box 31313
Tampa, FL 33631-3313
E-mail 1: MedicalMarijuanaUse@flhealth.gov
E-mail 2: OMMUComplaints@flhealth.gov
To find more information or contact the OMMU, visit the contact us section of the Office’s online page.
To report illegal cannabis activities in Gainesville, contact the Gainesville Police Department by calling the PD at (352) 393-7500 or file a complaint with the Office of Medical Marijuana Use (OMMU).