No. Fort Lauderdale does not have weed dispensaries selling adult-use cannabis as the city complies with state law prohibiting the sale of controlled substances. In Florida, marijuana is listed as a Schedule I Controlled Substance.
Yes. There are medical cannabis dispensaries in Fort Lauderdale. Section 47-18.46 of the Fort Lauderdale Municipal Code permits medical marijuana dispensaries to be located in the Boulevard Business (B-1), General Business (B-2), and the Heavy Commercial/light Industrial (B-3) zoning districts.
You can buy medical cannabis online in Fort Lauderdale. However, you cannot buy recreational cannabis as adult-use cannabis is illegal in the city.
Recreational marijuana is not legal in Florida. Therefore, you cannot enter a medical marijuana dispensary, also called a medical marijuana treatment center (MMTC), without a card. A valid MMUR (Medical Marijuana Use Registry) card is required to purchase marijuana in Fort Lauderdale MMTCs. The MMUR is a protected online database for registering competent physicians and patients. Note that Florida does not offer medical marijuana reciprocity. Therefore, if you are an out-of-state visitor in Fort Lauderdale, you will not be able to buy medical marijuana in the city even if you have medical marijuana cards issued in your state.
Your first visit to an MMTC in the city can be challenging. However, with proper research and planning, the visit can be pleasant. The most important research to make is to understand cannabis laws and dispensary laws in the city and state. MMTCs are required to comply with stringent operational rules. When you first visit an MMTC, you will be required to complete an intake procedure so that the dispensary personnel can confirm you are a patient and that you understand the conditions of your prescription. You can use your Florida medical marijuana card at any dispensary in Fort Lauderdale or other Florida jurisdictions.
Typically, you will enter a separate waiting room before being let inside the dispensing area. Inside the dispensing area, the staff will guide you through the various cannabis products available based on your prescription information. In Fort Lauderdale, MMTCs are restricted to dispensing no more than a 35-day supply of smokable cannabis and a 70-day supply of all cannabis forms. You may purchase dried flowers, oils, tinctures, concentrates, and topical items such as lotions and balms at the dispensary. You may buy edibles, which are ingestible cannabis products such as cookies and candies.
Most Fort Lauderdale MMTCs only accept cash. Hence, you are advised to take cash to the dispensary. Alternatively, you may use an on-site ATM to withdraw cash for your cannabis transactions. After filling your prescription, you will not be allowed to consume the purchased products on the premises of the dispensary. You may only consume the products on private properties.
The dispensary laws contained in the Fort Lauderdale Municipal Code only apply to medical marijuana dispensaries operating in the city, as no recreational cannabis dispensaries are permitted within the city limits. MMTCs in Fort Lauderdale are required to abide by the following laws:
Medical cannabis dispensaries may only sell medical cannabis to persons included in the Florida Medical Marijuana Use Registry
Marijuana dispensaries may not operate drive-through facilities
Marijuana dispensaries may only operate between 7:00 a.m. and 9:00 p.m.
Marijuana dispensaries may not be located within 1,500 feet of a park, library, school, or child daycare facility
Marijuana dispensaries may not be located within 5,280 feet of other medical cannabis dispensing facilities
Since cannabis is banned at the state level, it is unlawful to possess or use cannabis for recreational purposes in Fort Lauderdale. However, the possession of less than 20 grams of cannabis is only considered a misdemeanor. If you are caught having or using marijuana without a legitimate medical marijuana card, you may face serious consequences. In most instances, the duration of your jail term will be proportionate to the amount of marijuana found on you. These punishments vary from fines and community service to a thirty-year prison term.
Medical marijuana is accessible to Fort Lauderdale patients suffering from approved conditions pursuant to the Florida Medical Marijuana Legalization Initiative. The approved conditions are listed under Section 381.986(2) of the Florida Statutes and include epilepsy, Crohn’s disease, glaucoma, Parkinson’s disease, cancer, and positive status for human immunodeficiency virus. To access medical marijuana at approved medical marijuana dispensaries, you must obtain a physician's recommendation for medical cannabis use and a medical marijuana card.
Per an August 2022 August 2022 emergency rule issued by the Department of Health, a qualified physician may not issue a medical cannabis certification for more than three 70-day supply limits of medical cannabis or six 35-day supply limits of marijuana in smokable form. The emergency rule limits the total supply of non-smokable marijuana to 24,500 mg of THC for a period of 70 days. It imposes dose ceilings for several modes of administration, such as edibles, inhalation, and tinctures. The rule also implements a state statute limiting smokable marijuana purchases to 2.5 ounces during a 35-day period.
It is illegal to use medical cannabis in public places or to operate a motor vehicle while under the influence of cannabis, including medicinal cannabis. Transporting medical cannabis is approved for caregivers who buy and deliver medical cannabis for their registered patients. It is unlawful to cultivate cannabis at home, even for medical purposes.
Only Fort Lauderdale residents who have obtained certifications for having one or more approved medical conditions may get medical marijuana cards in the city. The approved conditions for medical marijuana in Florida are:
HIV/AIDS
Crohn’s disease
Parkinson’s disease
Multiple Sclerosis
Cancer
Epilepsy
Chronic nonmalignant pain due to a qualifying medical condition
Glaucoma
PTSD
A terminal health condition diagnosed by another physician besides the physician issuing the medical marijuana certification
Medical conditions of the same type or comparable to the conditions listed above
To get a medical marijuana card, you must apply to the Office of Medical Marijuana Use (OMMU) in Florida. Note that not all physicians may issue medical marijuana certifications. To find a qualified physician, review the list of qualified physicians on the OMMU website. You may also use the physician search tool on the OMMU website to locate qualified physicians in Fort Lauderdale.
After determining that medicinal cannabis is appropriate for your illness, the licensing physician will add your name and information to the Florida Medical Marijuana Use Registry (MMUR). Your enrollment in the MMUR will be communicated to you via the email address provided to your attending physician. Click the link in the mail to access your MMUR profile and apply for a medical marijuana card. Online applications usually take ten days to process. Alternatively, you may apply for a medical marijuana card via mail. If you are applying for a medical marijuana card by mail, you must submit the following:
A completed medical marijuana patient application form
A passport-style photo
A copy of acceptable proof of residency
A $75 check or money order made out to the Florida Department of Health. Your patient identification number is required on the memo line of the money order
Mail the application to:
Office of Medical Marijuana Use
PO Box 31313
Tampa, FL 33631-3313
For more information on getting a medical marijuana card in Fort Lauderdale, contact the Office of Medical Marijuana Use (OMMU) at (800) 808-9580, review the application guide, or visit the MMUR Identification Cards page on the OMMU website.
In Fort Lauderdale, medical cannabis use is permitted on personal or private property but not in public places.
You cannot purchase recreational marijuana in Fort Lauderdale since cannabis without medical authorization is illegal in Florida. However, you can buy medical cannabis at the physical addresses of approved MMTCs in the city. Alternatively, you can purchase medical cannabis online from authorized dispensaries. Note that your medical marijuana card and valid government-issued ID Card will be required at the dispensary or when receiving your order.
Half-ounce of high-quality weed in Fort Lauderdale costs about $150.
Some of the most commonly purchased cannabis strains in Fort Lauderdale are:
Chemdawg
Girl Scout Cookies
Runtz
Orange Kush Cake
No. Smoking cannabis in public places in Fort Lauderdale is illegal. Cannabis consumption in public areas in the city is prohibited.
Registered medical marijuana users and caregivers enrolled in the Florida Medical Marijuana Use Registry can purchase up to 2.5 ounces of marijuana over a 35-day period. They may also possess up to 4 ounces of medicinal marijuana or no more than 70 days' supply of medical cannabis products.
No. Shipping cannabis into Fort Lauderdale over state lines is illegal, as transporting the substance across state lines is a federal offense. Note that federal laws guide interstate transportation and consider marijuana a banned substance under the United States Controlled Substances Act.
You cannot currently order adult-use cannabis online in Fort Lauderdale, as there are no recreational marijuana dispensaries in the city. However, you can order medical cannabis online in the city.
No. There are no 24-hour dispensaries in Fort Lauderdale. Section 47-18.46 of the Fort Lauderdale Municipal Code stipulates that MMTCs in the city may not operate earlier than 7:00 a.m. and later than 9:00 p.m. daily pursuant to state law.
Tourists cannot use recreational cannabis dispensaries in Fort Lauderdale as there are no recreational cannabis dispensaries in Fort Lauderdale. To use a medical marijuana dispensary in the city, you must meet the conditions for a seasonal resident in the city or another Florida jurisdiction. If you have been approved as a legal seasonal resident anywhere in Florida, you can purchase medical cannabis at any MMTC in Fort Lauderdale by obtaining a temporary medical marijuana card from the Department of Health in Florida.
You cannot purchase recreational weed in Fort Lauderdale, as adult-use weed is illegal in all Florida jurisdictions. However, you will require an OMMU-issued medical marijuana identification card and a government-issued ID to buy medical marijuana at a Fort Lauderdale MMTC.
Sunburn, Sunnyside, Surterra Wellness, and Trulieve are the only cannabis dispensaries in the city.
MMTCs in Fort Lauderdale scan the IDs of their customers to ensure medical cannabis and medical cannabis products are sold to persons registered in the Florida Medical Marijuana Use Registry.
There are four approved medical marijuana dispensing locations in Fort Lauderdale.
Fort Lauderdale MMTCs do not accept credit cards. Medical cannabis transactions are completed by cash or debit cards.
You may visit two or more Fort Lauderdale MMTCs in one day. However, you will not be able to buy more quantities of medical cannabis than are permitted under Florida medical cannabis law. You cannot currently visit recreational cannabis dispensaries as they are prohibited in the city.
No. Cannabis dispensaries in Fort Lauderdale do not accept health insurance.
Yes. Fort Lauderdale MMTCs are required to track medical marijuana sales in their facilities.
At 18, you can enter a medical marijuana treatment center in Fort Lauderdale. If you are under 18, you need your designated caregiver to purchase and administer medical marijuana for you.
The Florida Office of Medical Marijuana Use (OMMU) regulates medical cannabis operations in Fort Lauderdale. You may contact the OMMU at:
Office of Medical Marijuana Use
PO Box 31313
Tampa, FL 33631-3313
Email 1: MedicalMarijuanaUse@flhealth.gov
Email 2: OMMUComplaints@flhealth.gov
To report illegal cannabis activities in Fort Lauderdale, contact the Fort Lauderdale Police Department by calling the police department at (954) 764-4357 or filing a complaint with the PD. You can also report illegal cannabis activities in the city by filing a complaint with the Florida Office of Medical Marijuana Use (OMMU).