Florida Medical Marijuana Caregiver Information

What Is a Medical Marijuana Caregiver in Florida?

A medical marijuana caregiver in Florida is an adult Florida resident who has agreed to help a qualified medical marijuana patient obtain and administer medical marijuana. Under Florida marijuana laws, a medical marijuana caregiver is considered a legal representative of a registered patient. A medical marijuana caregiver may be designated by a registered patient under the age of 18 or by a dependent adult of any age who qualifies to use medical marijuana. A registered patient may designate a parent, legal guardian, healthcare surrogate, or an individual with medical power of attorney for the patient, as the medical marijuana caregiver.

Typically, only one medical marijuana caregiver may be designated by a registered patient under the Florida medical marijuana program, except when:

• The caregiver is a parent or approved guardian of more than one qualified medical marijuana patient under the age of 18
• The caregiver is a parent or approved guardian of more than one adult who is qualified to use medical marijuana and who has a developmental or intellectual disability preventing the patient from being able to be self-supporting
• All qualified patients that the caregiver has agreed to assist are admitted to a hospice program and have requested the caregiver's assistance with the use of medical marijuana; the hospice program employs the caregiver; and the caregiver provides personal care or specific services directly to clients of the hospice within the purview of that employment

How to Become a Medical Marijuana Caregiver in Florida

In order to be eligible to be designated as a medical marijuana caregiver in Florida, an individual must:

• Be aged 21 or older
• Reside in the State of Florida. A seasonal resident who intends to become a caregiver will be required to prove residency status as an individual who spends a minimum of 31 consecutive days or more every calendar year in Florida
• Agree in writing to assist a registered patient with medical marijuana use
• Successfully complete a certification course for caregivers developed and administered by the Florida Department of Health or its designee. The certification is required to be renewed biennially. The required course is built into the Florida medical marijuana use registry and is offered for free
• Be added to the Florida medical marijuana use registry by a qualified physician. Note that the registered patient's physician is the only person qualified to add the caregiver to the medical marijuana use registry
• Not be a licensed physician
• Not be an employee of or have an economic interest in a medical marijuana dispensary or a marijuana testing laboratory

Application for a caregiver card may be completed online via the medical marijuana use registry or through a paper application. The electronic application is faster as it only takes a few minutes to complete if all required documents are available. Electronic applications also allow for shorter processing times than paper applications. Once a qualified physician has entered an applicant's information in the registry, the applicant may proceed to complete the application and pay the application fee of $75.

To complete a paper application as a medical marijuana caregiver in Florida:

• Complete a caregiver card application form
• Include a check or money order of $75
• Mail completed application form and the $75 check or money order to:

Office of Medical Marijuana Use

PO Box 31313

Tampa, FL 33631-3313

The OMMU also requires caregivers who are not relatives of the patients they care for, to submit to level 2 background screening. This requires submitting fingerprints that must be retained in the Applicant Fingerprint Retention and Notification Program (AFRNP). There is an annual fee for participating in this program. While the first year is free, each subsequent year costs caregivers $6.

Once your caregiver card application has been approved by the Office of Medical Marijuana Use (OMMU), you may visit a state-approved MMTC (medical marijuana treatment center) to fill an order placed by the registered patient's physician. For more information on applying for a medical marijuana caregiver card in Florida, visit the registry identification cards page or view the application instructional guides on the OMMU website. You may also contact the OMMU by calling (800) 808-9580.

In Florida, caregivers may not receive any compensation beyond the actual expenses incurred in obtaining and administering medical cannabis to registered patients.

How to Find a Medical Marijuana Caregiver in Florida

A prospective medical marijuana patient in Florida can designate any Florida resident over the age of 21 as a caregiver; however, the resident must agree in writing to help the prospective patient obtain and administer medical marijuana. All approved medical marijuana caregivers in Florida must be registered in the state's medical marijuana use registry. Caregivers may not be chosen from other jurisdictions except within the State of Florida.

How Much Marijuana Can a Caregiver Have in Florida?

A medical marijuana caregiver can purchase the same quantity of medical-grade marijuana as a registered patient. Hence, a medical marijuana caregiver can purchase a 35-day supply of smokable cannabis flower (up to 2.5 ounces) or a 70-day supply of medical marijuana products in other forms, including edibles. A caregiver can purchase and transport medical cannabis without the registered patient. However, the caregiver must be in possession of their caregiver card issued by the Office of Medical Marijuana Use when visiting a dispensary.

How Many Marijuana Plants Can a Caregiver Have in Florida?

It is illegal for medical marijuana caregivers to cultivate marijuana at home in Florida. Caregivers may neither cultivate marijuana for themselves nor the patients they oversee. Per Section 893.13(1) of the Florida Statutes, growing or cultivating marijuana at home is prohibited in Florida.