No, Homestead has no marijuana dispensary operating within the city’s borders. Currently, only medical cannabis is legal in Florida, while recreational marijuana remains illegal. Hence, it is unlawful to operate any recreational cannabis dispensary in Homestead. Homestead prohibits establishing cannabis dispensaries within the city limits as contained in Section 30-71 of the Homestead Code of Ordinances.
No. None of the Florida-licensed medical cannabis dispensaries, popularly known as Medical Marijuana Treatment Centers (MMTCs), has a dispensing facility in Homestead because the city prohibits cannabis dispensary operations. However, in compliance with Florida law, Homestead residents can use cannabis for medicinal purposes. In 2014, the Compassionate Medical Cannabis Act was passed by the Florida Legislature to enable patients who have cancer and epilepsy to use low-THC cannabis. However, the law was restrictive, as patients could not access their medication directly from dispensing organizations. They could only get it through state-licensed physicians (osteopathic and allopathic physicians) with direct access to dispensing organizations.
In November 2016, Florida voters approved Constitutional Amendment 2, which expanded the use of medical cannabis for persons with debilitating health conditions, and in 2017, the Florida Legislature enacted SB 8A to implement it. Following the implementation of Amendment 2, MMTCs were established across the state, giving qualified patients legal and direct access to medical cannabis. However, SB 8A permits local jurisdictions to ban MMTCs from operating within their borders. Consequently, Homestead adopts Ordinance No. 2018-09-18 to prohibit marijuana dispensaries from operating within its boundaries.
Yes. Even though there are no dispensaries in Homestead, residents can order cannabis online from dispensaries in cities/towns near Homestead and have such orders delivered to their physical addresses. However, only qualified cannabis patients can order medicinal cannabis online in Homestead, as recreational marijuana remains banned in Florida. Homestead residents can find dispensaries offering online cannabis sales near them by querying an internet search engine with "online dispensaries near me" or “cannabis dispensaries online near Homestead."
While no licensed dispensary operates in Homestead, qualified cannabis patients in the city are not prohibited from visiting dispensaries in cities near them to fill their cannabis prescriptions. Generally, Florida-licensed dispensaries require patients visiting for the first time to undergo an intake procedure so they can substantiate the patients' enrollment status in the state's medical marijuana program. This is a one-off procedure; patients will only need to present their Florida medical marijuana cards on subsequent visits. Anyone visiting dispensaries near Homestead should have some cash for medical marijuana purchases as it is the widely accepted form of payment at Florida cannabis dispensaries.
Homestead prohibits cannabis dispensaries from operating within the city limits as authorized by SB 8A.
It is illegal to use, possess, cultivate, purchase, or sell marijuana for recreational purposes in Homestead in compliance with Florida's ban on adult-use cannabis. Florida metes out severe penalties on individuals caught with recreational cannabis. For example, the state considers possessing fewer than 20 grams of cannabis a misdemeanor offense and penalizes offenders with a maximum of 1-year incarceration and up to a $1,000 fine. Penalties become more severe as the amount of cannabis involved increases, depending on whether the offense is possession, cultivation, or any other marijuana activity prohibited under Florida cannabis laws.
Homestead medical cannabis laws align with Florida medical marijuana laws, and they include the following:
The only persons eligible for medical cannabis in Homestead as those with debilitating conditions listed in Chapter 381 of Florida Statutes
Driving while under the influence of marijuana is illegal
Only MMTCs are authorized to cultivate medical marijuana in Florida. Hence, it is illegal for marijuana patients in Homestead to grow marijuana plants at home
It is unlawful for cannabis patients to consume marijuana edibles
Florida marijuana laws prohibit the consumption of medical cannabis in public in Homestead. It is also unlawful to consume or possess cannabis on federal properties in the city, even if the cannabis is meant for medicinal use
Eligible cannabis patients in Homestead can get the Florida medical marijuana card, commonly called the Florida medical marijuana registry card, by applying to the Office of Medical Marijuana Use (OMMU). They can apply via mail or online.
The OMMU provides patient application instructions and caregiver application instructions to guide eligible patients and caregivers applying by mail. Generally, they must complete the Patient Application Form or a Caregiver Application Form, whichever is applicable, and send the completed form with a passport photo, proof of residency, and a $75 check or money order to:
Florida Office of Medical Marijuana Use
P.O. Box 31313
Tampa, FL 33631-3313
Patients applying online should use the Login Instructional Guide and the Online Application Instructions to help them through the application process. They will also pay a $75 processing fee. Florida medical marijuana cards processed online are usually approved within 10 business days.
Florida cannabis laws permit registered medical cannabis patients in Homestead to consume cannabis in their private residences without the fear of prosecution. The consumption of marijuana in public is illegal.
The sale of marijuana is prohibited in Homestead, but residents can turn to other Florida cities/towns near Homestead, where licensed dispensaries operate to purchase cannabis. Generally, registered patients must provide their Florida-issued medical marijuana cards at such dispensaries before they can buy medical cannabis products. The only acceptable means of payment at these dispensaries is cash. Hence, customers should come prepared with enough cash or hold their debit cards (for dispensaries with on-site ATMs).
Although there are no dispensaries in Homestead, eligible cannabis patients in the city can expect to pay between $220 and $280 for an ounce of cannabis at licensed dispensaries near Homestead.
The most popular cannabis strains among registered medical marijuana patients in Homestead include Big Love, Ice Cream Gelato, Runtz, and Mandarin Sunset.
No, it is illegal to smoke cannabis in public in Homestead or any city in Florida as stipulated in Senate Bill 8A (SB 8A).
Florida marijuana laws prohibit the possession of recreational marijuana in Homestead. However, a registered cannabis patient in the city can possess up to a 70-day medical cannabis supply within any 70-day period and up to 4 ounces of smokable cannabis for a 35-day supply.
No, it is unlawful to ship cannabis into Homestead across state lines. United States laws consider transporting marijuana products across state boundaries a federal offense.
Yes. Ordering medical cannabis online from dispensaries near Homestead or other dispensaries in different parts of Florida offers registered cannabis patients in Homestead a convenient way of getting cannabis to their doorsteps.
There are no dispensaries in Homestead, but Chapter 381 of Florida Statutes prohibits state-licensed dispensaries from opening before 7:00 a.m. and 9:00 p.m. daily.
Homestead bans establishing cannabis dispensaries within its borders. As a result, dispensaries are only available for tourists' use in the city. Generally, Florida does not accept out-of-state medical cannabis cards. It does not allow tourists who are cannabis patients from their states into any of Florida-licensed dispensaries.
Even though there are no dispensaries in Homestead, cannabis patients visiting dispensaries near the city must present their Florida medical cannabis cards before they can buy medical marijuana products.
Homestead does not have any weed dispensary.
While no dispensary exists in Homestead, no Florida law mandates state-licensed marijuana dispensaries to scan customers' IDs before dispensing to them.
There are no marijuana dispensaries in Homestead.
No single dispensary operates in Homestead. However, dispensaries near Homestead cannot take credit cards because they would be violating federal laws if they did.
There are no licensed marijuana dispensaries in Homestead.
The sale of cannabis is prohibited in Homestead. However, dispensaries near Homestead do not consider health insurance a payment method for medical cannabis due to the federal ban on marijuana.
No dispensary operates in Homestead. But as required by SB 8A, dispensaries near Homestead and others across Florida track marijuana sales to patients using the Florida Department of Health (DOH)-adopted seed-to-sale tracking system called Bio Track.
There is no dispensary in Homestead. However, those in neighboring towns/cities allow registered cannabis patients from Homestead to purchase cannabis products, provided they are 18 and show up with their valid Florida medical marijuana cards.
The Homestead cannabis regulator's contact information is listed on the "Contact us" page of the Office of Medical Marijuana Use (OMMU) website. The OMMU is an office under the DOH.
Every illegal cannabis activity in Homestead should be reported to the Homestead Police Department at (305) 247-1535 or the DOH at (850) 245-4444.