Yes, Miami Beach permits the establishment of marijuana dispensaries within its borders. However, such dispensaries may only sell medical cannabis products to qualified medical cannabis patients, as recreational marijuana has yet to be legalized in Florida, Miami Beach's home state. Establishing a recreational cannabis dispensary in Miami Beach or other parts of Florida is prohibited by state law. Per Section 142-1502 of the Miami Beach Code of Ordinances, marijuana dispensaries may only be located in the following zoning districts of the city:
Area 1 - Lots zoned CD-2, lots zoned C-PS2, lots zoned CD-1 and CD-2, and lots zoned CD-1
Area 2 - Lots zoned HP
Area 3- Lots zoned CD-3 and fronting 41st Street
Area 4 - Lots zoned TC-1 and TCC
Area 5 - Lots zoned CD-3 south of 17th Street
Miami Beach has a few licensed medical marijuana dispensaries, commonly called Medical Marijuana Treatment Centers (MMTCs), in Florida. MMTCs began operations in Florida following the approval of Amendment 2 in 2016, a ballot initiative to legalize medical marijuana. Before the approval of Amendment 2, the Florida Legislature, in 2014, passed the Compassionate Medical Cannabis Act to permit individuals diagnosed with critical epilepsy and cancer to treat/manage their conditions with low-THC marijuana.
The Compassionate Medical Cannabis Act was a restrictive law, and only Florida-licensed allopathic and osteopathic physicians could order low-THC cannabis medications on their patients’ behalf. However, the approval of Amendment 2 removed this limitation by authorizing the establishment of MMTCs, providing qualifying patients with legal access to medical cannabis. The Office of Medical Marijuana Use (OMMU) licenses medical marijuana dispensaries in Miami Beach and other parts of Florida.
Cannabis patients in Miami Beach with Florida medical marijuana cards can order medical cannabis from cannabis dispensaries offering online sales services in the city. It is illegal to order cannabis online in Miami Beach for recreational use as that will contravene Florida marijuana laws. Registered cannabis patients can have their marijuana orders delivered to their local addresses in Miami Beach even if purchased online from out-of-city medical marijuana dispensaries.
A person may only visit a medical cannabis dispensary (MMTC) in Miami Beach if registered under the Florida Medical Marijuana Program. Generally, they must come with their Florida medical marijuana card and adequate cash to purchase medical cannabis products. Some dispensaries have on-site ATMs and may allow the use of debit cards.
Qualified patients visiting medical marijuana dispensaries in Miami Beach for the first time should expect to complete an intake procedure at the dispensaries. The procedure enables dispensaries to confirm that patients are enrolled in the Florida Medical Marijuana Program, and it is only a one-off procedure.
Licensed medical cannabis dispensaries in Miami Beach must observe the following dispensary laws:
Per Section 142-1503 of the Miami Beach Code of Ordinances:
Dispensaries are prohibited from dispensing medical cannabis anywhere outside their premises. All dispensing transactions must occur inside the licensed dispensary facilities
Cannabis sales activities must not be visible from outside the dispensaries
In compliance with Section 142-1502 of the Miami Beach Code of Ordinances, it is illegal to operate a medical cannabis dispensary within 500 feet of a private or public elementary, middle, or secondary school. Also, no medical marijuana dispensary in Miami Beach must be located within 1,200 feet of another medical cannabis dispensary
Per Chapter 381 of Florida Statutes, medical cannabis dispensaries in Miami Beach are prohibited from dispensing medical cannabis to cannabis patients under 18 (they can only sell to their caregivers). Dispensaries must ensure that patients have valid Florida medical marijuana cards before dispensing to them. It is illegal for any licensed medical cannabis dispensary in Miami Beach to buy marijuana from another dispensary unless it can prove to the Florida Department of Health (DOH) that there was a harvest failure. Dispensaries must record details of every medical cannabis sale in the state's medical marijuana registry. The record must include the form of cannabis sold, quantity dispensed, and time and date of sale
Florida prohibits the use, cultivation, and sale of marijuana for recreational purposes. Hence, recreational cannabis is illegal in Miami Beach.
Miami Beach prohibits growing cannabis at home for medical/personal uses. Only patients with certain debilitating conditions can use medical cannabis. Florida laws prohibit the public consumption of medical cannabis everywhere in the state, including Miami Beach. It is also illegal to consume medical cannabis edibles. A qualified patient may only get up to a 70-day cannabis supply from a licensed medical cannabis dispensary in Miami Beach within any 70-day period.
Miami Beach residents with eligible medical conditions and designated caregivers can get the Florida medical marijuana card, popularly known as the Medical Marijuana Registry Card, in two ways:
Florida Office of Medical Marijuana Use
P.O. Box 31313
Tampa, FL 33631-3313
In Miami Beach, consuming medical cannabis in a private residence is legal. Florida Statutes prohibit the consumption of weed in public.
Patients must be of legal age (18) to purchase medical cannabis at licensed dispensaries in Miami Beach and must have valid Florida medical marijuana cards. Designated caregivers who must be registered under the Florida Medical Marijuana Program can buy medical marijuana products on their patients' behalf at Miami Beach dispensaries. Recreational weed is unavailable at any licensed dispensary in the city.
Qualified patients can find an ounce of high-grade cannabis in Miami Beach dispensaries at an average of $295.
Widely consumed strains of cannabis in Miami Beach include Sour Diesel, Ice Cream Gelato, Runtz, and Girl Scout Cookies.
No, smoking marijuana in public in Miami Beach is prohibited. Per Section 70-7 of the Miami Beach Code of Ordinances, it is unlawful for anyone to smoke cannabis on public property.
It is unlawful to possess any amount of cannabis for recreational uses in Miami Beach. However, qualified patients and caregivers can possess up to 4 ounces of smokable medicinal cannabis and up to 70-day supplies of usable cannabis.
No, Miami Beach prohibits shipping marijuana across state lines into the city borders in compliance with federal laws.
Yes, but only for medical purposes. It is illegal to order cannabis online in Miami Beach for recreational uses.
No dispensary in Miami Beach operates 24 hours daily.
No, tourists cannot use any of Miami Beach's cannabis dispensaries. The dispensaries in Miami Beach are solely for medical marijuana patients with Florida medical marijuana registry cards.
Yes, cannabis patients must present their valid Florida medical marijuana registry cards at Miami Beach dispensaries as proof of enrollment in the state's medical marijuana program.
Search the internet with phrases like "the best dispensaries in Miami Beach" to find out which of the city's cannabis dispensaries have the best medical cannabis products and provide top-notch services.
Florida marijuana laws only require registered patients to present valid state-issued medical marijuana cards at licensed dispensaries.
Currently, Miami Beach is home to three Florida-licensed medical cannabis dispensaries.
Florida-licensed medical marijuana dispensaries in Miami Beach cannot accept credit cards for payments.
Cannabis patients can visit as many dispensaries in Miami Beach in one day, but they must not exceed their cannabis possession limit at any given time.
Licensed marijuana dispensaries in Miami Beach do not take health insurance as a payment option for cannabis patients.
Yes. Marijuana dispensaries in Miami Beach use the state-approved seed-to-sale tracking system, Bio Track, to track patients' medical cannabis purchases.
An 18-year-old medical cannabis patient can enter a dispensary in Miami Beach, provided they have a valid Florida medical marijuana registry card.
The Office of the Medical Marijuana Use (OMMU) under the Florida Department of Health (DOH) regulates medical cannabis in Miami Beach and has its contact information on the DOH website.
File reports of illegal cannabis activities in Miami Beach with the Miami Beach Police Department (MBPD) by calling _(305) 673-7900 _or report such incidents to the OMMU by email.