Medical Marijuana Doctors in Florida

Florida Medical Marijuana Doctors

Patients with eligible medical conditions seeking to use medical marijuana in Florida must first consult qualified medical practitioners. However, only allopathic and osteopathic physicians licensed in the state can recommend qualifying cannabis patients for medical cannabis use. While the state permits telemedicine for healthcare services, Florida medical marijuana doctors may only hold telehealth appointments with patients they have previously met in person.

Do You Need to See a Medical Marijuana Doctor in Florida?

Yes. In Florida, patients with eligible medical conditions for cannabis therapy must see qualified medical marijuana doctors before they can use medical cannabis legally. The physicians are required to diagnose them (patients) with state-approved qualifying medical conditions and recommend them for medical marijuana treatment. Under Florida's medical cannabis laws, a marijuana patient who is a minor (under 18) must obtain recommendations from two qualified healthcare practitioners to use medical cannabis. One must be the patient's primary care physician, and the other must be a board-certified pediatrician.

What Doctors Can Prescribe Medical Marijuana in Florida?

Physicians with active, unrestricted licenses from the state's Board of Medicine can recommend qualifying patients for medical marijuana in Florida. Similarly, the state permits osteopathic physicians licensed by the Board of Osteopathic Medicine to serve as Florida medical marijuana doctors. In addition, any state-licensed practitioner who wishes to serve as a Florida marijuana doctor must complete the state's Physician Medical Marijuana Course, a 2-hour Continuing Medical Education (CME) course.

Does Florida Provide a List of Licensed Medical Marijuana Doctors?

Yes, the state's Office of Medical Marijuana Use (OMMU) maintains a Florida medical marijuana doctors' list.

How to Find Florida Medical Marijuana Doctors Near Me

The Florida Department of Health (DOH) provides a Medical Marijuana Qualified Physician Search tool that helps to locate cannabis physicians for patients asking how to find Florida medical marijuana doctors near me. Similarly, qualifying cannabis patients can find qualified practitioners' contact information, including their addresses and phone numbers, from the official list of Florida medical marijuana doctors.

Can the Appointment with a Florida Medical Marijuana Doctor Happen Online?

Yes, but only after a physician-patient relationship has been established through in-person appointments. Consulting with Florida MMJ doctors via telemedicine provides cannabis patients with several benefits, including access to care regardless of distance and reduced exposure to other illnesses.

Florida Statutes (2023), Section 456.47, allows the use of telemedicine for medical appointments. However, per HB 387, Florida marijuana doctors may only meet their patients via telehealth after previously examining them (patients) in person, especially for medical marijuana recertification. In Florida, qualified medical providers cannot issue initial certifications for medical cannabis or see new patients for medical marijuana certification renewals via telemedicine.

How Much Medical Marijuana Can a Doctor Prescribe in Florida?

Per Section 381.986(4)(f) of Florida Statutes (2023), a medical marijuana doctor may only certify a qualifying patient for the following amounts of medical cannabis:

• Up to a three-70-day supply limit of medical cannabis
• No more than a six-35-day supply limit of smokable cannabis