Osceola County Cannabis – Is It Legal & Where To Buy 2024
- Florida Cannabis
- Osceola Cannabis Overview
Is Cannabis Cultivation Legal in Osceola County?
Yes, cannabis cultivation is legal in Osceola County but only for medical marijuana as mandated by Statute 381.986 of the State of Florida. To legally grow medical cannabis, it is required to secure a license as a Medical Marijuana Treatment Center (MMTC) by applying at the Florida Department of Health (DOH) Office of Medical Marijuana Use (OMMU). There are now three licensed MMTCs in Osceola County.
Only cannabis with low tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) content, which is defined by law as having 0.8 percent or less THC per weight, is permitted for medical purposes under Statute 381.986. However, also according to weight, cannabidiol concentration is permitted to be even more than 10%.
MMTCs with a license must grow medical marijuana entirely indoors. Additionally, all other crops and plants they grow must be maintained fully apart from medical cannabis cultivation.
According to the Florida Plant Industry’s Statute XXXV Chapter 581, all registered MMTCs are obliged to maintain a close eye on their medical marijuana plants, seeds, and flowers so as to quickly spot any type of infection that could threaten state agriculture. Infestations should be completely eliminated whenever they are found using appropriate treatment or fumigation. However, the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (DACS) only permits pesticides that have been approved for use on edible plants or any produce destined for consumption by humans to be used by certified MMTCs.
Is Cannabis Manufacturing Legal in Osceola County?
Yes, cannabis manufacturing is legal in Osceola County, but this is limited only to medical marijuana products by Florida’s Statute 381.986. To legally manufacture medical cannabis products, an MMTC license from the OMMU is also required.
The manufacturing of medical marijuana must be done only indoors and separately from the manufacture of any other goods. When using potentially hazardous gases or solvents, medical cannabis manufacturers must follow any applicable DOH laws. Federal and state regulations governing the removal and disposal of solid and liquid waste must also be followed by licensed MMTCs.
Every licensed MMTC is required to collect two samples from each batch of medical marijuana being processed, and those samples must be kept for a minimum of nine months in storage. Within that time frame, the MMTC must undergo an audit of its standard operating procedures, testing records, and samples by a cannabis testing facility that has been authorized by the DOH.
The independent laboratory is in charge of testing the medical marijuana products to determine the following:
Tetrahydrocannabinol and cannabidiol content concentrations
Adherence to the DOH's potency criteria
Pureness
Accurate content labeling
Human consumption safety
The audit results must be submitted to the DOH. The DOH will then ask the DACS to verify if the MMTC's samples support the audit findings.
All medical marijuana products must be packed by authorized MMTCs in accordance with the United States 1970 Poison Prevention Packaging Act, as required by Statute 381.986. A label must be firmly fastened to each item and must be printed with the product name, the amount of THC and cannabidiol contained, along with the batch and harvest numbers of the medical cannabis used. The prohibition of supplying medical cannabis to anyone besides the listed patients must be explicitly stated in a warning. The language used on the label must not be similar in any way to that used on children's goods packaging.
A clinical pharmacology insert including the following data must be included with each medical marijuana item supplied by a licensed MMTC:
The number of doses in one unit of a cannabis product for medical use
Each dosage's potency
Applications for the specific cannabis product in medicine
How to use the cannabis product for medical purposes
Contraindications to the use of the cannabis item as medicine
Potentially dangerous effects that could result from using the medical cannabis product
Additional warnings and measures
In accordance with the Florida Food Safety Act, a licensed MMTC needs to get a food permit approved by the DACS in order to be allowed to create edible medical marijuana products. A licensed MMTC must meet the same requirements as other food businesses in order to perform this function. It must consent to a national organization inspecting its facilities. Furthermore, it must obtain a certification in Food Safety Good Manufacturing Practices in order to be eligible.
It is forbidden to produce edible medical marijuana products that mimic candy or other items frequently provided to children. For all edible medical marijuana products, a maximum 15% variance in potency is allowed. No more than 20 servings, totaling 200 milligrams of THC, may be contained in a package, and no single serving may contain more than 10 milligrams of THC. Each edible medical marijuana product shall be labeled with a complete list of the ingredients, a date of expiration, and instructions for safe storage.
If meant to be consumed or smoked, medical marijuana products must be placed in plain, white, opaque packaging. The only image that can be displayed on the package is the DOH-approved logo of the licensed MMTC. A label advising customers to keep the goods out of the reach of children is required. It is also necessary to add a warning that medical cannabis meant for smoking can contain compounds that are dangerous to inhale.
Is Cannabis Retail Legal in Osceola County?
Yes, cannabis retail is legal in Osceola County but only for medical marijuana and medical marijuana products in compliance with Florida’s Statute 381.986. Only MMTCs licensed by the OMMU can do so, and they can sell only to registered patients and caregivers who hold Medical Marijuana Use Registry (MMUR) cards from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Cross-referencing the patient's MMUR ID card with the online registry is the obligation of authorized MMTCs. Additionally, they determine the kind and dosage of medical marijuana recommended by the patient's doctor certification by performing this. Only the precise type of medical marijuana that is stated in the prescription, as well as the dosage and administration mechanism, may be provided to each patient by licensed MMTCs. Any of the subsequent could fit the description:
Flowers from medical marijuana
Therapeutic marijuana oil
Tinctures of medical marijuana
Cannabis-infused pills or capsules
Marijuana suppositories for medical purposes
Vape devices for medical marijuana
Smoked medical marijuana
Edible cannabis for medical use
Topicals with medical marijuana
Licensed MMTCs are only allowed to distribute to each patient a 35-day supply of medical cannabis that is meant to be smoked, not to exceed 2.5 ounces, at a time. For any 70-day span, a maximum of one 70-day supply of all other varieties of medical marijuana and medical cannabis-related items may be dispensed.
There are limits on the daily THC quantities that can be sold to each patient via retail stores as of August 29, 2022. The restrictions that are still in force today are as follows:
The highest quantity of edibles that can be purchased is 60 milligrams.
The maximum quantity that can be purchased of topicals is 150 mg.
Sublingual tinctures have a 190-milligram purchasing cap.
Suppositories can be purchased up to 190 mg at a time.
200 milligrams of capsules is the most that can be bought.
The maximum amount for tinctures is 200 milligrams.
350 mg of nicotine can be purchased in total for each vaping product.
Each medical marijuana product that the authorized MMTC sells must be properly labeled with the following information:
The name of the MMTC that holds a license
Identification of the patient
Identification of the caretaker, if applicable
Identification of the certifying medical specialist
The recommended amount of the medical marijuana product
The authorized MMTC is required to report each sale to the MMUR. The following details must be noted for each retail sale:
Purchasing date
Purchasing time
Dispensing employee identification
Identification of the patient who purchased
Identification of the purchasing caregiver, if applicable
What type of medical cannabis or medical cannabis item was bought
The method of medicinal cannabis delivery that was bought, if applicable
High security is required for medicinal cannabis dispensaries and this is the responsibility of authorized MMTCs. Medical cannabis must be kept in a vault or other secure location, tightly secured. The building must have a 24-hour security system that includes alarms and CCTVs.
Is Cannabis Delivery Legal in Osceola County?
Yes, cannabis delivery is legal in Osceola County but Florida’s Statute 381.986 restricts this to medical marijuana and medical marijuana products. Only OMMU-licensed MMTCs can deliver these to the registered home addresses of patients and caregivers who are MMUR cardholders.
Two employees of a registered MMTC are required to make any delivery of medical cannabis. The licensed MMTC is obliged to use the seed-to-sale tracking system to establish a medical cannabis transport manifest before the delivery leaves the facility. The manifest needs to be finalized and kept for three years minimum.
The transportation manifest for medical marijuana must contain the information below:
The licensed MMTC's name, address, and license number
The licensed MMTC delivery staff members' names and signatures
The types and amounts of medical cannabis that were delivered
Information on the patient, particularly name and location
Make, model, and license plate number of the delivery vehicle
The delivery date
The time the cargo left the MMTC facility
The time the cargo arrived at the home of the patient
The registered MMTC's crew must hand over each medical cannabis supply directly to the registered patient or caregiver. The parcel cannot be left in the letterbox or any other storage area. The patient or caregiver is required to sign a copy of the medicinal cannabis transport manifest as proof that they accepted the delivery.
How to Get a Medical Marijuana Card in Osceola County
In Osceola County, permanent residents and seasonal visitors alike can apply for a Florida MMUR ID card by applying with the OMMU. First, they must complete a consultation with a licensed physician who is state-approved to provide medical cannabis treatment. The physician must diagnose them to have any of the following medical conditions that qualify for the MMUR:
Multiple sclerosis (MS)
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
Parkinson’s disease
Epilepsy
HIV/AIDS
Glaucoma
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS)
Cancer
Crohn’s disease
Any medical conditions that are similar to those listed above
Terminal medical conditions
The doctor will enter the patient's name and email address in the MMUR once they have been diagnosed. If the patient needs a caretaker, the doctor will also enter the caregiver's details. Minors need caretakers because they are not allowed to purchase medical cannabis by themselves. Some adult patients also require help making purchases.
Each patient and caregiver will receive an identifying number from the MMUR once they have been registered by the doctor. They must now wait for the MMUR to send them an email with their temporary account username and password. They will use these to be able to log in, change their password, and complete the application procedure.
Applications may also be submitted by patients manually. They have to print out the official application form. Once completed, they must mail it with the required documents to the following address:
Office of Medical Marijuana Use
PO Box 31313
Tampa, FL 33631-3313
All applications come with a $75 processing fee. This is paid online for online applications. For mailed applications, cash is not accepted. A money order or check must be enclosed payable to the Florida Department of Health, with the patient's ID number written on the memo line.
How Has Cannabis Legalization Impacted the Economy of Osceola County?
Since Statute 381.986 Section 212.08 declared that no sales tax shall be placed on medical marijuana, medical marijuana products, and medical marijuana delivery devices, medical cannabis legalization did not have an economic impact on Osceola County.
If there was a sales tax, the State of Florida and its counties would have earned high tax revenues from the high volume of medical marijuana sales. From July 6 to 13, 2018, data from the OMMU's sales statement showed that 29,470,708 mg of medical marijuana was sold by licensed MMTCs statewide. Four years later, the week’s sales of medical marijuana from July 29 to August 4, 2022 had increased to 243,358,822 mg
The Effects of Cannabis Legalization on Crime Rates in Osceola County
Medical cannabis was legalized in 2017 in Florida by virtue of Statute 381.986. On the FBI’s Crime Data Explorer, the Osceola County Sheriff’s Office reports that in the same year, there were 1,495 arrests for drug abuse violations and 229 arrests for driving under the influence (DUI). Both types of arrests decreased in 2020 to 503 for drug abuse violations and 201 for DUI.
