No. There are no adult-use cannabis dispensaries located in the City of Lakeland, as cannabis has not been legalized in Florida. Florida statutes categorize cannabis as an illegal substance and prohibit its sale in Lakeland and other Florida jurisdictions.
Yes. There are medical marijuana treatment centers, also called medical marijuana dispensaries, established in Lakeland. These facilities dispense medical marijuana to qualified persons but not persons looking to use cannabis recreationally. Medical marijuana dispensaries are permitted to be established in the city pursuant to the Florida medical cannabis legalization act.
Yes. In Lakeland, medical marijuana is available via online cannabis dispensaries. However, it is illegal to purchase marijuana for recreational use in the city. Patients who prefer the convenience of online shopping can search for "cannabis dispensaries near me" or "medical marijuana treatment centers near me" to find a list of local dispensaries that offer online sales and delivery services. Note that only eligible medical marijuana patients can purchase cannabis through these online dispensaries.
While considering a trip to a Lakeland dispensary, consider the following steps:
Verify that you meet the requirements to enter a dispensary: In Lakeland, qualifying patients with valid Florida medical marijuana cards are the only individuals permitted to buy medicinal cannabis from licensed dispensaries. Therefore, in order to enter a dispensary in Lakeland, you will need to first get a medical marijuana card from the state of Florida
Research nearby dispensaries: If there are licensed dispensaries nearby, you are better off visiting located near you than dispensing facilities located far away. To find nearby dispensaries, use the search term “cannabis dispensaries near me” in an online search engine to find MMTCs near you
Bring a form of identification with you along with your medical marijuana card: A Florida-issued medical marijuana card is required to be allowed to enter a Lakeland dispensary. However, in addition to the medical marijuana card, you will be asked to present an ID to verify your identity
Consider your budget: The cost of medicinal marijuana can often differ from one dispensary to the next. Before going to a dispensary, it is recommended to do some research on the prices of medical cannabis products
Research your preferred products: Before going to a dispensary, it is recommended that you have some idea of the kinds of products you plan to purchase. This may help you save time when you visit in person
Be ready to ask questions: Lakeland MMTCs have staff who have formal training on cannabis which can be helpful when deciding what to purchase. These employees are typically warm to visitors and are ready to help them make the right choices based on their conditions and the impact desired from their purchases
Lakeland does not have regulations associated with cannabis dispensaries in its city code. While no adult-use cannabis dispensaries are permitted in the city, medical marijuana treatment centers located in the city are required to abide by Florida laws. Florida laws require dispensaries to:
Sell medical cannabis only to individuals registered in the Florida Medical Marijuana Use Registry
Prohibit the consumption of cannabis on their premises
Track cannabis sales to ensure buyers do not purchase more cannabis than is allowed in Florida
Recreational cannabis is illegal in Lakeland, as it is in all Florida cities and municipalities. Hence, possession of cannabis without approval by the Office of Medical Marijuana Use for the treatment of an approved condition is an offense. It is only a first-degree misdemeanor if caught with less than 20 grams of cannabis. The penalties for possessing that much cannabis include driver's license revocation, probation, and jail sentence.
Possessing more than 20 grams of weed will have you facing a felony charge. The penalty for felony possession ranges between 5 and 30 years, depending on how much cannabis is found in your possession. The fines for possessing more than 20 grams also range from $5,000 to $200,000, depending on the quantity of weed involved.
Lakeland residents who have certain health conditions approved under the Florida medical cannabis program can possess and use cannabis for the treatment of such conditions. This is possible under Amendment 2, which modified the 2014 Florida medical cannabis act. The 2014 legislation only made medical cannabis (low-THC cannabis products) available to persons with epilepsy and cancer.
Under the current law, Lakeland residents can purchase up to 2.5 ounces of smokable cannabis and 70-day supplies of edibles and other cannabis forms. Amendment 2 made medical cannabis purchases only legal at licensed dispensaries while also allowing cannabis delivery.
Amendment 2 makes medical cannabis accessible to minors and some out-of-state residents. The Florida medical cannabis program requires all participants to obtain medical cannabis registry cards before they can be sold medical cannabis legally at licensed dispensaries. While minors are not allowed to enter a dispensary, the medical cannabis program permits them to designate adult Floridians caregivers to help them purchase medical cannabis. Out-of-state patients who have seasonal resident statuses can apply for and obtain medical marijuana cards from the Florida Office of Medical Marijuana Use.
Note that Amendment 2 does not make the home cultivation of cannabis legal for registered medical marijuana users.
You can get a marijuana card if you meet certain conditions stipulated under the Florida medical cannabis program. The program requires that you are a permanent or seasonal resident of Lakeland or another Florida municipality, get a certification for one of the qualifying conditions, and be entered into the Florida Medical Marijuana Use Registry (MMUR). The following conditions are approved for medical cannabis use under the Florida medical cannabis program:
HIV
AIDS
Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis
Cancer
Epilepsy
Crohn's disease
Multiple sclerosis
Parkinson's disease
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
Glaucoma
Terminal health conditions diagnosed by a physician other than the certifying physician
Chronic non-malignant pain caused by a qualifying condition
Medical conditions comparable to the types listed above
Note that only physicians who complete the requisite training can issue medical cannabis certifications. The OMMU provides a list of qualified physicians and a physician search tool on its website that you may use to verify if your physician is approved to issue medical cannabis certifications.
After obtaining a medical cannabis certification and providing your physician with your current email address, the physician will enter your details into the MMUR. Consequently, you will get two emails from the OMMU: one with your username and the other containing a temporary password. You can follow the link in the mail to log in to your MMUR profile. See the OMMU MMUR Login Instructions guide for more information on accessing the registry.
Upon enrollment in the MMUR, you may commence an application for a medical marijuana card. For step-by-step guides to apply for a medical marijuana card, see the registry identification cards page of the OMMU website or the instructional guides on the site. Applications may be completed online or by mail. Mail applications must include a completed paper application form, a passport-size photo, proof of Lakeland residency, and a $75 check or money order.
After submitting your application, the OMMU will review it for completeness and, if approved, will issue your registry card. Call the OMMU at (800) 808-9580 for further inquiries on medical marijuana cards in Lakeland.
Consuming medical cannabis is only allowed in private places, such as a person's home or private property, with the owner's permission. Medical cannabis use is generally not allowed in public places. This means that it is illegal to consume cannabis in public areas in Lakeland, such as parks, sidewalks, or in a vehicle. In addition, state law prohibits the operation of a motor vehicle while impaired from the use of medical cannabis.
You cannot purchase recreational cannabis at a Lakeland Dispensary. If you plan to buy medical marijuana from an MMTC there, you can either visit in person or order medical cannabis products online. To find the physical addresses of Lakeland dispensaries, search online using the term “medical marijuana dispensaries near me” or “MMTCs near me.” You must have a Florida-issued medical marijuana card before you may be allowed to enter a Lakeland dispensary. Since cannabis transactions are also typically cash-based, you are advised to bring cash to a Lakeland dispensary.
In Lakeland, a gram of pre-rolls costs $15, while a gram of cannabis concentrates costs between $50 and $75.
Some popular cannabis strains in Lakeland are:
Blue Dream
Sunset Sherbet
Zkittlez Cake
Girl Scout Cookies
No. Smoking cannabis in public areas in Lakeland is unlawful.
According to Florida law, an OMMU-registered patient or the patient’s caregiver may possess up to a 35-day supply of smokable cannabis and a 70-day supply of other cannabis forms per time.
No. It is a violation of federal law to ship cannabis across state lines. While you transport cannabis securely within Florida locations, moving the substance across state borders falls under the scope of federal regulations, which considers marijuana a controlled substance.
You cannot order cannabis meant for recreational use online in Lakeland. It is illegal for any persons or entities to sell adult-use cannabis in the city. However, persons enrolled in the Florida MMUR can purchase cannabis online in Lakeland, as the city has online weed dispensaries.
No. There are no 24-hour marijuana dispensaries in Lakeland.
Tourists who are seasonal residents of Lakeland or other Florida jurisdictions with OMMU-issued medical marijuana cards can purchase medical cannabis at MMTCs in the city. However, they cannot purchase adult-use marijuana as there are no licensed recreational weed dispensaries in the city.
You need a government-issued photo ID and an OMMU-issued medical marijuana card before purchasing medical cannabis legally in Lakeland. However, there are no legal means to purchase adult-use cannabis in the city.
Muv, Surterra Wellness, and Curaleaf are top-rated MMTCs in Lakeland.
In compliance with Florida law, Lakeland MMTCs scan customers’ IDs to ensure that only authorized persons purchase medical cannabis.
There are eight medical marijuana dispensaries in Lakeland. There are no adult-use marijuana dispensaries in the city.
No. Lakeland MMTCs do not accept credit cards. Lakeland MMTCs prefer cash.
You can visit more than one Lakeland MMTC in a single day. However, all Florida MMTCs track weed sales and purchases. Regardless of the number of dispensaries visited in one day, you cannot purchase more quantities of cannabis than is permitted under Florida law.
No. Cannabis dispensaries in Lakeland do not take health insurance.
Yes. Lakeland MMTCs, in compliance with state law, track weed purchases to ensure medical cannabis buyers do not exceed the prescribed limits.
You cannot enter an adult-use dispensary in Lakeland. However, if you are 18 or older and possess a medical marijuana card issued by the Florida Office of Medical Marijuana Use, you can enter a Lakeland dispensary.
The Office of Medical Marijuana Use (OMMU) is the cannabis regulator in the City of Lakeland. You may contact the OMMU at:
Office of Medical Marijuana Use
PO Box 31313
Tampa, FL 33631-3313
Alternatively, you can email the OMMU at MedicalMarijuanaUse@flheath.gov.
To report illegal cannabis activities in Lakeland, contact the police department in the city or file a complaint to the OMMU. To contact the PD, call the Lakeland Police Department at (863) 834-6966.