Sumter County Cannabis – Is It Legal & Where To Buy 2025

Is Cannabis Cultivation Legal in Sumter County?

Licensed cannabis cultivation is legal in Sumter County provided it has either low tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) content or is to be used for medical cannabis treatment as stipulated in Statute 381.986 of the State of Florida. The Statute defines low-THC cannabis to consist of a THC level of 0.8% or less by weight. The Statute, on the other hand, defines medical cannabis as having a THC level greater than 0.8% by weight with no restriction on its cannabidiol (CBD) content provided it is solely for medical usage.

The State of Florida's Department of Health (DOH) regulates and licenses medical cannabis and low-THC cannabis by means of its Office of Medical Marijuana Use (OMMU). The OMMU only grants the Medical Marijuana Treatment Center (MMTC) license, which allows for the cultivation of medical cannabis and low-THC cannabis, the manufacture of medical cannabis and low-THC cannabis products, and the distribution of products containing medical cannabis and low-THC cannabis to medical cannabis cardholders.

In December 2022, the MMTC application instructions and requirements went into effect. For various batches of applications, the OMMU will establish application timeframes. Within the application window, the application must be handed over in person to the:

Agency Clerk

Florida Department of Health

2585 Merchants Row Blvd., Suite 110

Tallahassee, FL 32399

Among other criteria, the following must be presented with the application:

1. A cashier's check for $146,000 that is payable to the Florida Department of Health as an application fee that is not refundable if the application is rejected
2. Written confirmation from the Florida Department of Revenue (DOR) or Florida Department of State (DOS) demonstrating that the applicant company has been a registered business in the state for the last five years in a row
3. A current Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (DACS) registration certificate
4. A level-2 background check on all owners and management of the applicant firm during the last year

Statute 381.986 prohibits licensed MMTC growing facilities from being within 500 feet of any school. Indoor growing of medical cannabis and low-THC cannabis is required under Statute 381.986. The medical cannabis and low-THC cannabis crops must be grown separately from any other crops the licensee is growing.

Licensed MMTCs are required by Florida's Statute XXXV Chapter 581 of the Plant Industry to carry out each day a meticulous examination of their medical cannabis and low-THC cannabis crops in order to quickly detect and eliminate any disease or pest infestation that might replicate across the entire state's agricultural sector. The required fogging or treatments must be performed using only pesticides that have the approval of the DACS for plants that are edible to humans.

Is Cannabis Manufacturing Legal in Sumter County?

Licensed cannabis product manufacturing is legal in Sumter County provided it uses low-THC cannabis with 0.8% or less THC content by weight or has a higher THC content but is used exclusively for medical treatment as mandated by Statute 381.986 of the State of Florida.

The Statute prohibits licensed MMTC manufacturing facilities from being situated within 500 feet of a school and requires them to conduct their manufacturing activities indoors. Low-THC cannabis products and medical cannabis products must be processed completely autonomously from other kinds of goods that the licensee may be manufacturing.

The Florida Food Safety Act Chapter 500 mandates that the licensed MMTC get a DACS food permit in order to prepare edible medical cannabis products and edible low-THC cannabis products. This includes having a national organization inspect the processing plant, acquiring a Food Safety Good Manufacturing Practices accreditation, and following the same regulations as other food businesses in the state.

It is prohibited for edible medical cannabis products and low-THC cannabis products to resemble foods that are typically served to children. Medical cannabis and low-THC cannabis edibles can only include no more than 10 milligrams of THC in each serving and 20 servings in each package. The differences in potency must not exceed 15%.

Each batch of low-THC and medical cannabis products must successfully pass random sample testing conducted by a laboratory that has received authorization from the DOH. The DACS may be asked by the DOH to confirm test findings.

A plain white package that is opaque and in compliance with the United States Poison Prevention Packaging Act must be used for all medical cannabis products and low-THC cannabis products. Aside from the DOH-approved MMTC emblem, no pictures are permitted on the box. Labels and leaflet inserts with the information and cautions required by Statute 381.986 must be included on all products.

Is Cannabis Retail Legal in Sumter County?

The retail selling of cannabis only by licensed MMTCs is legal in Sumter County as stipulated by the State of Florida’s Statute 381.986, but only if the cannabis and cannabis products either have a THC content of 0.8% or less by weight or have a THC content higher than 0.8% but are used for solely medical treatment. Both types of cannabis are only allowed to be sold to medical cannabis cardholders between 7 a.m. and 9 p.m.

However, pursuant to Statute 381.986, counties and municipalities may prohibit the establishment of licensed MMTC dispensing establishments inside their borders by ordinance. The Sumter County Code of Ordinances Sec. 13-654 only allows the continued operation of medical cannabis dispensaries licensed before January 10, 2017. There is one that was operational in Sumter County as of August 2023 and no new medical cannabis dispensaries are permitted.

Medical cannabis and medical cannabis products, as well as low-THC cannabis and low-THC cannabis products, have a 70-day supply restriction that a licensed MMTC dispensing facility can sell to a medical cannabis cardholder in any given 70-day period. This has a THC limit of 24,500 mg. The purchase restriction for medical and low-THC cannabis intended for smoking is lower, with a maximum of 2.5 ounces each 35-day period. To enable the patient to acquire additional supplies, the OMMU must publish the patient's physician's request for an exemption on the Medical Marijuana Use Registry (MMUR) for the licensed dispensary's guidance.

Each day within the 70-day timeframe, the medical cannabis cardholder is only allowed to purchase medical and low-THC cannabis items in the following quantities:

• THC content in edible products: 60 milligrams
• THC content in topical preparations: 150 milligrams
• THC content in sublingual preparations:190 milligrams
• THC content in suppositories: 190 milligrams
• THC content in tinctures: 200 milligrams
• THC content in capsules: 200 milligrams
• Cannabis in dried flowers or prerolls for smoking: 2.025 grams or 0.7 ounces

Is Cannabis Delivery Legal in Sumter County?

The State of Florida’s Statute 381.986 allows the delivery to medical cannabis cardholders in Sumter County of their purchases of low-THC cannabis and low-THC cannabis products as well as medical cannabis and medical cannabis products from licensed MMTCs. Moreover, licensed MMTCs are allowed by the Statute to deliver among themselves low-THC cannabis, medical cannabis, and low-THC and medical cannabis products.

How to Get a Medical Marijuana Card in Sumter County

Sumter County permanent or seasonal residents can apply to the OMMU to acquire an MMUR medical cannabis card. They must be examined and diagnosed by an OMMU-qualified physician to have any of the ailments that qualify for treatment with medical cannabis or low-THC cannabis. There are 11 of them in Sumter County.

The qualifying illnesses are:

• Cancer
• Crohn’s disease
• Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
• Glaucoma
• HIV/AIDS
• Epilepsy
• Multiple sclerosis (MS)
• Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS)
• Parkinson’s disease
• Similar medical conditions
• Terminal illnesses diagnosed by two qualified physicians

The physician will register the qualifying patient in the MMUR by uploading the physician's certification. At least one caregiver is required for patients under the age of 18. Adult patients who are incapacitated may also name caregivers. The patient's and caregiver's names and email addresses will be added to the registry.

The MMUR will email the patient and caregiver instructions on how to log in and finish their applications. In addition to the $75 charge that must be paid online, applicants who are not already listed in the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (FLHSMV) system will be required to provide evidence of state residency and a current photo.

Mail-in applications are also welcomed. The filled-out patient application form, caregiver application form, corresponding evidence of domicile, individual pictures, and a $75 check or money order must be sent to the:

Office of Medical Marijuana Use

PO Box 31313

Tampa, FL 33631-3313

The Florida Department of Health must be the recipient indicated in the check or money order, with the memo line including the applicant's MMUR identification number.

For questions, contact the OMMU at:

Department of Health

Office of Medical Marijuana Use

4052 Bald Cypress Way

Tallahassee, Florida

Phone: 1-800-808-9580

How Has Cannabis Legalization Impacted the Economy of Sumter County?

The State of Florida’s regular state retail sales tax is levied on medical and low-THC cannabis and cannabis products, at a general rate of 6% according to the DOR. Licensed MMTCs may be charged the same fees as pharmacies by municipalities under Statute 381.986. However, Statute 381.986 does not impose special taxes on any kind of cannabis.

The OMMU weekly update dated August 11, 2023 stated that from August 4 to 10, licensed MMTC dispensaries sold a total of 2,504,585 milligrams of low-THC cannabis and products, and 304,932,447 milligrams of medical cannabis and products.

The Effects of Cannabis Legalization on Crime Rates in Sumter County

Medical cannabis was legalized in the State of Florida, including Sumter County, in 2017.

Data on the Crime Explorer page of the FBI shows that in that year, there were 135 marijuana possession arrests and three marijuana sales arrests, totaling 138 marijuana offense arrests in the state.

In 2019, two years after medical cannabis was legalized, there were 74 marijuana possession arrests and two marijuana sales arrests, totaling 76 marijuana offense arrests statewide.

In 2020, there were 16 marijuana possession arrests and one marijuana sales arrest, totaling 17 marijuana offense arrests throughout the state.

In 2021, the latest data showed 19 marijuana possession arrests and one marijuana sales arrest, totaling 20 marijuana offense arrests.

The number of DUI arrests during those years was as follows:

• 2017: 32,697 arrests
• 2019: 33,872 arrests
• 2020: 29,126 arrests
• 2021: 30 arrests