How To Qualify For A Medical Marijuana Card in Florida
To qualify for a Florida medical marijuana card, you need to have a medical condition included on the list of chronic medical & debilitating conditions in Florida. With the recommendation from a local cannabis physician at a medical marijuana evaluation clinic in Florida, a qualified patient can obtain a medical marijuana card & authorization to visit dispensaries and purchase medical marijuana products.
In the United States marijuana is illegal at the federal level, many states, such as Florida, have legalized either medical marijuana or recreational marijuana at the state level. In states that legalize recreational marijuana, you do not need a medical card to obtain marijuana or cannabis products at a dispensary.
If you are a Floridian interested in medical marijuana treatment, below, we’ll go over the updated list of medical conditions that qualify you for a Florida medical marijuana card.
How Amendment 2 Updated The Qualifying Conditions For Medical Marijuana In FL
Florida first legalized medical marijuana in 2014 with the Compassionate Use Act, which allowed Florida patients with certain conditions to use medical marijuana with low amounts of THC. In 2016, the Right to Try Act allowed Florida patients with a terminal medical condition to use full-THC medical marijuana.
In late 2016, Florida expanded the medical marijuana program with the passage of Amendment 2. This amendment and the further passage of Senate Bill 8A expanded the Florida list of qualifying conditions to become eligible for medical marijuana to include conditions such as multiple sclerosis, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and Crohn’s disease.
It also included “debilitating conditions”, which gave Florida doctors the ability to decide what medical conditions were considered debilitating enough to warrant medical marijuana. This portion of Amendment 2 states that Florida doctors can certify patients with other debilitating medical conditions that are similar in nature to the Florida list of debilitating qualifying conditions.
What Does It Mean For A Condition To Be ‘Debilitating’?
For a medical condition to be debilitating to warrant medical marijuana, it has to interfere with or limit your life activities. This can mean that your medical condition causes you to miss work, prevents you from moving around, interferes with your ability to concentrate, or more. If your medical condition is a chronic condition or it requires you to take medication, there is a possibility the medical condition qualifies as debilitating.
CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT 2 PETITION FORM
“Debilitating Medical Condition” means cancer, epilepsy, glaucoma, positive status for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS), post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), Crohn’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, multiple sclerosis, or other debilitating medical conditions of the same kind or class as or comparable to those enumerated, and for which a physician believes that the medical use of marijuana would likely outweigh the potential health risks for a patient.
The portion of the Florida list of debilitating qualifying conditions that include “other debilitating conditions of the same kind or class” allows a doctor to determine whether or not your condition is qualifying for marijuana. Medical marijuana can do wonders for relieving pain and treating nausea, even if you aren’t suffering from a condition as debilitating as Crohn’s disease or post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
About The Medical Conditions Qualifying Marijuana Cards In Florida
Medical marijuana can treat a variety of medical conditions from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) to multiple sclerosis to insomnia. However, Florida medical marijuana laws mention specific qualifying conditions including cancer, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), chronic pain, multiple sclerosis, Crohn’s disease, and more.
As an addition to the previously mentioned list of debilitating qualifying conditions above, other conditions such as diabetes, anxiety, or terminal medical conditions diagnosed by a doctor have qualified patients in Florida for medical marijuana.
Qualified List of Debilitating Medical Conditions Florida [Updated]
- Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
- Cancer
- Crohn’s disease
- Epilepsy
- Parkinson’s disease
- Multiple sclerosis
- Glaucoma
- HIV/AIDS
- Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS)
- Chronic nonmalignant pain.
- A terminal condition diagnosed by a physician other than the qualified physician issuing the physician certification.
Other Possible Qualifying Conditions For A Medical Card In Florida
- Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD)
- Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)
- Alcoholism
- Alzheimer’s Disease
- Anorexia
- Anxiety Disorders
- Arthritis
- Back Pain
- Bell’s Palsy
- Cachexia
- Cyclical Vomiting
- Diabetes
- Eczema
- Fibromyalgia
- Headaches
- Hepatitis C
- Interstitial Cystitis
- Irritable Bowel Syndrome
- Lou Gehrig’s Disease
- Lupus
- Lyme Disease
- Migraine
- Muscle Spasms
- Muscular Dystrophy
- Opioid Use Disorder
- Opiate Dependence
- Severe and Chronic Pain
- Severe Nausea
- Shingles
- Sickle Cell Anemia
- Sjogren’s Syndrome
- Skeletal Muscular Spasticity
- Spasticity
Do You Qualify & Need To Get a Medical Marijuana In Florida?
If you are looking for medical marijuana in Pensacola, Florida, for pain relief, appetite stimulation, nausea reduction, or for other reasons related to your health condition, the next step is to schedule an evaluation with a qualified physician.
Dr. William Hass is an experienced doctor at our holistic practice who offers an individualized and personalized service. We make sure our patients have honest information about medical cannabis and how to use it. We also establish relationships with our patients, checking in to make sure treatment is working for you and that you have all the resources you need.
If you have a qualifying condition and want to schedule your evaluation for a Florida medical marijuana card, you may book your appointment online here.
Not sure if your condition qualifies for medical marijuana treatment in Pensacola, Florida? Feel free to give us a call at +1 (850) 354-6913 for additional guidance.