Florida legalized medical marijuana when it passed Amendment 2 in 2016. Since then, people with a variety of health issues have been able to use cannabis as part of their treatment, with approval from a licensed medical doctor. To maintain legal access, patients must renew and pay for their medical marijuana card in Florida each year through the state’s program.
In many cases, renewals can be completed online through telehealth services. However, if you’re seeing a new doctor at a different clinic for the first time, even for a renewal, the first visit must still be completed in person.
Before you renew, it’s worth considering the pros and cons of holding a medical marijuana card in Florida. At Ozark MMJ Cards, patients can renew their card online using a fast, easy, and user-friendly telehealth system, allowing them to continue their treatment without waiting or headaches.
Medical marijuana offers several benefits to patients in Florida who qualify for its use under state law.
A medical marijuana card in Florida gives qualifying patients legal access to cannabis as medicine. The program covers conditions like cancer, multiple sclerosis, PTSD, anxiety, and chronic pain. Medical marijuana is often used as an alternative to pharmaceutical medications, which typically have a longer list of side effects. You can view the full list of qualifying conditions in Florida here.
Many patients report that medical marijuana helps with sleep, stress management, and overall comfort. With a valid medical marijuana card in Florida, patients can legally access these benefits under the guidance of a licensed physician.
Without a card, marijuana use in Florida is still illegal. Holding a valid medical marijuana card in Florida helps patients stay compliant with state law and protects them from legal issues related to their treatment.
Renewals can now be completed online with telehealth providers, eliminating the need for clinic visits and ensuring uninterrupted treatment. However, if switching to a new provider at a different clinic, the initial appointment must be in person.
The state’s low-THC medical marijuana program has been beneficial for many patients trying to maintain their health, but there are a few things for you to keep in mind before you do so.
Although legal under state law, marijuana remains illegal federally. This can affect things like firearm ownership and workplace drug policies—even if you hold a medical marijuana card in Florida. For this reason, patients can be limited in the type of access they have in certain contexts: Federal gun ownership is banned for these patients, for example.
There may also be concerns at work, where stigma around cannabis use still exists. Some employers continue to enforce drug-free workplace policies and may not make exceptions, regardless of whether an employee has state approval through a medical card.
The patient must pay for everything that has to do with medical cannabis, such as visits to the doctor, renewals, and the products themselves.
Medical marijuana may be more expensive than regular medicines because insurance companies don’t cover it.
Patients located in specific parts of Florida face restricted access to cannabis products and strains because of supply chain problems and geographical location restrictions.
The existing product restrictions and potency limits within the program create barriers for patients who require particular treatment options.
The state-run registry requires patients to get listed when they want to join Florida’s medical marijuana program. Privacy rules protect the required state database registration process, but some people are still not sure if they want the government to store their personal information.
Marijuana can provide many benefits to Florida patients, like relief of symptoms and improvement in their quality of life, along with security in knowing that when they have a valid card, they’re legal. However, there are also considerations, such as costs, workplace policies, and product availability, that patients should keep in mind before renewing.
We make it easy at Ozark MMJ Cards to renew your card, offering online appointments with a qualified FL doctor on the same day. Our services are designed to be both cost-effective and efficient, while also supportive and informative—so you can keep your medical marijuana card in Florida active without interruption.
If your renewal is due, we urge you to look around before deciding. Renew with Ozark MMJ Cards today, and our team will guide you every step of the way.