What Are the Marijuana Laws in Florida?

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Though many states across the country have chosen to decriminalize marijuana or make it legal for recreational use, the federal government still classifies it as a Schedule I substance with a high potential for abuse and without any accepted medical use.

Florida has chosen to step outside of the federal mandate by allowing for medical marijuana use across the state, but it has made no legal changes to decriminalize the drug in any way.

This means that healthcare professionals across the state need to be careful about the current rules and regulations around obtaining a medical marijuana card as well as what the penalties are for possessing more than is legally allowed.

What Are the Medical Marijuana Card Laws in Florida?

When it comes to obtaining a medical marijuana card, Florida medical marijuana laws are simple. To get a card, one must be diagnosed with a condition that is or is like AIDS, cancer, epilepsy, ALS, Crohn’s disease, Parkinson’s, MS, glaucoma, or other disorders that are characterized by high anxiety, chronic pain, or another symptom that has been shown to be managed by the use of any part of the marijuana plant.

There is also such a thing as a caregiver card. This card is given to someone who is not in need of medical marijuana personally but is allowed to purchase and carry the drug on behalf of someone who does have a medical marijuana card and may not be able to procure the drug themselves.

What Other Laws Does Florida Use to Manage Medical Marijuana Use?

Those who hold a medical marijuana card or caregiver card may possess up to 4 ounces of marijuana at any given time, but no more.

It is illegal to use marijuana in any public place unless it is a low-cannabis form or edible.

Despite holding a medical marijuana card, Florida law stipulates that it is still illegal to use or possess marijuana recreationally.

It is also illegal to possess more than the 4-ounce maximum.

What Are the Penalties for Breaking Florida Marijuana Laws?

Depending on the amount of marijuana in a person’s possession and whether or not they intend to sell the substance, the individual could get anywhere from 1 to 30 years in prison and up to a $200,000 fine.

Doctors who are found to be distributing medical marijuana cards without the proper certification or when it is not medically necessary can also face steep legal punishments, including fines, incarceration, and losing their ability to practice medicine. If you are facing charges of violating Florida medical marijuana laws while working as a medical provider, contact Florida Healthcare Law Firm to learn more about your options.

CBD Business Threats – FDA Letters and Consumer Complaints

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cbd businessBy: Susan St. John

With phenomenal growth and expansion in the Hemp Industry comes trials, tribulations, the FDA, and consumer complaints! Let’s take a look at what’s going on that might have an adverse impact on your burgeoning business or foray into Hemp a/k/a CBD.

FDA Letters

The FDA sent letters to 15 CBD business companies in late November 2019, warning and admonishing these companies that their CBD products were being promoted to treat disease or for having certain therapeutic properties. Specifically, the FDA reviewed these companies’ websites, social media pages, marketing material, etc., finding that the companies promoted products containing cannabidiol or CBD in violation of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FD&C Act). Further, the FDA stated that the companies’ CBD products are unapproved new drugs sold in violation of the FD&C Act, and were misbranded under the FD&C Act. The FDA letters did not just target products sold for human use and consumption, but also targeted CBD products sold for use on pets, stating that “the products are unapproved new animal drugs that are unsafe under the FD&C Act and adulterated products under the FD&C Act.Continue reading

Are Medical Marijuana Practices the New “Pill Mills?”

medical marijuana practice dispensary physician

medical marijuana practice dispensary physicianBy: Susan St. John

With the legalization of medical marijuana, I could not help but think, could a medical marijuana practice be the next “pill mill” and how could that be possible with the strict requirements set forth in Section 381.986, Florida Statutes. Turns out, only a handful of physicians are prescribing the majority of medical marijuana. While this may at first blush indicate a problem, keep in mind that marijuana, even medical marijuana is still outlawed under federal law and many physicians are not willing to risk a DEA license or possibly a state license to become a physician that certifies a patient for using medical marijuana. If a physician does become a qualified physician and issues medical marijuana certifications, certain practices and behaviors should be avoided.

A Practice with Similarities to a Pill Mill

In May 2019, Department of Health filed an administrative complaint against a “qualified physician” for basically over-certifying the use of medical marijuana. Pursuant to Section 381.986, there are only 13 medical conditions for which medical marijuana may be recommended. Of those 13 medical conditions, one is a bit of a “catch-all” as it is for medical conditions of the same kind or class as or comparable to a list of ten specific conditions, i.e., cancer, epilepsy, glaucoma, positive status for HIV, AIDS, PTSD, ALS, Crohn’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, and MS. This is where the physician ran into a problem.Continue reading

The State Hemp Plan – SB 1020

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state hemp plan florida programBy: Susan St. John

As you may have heard, the State Hemp Plan, SB 1020, has passed the Florida House and Senate and is waiting for Governor DeSantis’ action (approval or veto) or inaction (no veto). The Governor’s approval or failure to veto SB 1020 means SB 1020 will become law. So what does this mean for Florida?

SB 1020 is meant to bring Florida’s laws regarding the cultivation and processing of hemp in line with the Federal Farm Bill of 2018 which removed hemp from the DEA’s list of controlled substances and legalized the industrial use of hemp. Currently, hemp is listed as a controlled substance under Florida law. SB 1020 will change that and allow cultivation of hemp and distribution and retail sale of hemp extract.Continue reading

What’s the Deal with CBD Laws?

CBD Laws

CBD LawsBy: Michael Silverman

As reported in various media, on January 24, 2019 a trucker got into some hot water when he and his big rig were passing through Idaho en route to California from Oregon. In going through a weigh station and having his cargo inspected, state police didn’t take to kindly to what he was transporting.

His haul? Almost 7,000 pounds of hemp.

His customer? A company that intended to wholesale that crop to businesses that manufacture hemp-derived CBD.

Why the fuss? Drug sniffing dogs alerted to his cargo, and field tests indicated the presence (not concentration) of THC. The trucker was immediately apprehended, spent four days in jail, and was freed after posting $100,000 bond.

The company that hired the trucker to transport the product maintains that the load was indeed hemp, that the amount of THC in the hemp was within permissible federal limits, and that it was improperly confiscated. They want it back! So much so, that they’re suing for it; they filed a lawsuit against both the police and the prosecutor.Continue reading

Medical Marijuana Law: Medical Use in Florida Part II

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florida law marijuanaBy: Susan St. John

The Board of Medicine and Board of Osteopathic Medicine Joint Committee on Medical Marijuana (the “Committee”) have started the journey to developing rules pursuant to the Medical Marijuana Use Act, Senate Bill 8A, Chapter 2017-232, Laws of Florida, Section 381.986, Florida Statutes). The Committee’s first conference was held July 14, 2017, with a follow-up conference being held August 3rd. A third conference is scheduled for August 25th during the Board of Osteopathic Medicine’s monthly meeting.Continue reading

Medical Marijuana Law: Medical Use in Florida Part I

medical marijuana law FloridaBy: Susan St. John

As you have probably heard, Governor Scott signed Senate Bills 6A and 8A on June 23, 2017. What this means for practitioners is an increased opportunity to help patients that might derive benefit from treatment with medical marijuana. However, with increased opportunity comes increased scrutiny. Although these laws open up treatment options, practitioners need to ensure they strictly abide by the statutes and rules to be implemented by the Department of Health (“Department”). The Department has already published notice of the first conference call on Senate Bill 8A and emergency rule making authority, with the first conference call scheduled for Friday, July 14, 2017. Practitioners should also keep in mind that marijuana is still a schedule 1 controlled substance under federal law, thus, insurance companies are not covering treatment with medical marijuana.Continue reading