How to Become a Medical Marijuana Caregiver in Florida
As of February 2024, medical cannabis is the only legal way to obtain the plant in Florida. Medical cannabis users can legally purchase cannabis and certain types of cannabis products from medical dispensaries. If someone has a qualifying condition (and meets other state requirements), they can designate a caregiver to help.
In the medical cannabis community, caregivers are an essential lifeline. Caregivers are able to purchase cannabis for medical cannabis patients under the age of 18 as well as incapacitated adult patients. Caregivers can help obtain, transport, and even administer cannabis to patients. However, a caregiver’s rights aren’t the same as a patient’s in the state of Florida.
Keep reading to learn more about caregivers' rights and responsibilities and how to become a medical cannabis caregiver in Florida.
How to Become a Medical Cannabis Caregiver in Florida
Patients are allowed (or required, if they’re under 18) to designate a caregiver to assist them with medical cannabis. A patient’s qualified physician is the only person able to add a caregiver to a patient’s profile.
The process to register to become a Florida medical cannabis caregiver and get approved is relatively straightforward.
- First, the patient must list a caregiver in the initial medical cannabis application before the doctor can submit a patient’s recommendation to the state. At the same time, caregivers will fill out their own application section and pay the required fee.
- If the caregiver isn’t a close relative, they’ll need to undergo a level two background screening, which costs between $60 and $85.
- Finally, Florida caregivers must complete a caregiver certification course every two years. Fortunately, it’s free of charge and available conveniently within the Marijuana Use Registry.
Any changes that would alter information on the original patient or caregiver forms must be reported to the Florida Department of Health Office of Medical Marijuana Use (OMMU) within seven days of the change. These changes include an update in your physical address, name, caregiver’s name, caregiver’s address, etc.
Florida Caregiver Requirements: Who Qualifies (and What is a Medical Marijuana Caregiver)?
A Florida medical cannabis caregiver can purchase/obtain, transport, and even administer cannabis to their patient. It’s currently illegal for a caregiver to cultivate cannabis at home in Florida.
Medical cannabis treatment centers in Florida may not dispense more than a 70-day supply within a 70-day period. If the cannabis is in a smokable form, you cannot receive more than a 35-day supply of cannabis within a 35-day period. There’s no additional limit for caregivers as they can pick up the same amount as a medical cannabis patient.
To qualify as a caregiver in Florida, you must meet several requirements, including:
- Be a provable resident of Florida.
- Be 21 years of age or older.
- Take a caregiver certification course from the Florida Department of Health. You’ll renew this certification every two years to retain approval as a caregiver.
- Take and pass a level two background check if you’re not a close relative to the patient.
- Sign a written agreement to assist the qualified patient with cannabis when necessary.
Patients should indicate that they’ll be using a caregiver on their original application. If a caregiver wasn’t designated, patients can add a caregiver using the same process you would use to change, replace, or surrender your cannabis card.
Florida caregivers cannot:
- Be an employee of a medical cannabis facility or lab or have any relevant economic interest in medical cannabis.
- Be a qualified physician.
A caregiver must (typically) be registered to no more than one qualified patient in Florida. However, there are some exceptions, such as:
- If the caregiver is a parent or legal guardian to more than one minor qualifying patient.
- All the patients that the caregiver assists are participating in a relevant research program in a teaching nursing home.
- Patients that the caregiver assists are all in a hospice program where they’ve requested the assistance of the specific caregiver.
- Or, the caregiver is a parent or legal guardian of more than one adult qualifying patient otherwise incapable of administering cannabis themselves.
Finally, there’s a caregiver application fee of $75 that can be paid by check or money order. All checks or money orders should be made out to the Florida Department of Health.
Florida Laws for MMJ Caregivers and Their Patients
Designating a Caregiver in Florida
Florida patients can designate up to one caregiver within the Registry with certain exceptions. Caregivers may also only care for one patient at a time, although there are exceptions as well. When the state approves the person’s license application and the patient receives their Registry ID card, the caregiver will, too. The caregiver will be expected to have this Caregiver ID with them at all times, especially when handling cannabis for their patient.
To designate a caregiver in Florida, the patient must list the caregiver on their medical cannabis card application. Listing them will allow the physician to submit the caregiver’s name to the state for approval alongside the rest of the application. Otherwise, a caregiver’s name can be submitted using a separate form afterward.
Cultivating Cannabis as a Caregiver in Florida
At present, it is illegal to cultivate cannabis either as a patient or as a caregiver in Florida. Florida only allows “licensed medical cannabis treatment centers” to grow, process, and dispense the plant. These treatment centers act as cannabis processors, manufacturers, and dispensaries for patients in Florida.
Learn more about Florida’s cannabis laws and regulations, visit our Florida patient FAQs,
Learn more about Florida's cannabis laws and regulations, review our extensive patient FAQs, or speak with a member of our highly-rated customer service team for transparent guidance. We can help you designate a caregiver and learn how to get a medical cannabis card in Florida quickly and seamlessly.
