FAQ Medical Marijuana
Florida’s Amendment 2 passed in November of 2016 by a landslide, in which 71% of voters said “Yes” to medical marijuana. The will of the voters was put into place by our elected officials via Florida Senate Bill 8A. The Florida Department of Health – Office of Medical Marijuana Use is now in charge of defining legislative intent and implementation of the program statewide.
Qualifying Ailments?
1. What diagnosis qualifies for medical marijuana?
A patient must be diagnosed with at least one of the following conditions to qualify to receive medical marijuana
- (a) Cancer
- (b) Epilepsy
- (c) Glaucoma
- (d) Positive status for human immunodeficiency virus
- (e) Acquired immune deficiency syndrome
- (f )Post-traumatic stress disorder
- (g) Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis
- (h) Crohns’ disease
- (i) Parkinson’s disease
- (j )Multiple sclerosis
- (k) Medical conditions of the same kind or class as or comparable to those enumerated in (a)-(j)
- (l)A terminal condition diagnosed by a physician other than the qualified physician issuing the physician certification
- (m) Chronic nonmalignant pain.
“Chronic nonmalignant pain” means pain caused by a qualifying medical condition or that originates from a qualifying medical condition and persists beyond the usual course of that qualifying medical condition
Conditions
Medical Qualifying Conditions of the “same kind or class”
Following conditions may also qualify for medical marijuana treatment in Florida. It has also been identified that any condition of the same kind or class, a terminal condition, and also chronic nonmalignant pain (if caused by one or more of the qualifying medical conditions listed below or that originates from a qualifying medical condition and persists beyond the usual course of that qualifying medical condition) may qualify for medical marijuana treatment. If you aren’t sure or have any questions about a listed ailment, please don’t hesitate to contact us. We’d love to hear from you!
- ADHD
- Alzheimer’s
- Anorexia
- Anxiety
- Arthritis
- Chronic Pain (any kind)
- Cerebral Palsy
- Chemotherapy Side Effects
- Dementia
- Depression
- Diabetes
- Dystonia
- Endometriosis
- Fibromyalgia
- Essential Tremor (Kinetic)
- Hepatitis C
- Inflammatory Bowel Disease
- Insomnia
- Irritable Bowel Syndrome
- Lyme Disease
- Meniere’s Disease
- Migraine Headaches
- Muscle Spasms
- Muscular Dystrophy
- Myasthenia Gravis (MG)
- Nausea
- Neuropathy
- Osteoarthritis
- Radiation Therapy Side Effects
- Restless Leg Syndrome
- Rheumatoid Arthritis
- Seizures
- Severe Nausea
- Sickle Cell Anemia
- Spasticity
- Spinal Cord Injury
- Tardive Dyskinesia
- Tourette’s
- Traumatic Brain Injury
- Ulcerative Colitis (UC)
We will assist in obtaining your healthcare records that are relevant to establishing care.
2. What is low-THC cannabis?
Low-THC cannabis is distinct from medical cannabis in that it contains very low amounts of the psychoactive component tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). Because of its low levels of THC, low-THC products do not have the euphoric properties of full-potency cannabis and typically do not result in patients experiencing the “high” commonly associated with cannabis.
In order to qualify as low-THC, the flowers, seeds, resin, and any other product derived from the cannabis plant must contain 0.8 percent or less of THC and more than 10 percent of cannabidiol (CBD) weight for weight.
3. What is medical cannabis?
Medical cannabis is distinct from low-THC cannabis in that it can contain significant amounts of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). This is the chemical compound that causes the “high” commonly associated with cannabis.
The term medical cannabis includes all parts of a cannabis plant, its seeds, resin extracted from any part of the plant; and every compound, manufacture, sale, derivative, mixture, or preparation of the plant or its seeds or resin.
4. What is the compassionate use registry?
The registry is a secure, electronic, and online medical marijuana use registry for physicians, patients, and caregivers as provided under this section. The registry is maintained and controlled by the office of compassionate use. The medical marijuana use registry is accessible to law enforcement agencies, qualified physicians, and medical marijuana treatment centers to verify the authorization of a qualified patient or a caregiver to possess marijuana and record the marijuana that has been dispensed. The medical marijuana use registry is also accessible to practitioners licensed to prescribe prescription drugs to ensure proper care for patients before medications that may interact with the medical use of marijuana are prescribed. The medical marijuana use registry prevents an active registration of a qualified patient by multiple physicians.
5. How do I apply for a registry card?
As of March 2017, all patients and legal representatives must obtain a Registry Identification Card to fill an order for low-THC cannabis, medical cannabis, or a cannabis delivery device at one of the state’s dispensing organizations. To apply for a Compassionate Use Registry identification card, a patient must
- Be a Florida resident (documented by submitting Fl Drivers License/State ID) or Seasonal Resident
- Be a qualified patient in the Compassionate Use Registry, must have one of the documented approved conditions.
- Submit a completed application to the Office of Compassionate Use
Applications can be submitted by mail or electronically through the Compassionate Use Registry. Electronic applications only take a few minutes to complete and allow for significantly faster processing times than paper applications.
– The first step to beginning the online application process is to have your ordering physician office create your profile in the state registry. Both patients and legal representatives need to be entered in the registry by a qualified physician office. At Americann Wellness our staff will complete your application for you prior to your visit with the physician.
– All applications must be submitted to the Office of Compassionate Use and the application fee of $77.75 is paid. Compassionate Use Registry identification cards remain active for one year. Currently the processing time once a completed application is received is between 5-10 business days if done electronically.
– Once a card application has been approved, the patient and legal representative will receive a email informing them of the approval. Most dispensaries will accept this email as proof to purchase product prior to receiving the actual card in mail.
6. Can I have someone else pick up my medication?
You may designate one person as a caregiver. “Caregiver” means a resident of this state who has agreed to assist with a qualified patient’s medical use of marijuana, has a caregiver identification card, and meets the requirements per the department of health guidelines. A separate registry application and fee is required for caregivers.
7. Does my insurance cover my treatment?
Not at this time. Marijuana is still considered a schedule 1 drug by the DEA. Federal law prohibits reimbursement by insurance companies.
8. How and where do I get my product?
Medical Marijuana, low-THC cannabis oils, and medical marijuana delivery devices must be obtained through a Florida licensed marijuana dispensary. A current list of local dispensaries are available in the office with all their pertinent information.