Are Snowbirds Allowed To Obtain a Medical Marijuana Card in Florida?

The Sunshine State attracts more than 100 million visitors each year with the Florida population increasing by more than 5% every year during the winter snowbird season – older Americans from Northern towns and cities looking to escape the harsh winters for the Florida sunshine. With increased age comes increased risk of chronic illness along with the normal aches and pains of aging bones and joints. More and more patients are turning to non-traditional methods of managing disease, pain, and stress. Medical marijuana and cannabis-based products have been found to help aging patients who suffer from conditions such as arthritis, chronic pain, diabetes, cancer, and Alzheimer’s disease. Today over one million Americans legally make use of this alternative (or addition) to traditional medicine under the care and upon the recommendation of their primary medical professional.

Medicinal use of cannabis became legal in Florida in 2016, with the passing of the Florida Medical Marijuana Legalization Initiative – Amendment 2. The rules for use and administration are outlined in Senate Bill 8A which allows for treatment of other “diagnosable, debilitating conditions of like, kind, or class” such as anxiety/depression, and chronic pain. Both Florida residents and seasonal residents are eligible as Senate Bill 8A defines the term “seasonal resident” as any person who temporarily resides in Florida for a period of at least 31 consecutive days in each calendar year, maintains a temporary residence in Florida, returns to the state or jurisdiction of his or her residence at least one time during each calendar year, and is registered to vote or pays income tax in another state or jurisdiction.

Once eligibility is determined, Dr. Fernando Fandiño-Sende will register them with the Medical Marijuana Use Registry maintained by the Florida Department of Health and once approved by the state, a card is mailed to the patients’ temporary residence (Florida address). Examples of proof of temporary residency are a current utility bill, mortgage statement, recent mail from financial institutions or a government agency. 

Qualifying medical conditions include: Cancer, Crohn’s Disease, Epilepsy, Glaucoma, Seizures and chronic muscle spasms, Parkinson’s disease and Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). However, there is a whole host of other chronic qualifying conditions that Dr. Fernando Fandiño-Sende can diagnose. 

LifeCannMD & Dr. Fernando Fandiño-Sende provides medical marijuana evaluations and MMJ cards in accordance with Florida state law throughout South Florida, Miami, Orlando and Sarasota. Dr. Sende is board certified and has completed all State-mandated qualifications needed to recommend marijuana cards in Florida. The process for certifications and ID cards in Miami & surrounding areas is easy and takes just minutes. It’s safe, secure & 100% HIPPA compliant. The cost is $249 for an in person visit. This covers the visit and the issuing of a 210 day certification and all 3 x 70 day orders for medication. (State fee ID Card $75.00 & Medication costs not included) Get your Florida medical marijuana card today!

Temporary and seasonal residents will still have to renew their medical marijuana card annually and will need to meet the doctor every 210 days for the re-certification of the MMJ recommondations. Those eligible are also required to have finished the renewal process 45 days before the date of expiration. In addition, patients are only covered within the State of Florida – crossing the state border will rescind the legality of the card and products purchased. 

There is also no waiting period in Florida – which is especially beneficial to those residents who reside in the state for only a short time. While waiting for the hard copy of the card, Dr. Sende is able to immediately fill a cannabis prescription.  Visit LifeCannMD at 1063 SW 8th St, Miami, FL 33130

BOOK A FLORIDA MARIJUANA CARD APPOINTMENT or call (833) 543-3226