How to Qualify for Medical Card
Patients must first be diagnosed with a qualifying medical condition.
It is the responsibility of the qualified ordering physician to follow Florida law, diagnose patients and determine if medical marijuana is an appropriate treatment.
The Florida Department of Health Office of Medical Marijuana Use (OMMU) recommends speaking to your health care professional to determine if medical marijuana products are right for you or your loved one.
A qualified patient must:
- Be a permanent or seasonal Florida resident.
- Be diagnosed with a qualifying medical condition by a qualified physician.
- Be entered into the Medical Marijuana Use Registry.
- Obtain a Medical Marijuana Use Registry Identification Card.
Qualifying conditions:
- Cancer.
- Epilepsy.
- Glaucoma.
- HIV/AIDS.
- Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
- Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS).
- Crohn’s disease.
- Parkinson’s disease.
- Multiple sclerosis (MS).
- Medical conditions of the same kind or class as or comparable to the others listed.
- A terminal condition diagnosed by a physician other than the qualified physician issuing the physician certification.
- Chronic nonmalignant 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.
In addition, Amendment 2 allows Florida Medical Marijuana Doctors to certify patients for a Medical Marijuana Card after diagnosing them with “other debilitating medical conditions of the same kind or class.”
WHAT ARE MEDICAL CONDITIONS OF THE SAME KIND OR CLASS?
This category allows doctors to certify patients who have symptoms or medical conditions that are both debilitating and similar in nature to the medical conditions that are explicitly named in the law.
WHAT DOES IT MEAN FOR A CONDITION TO BE ‘DEBILITATING’?
For a physical or mental health condition to be debilitating, it must interfere with or limit the patient’s life activities.
SO WHAT DOES THIS LOOK LIKE?
Does the patient miss work or other commitments due to symptoms? Does the condition interfere with their ability to sustain relationships, get around/drive/walk, perform manual tasks, concentrate, think, or communicate? Does the patient require medications or other treatments for their symptoms? If the answer is yes to any of these questions, it’s likely the condition qualifies as debilitating.
WHAT DEBILITATING CONDITIONS QUALIFY AS BEING ‘OF THE SAME KIND OR CLASS AS OR COMPARABLE TO’ THE NAMED QUALIFYING CONDITIONS?
At Express Cannabis Cards, we certify patients for medical cannabis treatment with a wide variety of health concerns. While it is almost impossible for us to provide you with a comprehensive list of conditions that may qualify, we can specify some of the most common qualifying classes and symptoms. If the condition you would like to treat with medical cannabis shares any of the below, it may likely qualify.
Debilitating Conditions of the Following Classes:
- Autoimmune
- Gastrointestinal
- Immunodeficiency
- Neurological & Neurodegenerative
- Psychological
- Terminal
Chronic (Long Lasting and/or Recurring) & Debilitating Symptoms:
- Anxiety
- Chronic Pain
- Depression, Irritability, and/or Mood Swings
- Difficulty Sleeping
- Fatigue
- Muscle Spasms & Stiffness
- Nausea, Vomiting, Diarrhea, and Other GI Upset
- Poor Appetite
Sample ‘Other’ Conditions:
- Anorexia
- Arthritis
- Back Pain
- Bipolar
- Cachexia
- Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
- Diabetes
- Endometriosis/PMS
- Fibromyalgia
- Hepatitis C
- IBS (Irritable Bowel Syndrome)
- Insomnia/Sleep Disorders
- Lyme Disease
- Lupus
- Migraines
- Muscular Dystrophy
- OCD
- Other Conditions that result in Traumatic Stress
- Rheumatoid Arthritis
- Severe & Chronic Pain
- Severe Nausea
- Sickle Cell Anemia
- Spasticity
- Ulcerative Colitis