TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – The Florida Department of Health’s Office of Compassionate Use began the process of issuing identification cards for medical cannabis patients and caregivers on Thursday.
While physical cards have not been released, the DOH has drafted applications and is currently accepting completed applications for review. The rule became effective on Feb. 19, and the DOH said it appears that many patients, caregivers and physicians might not be aware of the new development.
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According to the rule, bpatients and caregivers must apply for an ID card. Patients must Florida residents to qualify and must provide a second proof of residency in the form of a voter registration card or a utility bill that includes the resident’s name and address.
Patient Application | caregiver application
Rule 64-4.011
The rule is an addition to Amendment 2, which authorizes medical cannabis for a much broader swath of patients.
The amendment allows doctors to order medical marijuana as a treatment for patients with cancer, epilepsy, glaucoma, HIV, AIDS, post-traumatic stress disorder, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), Crohn's disease, Parkinson's disease or multiple sclerosis.
More than 70 percent of voters supported the amendment last year after a similar proposal narrowly failed to capture the requisite 60 percent approval two years earlier.