Title: Physician Certifications for the Medical Use of Marijuana

Summary: Increasing the number of consecutive supply limits of marijuana a qualified physician may issue in his or her physician certification for the medical use of marijuana; providing a higher supply limit for certain disabled qualified patients; revising the frequency with which qualified physicians must evaluate existing qualified patients for a physician certification for the medical use of marijuana, etc.

Full Text:
An act relating to physician certifications for the medical use of marijuana; amending s. 381.986, F.S.; increasing the number of consecutive supply limits of marijuana a qualified physician may issue in his or her physician certification for the medical use of marijuana; providing a higher supply limit for certain disabled qualified patients; revising the frequency with which qualified physicians must evaluate existing qualified patients for a physician certification for the medical use of marijuana; providing an effective date. Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida: Section 1. Paragraphs (f) and (g) of subsection (4) of section 381.986, Florida Statutes, are amended to read: 381.986 Medical use of marijuana.  (4) PHYSICIAN CERTIFICATION.  (f) A qualified physician may not issue a physician certification for more than five three 70-day supply limits of marijuana or more than ten six 35-day supply limits of marijuana in a form for smoking. If the qualified patient is a service disabled veter an as defined in s. 295.187(3) or a totally and permanently disabled person as defined in s. 196.012 (11), a qualified physician may not issue a physician certification for more than ten 70-day supply limits of marijuana or more than twenty 35-day supply limits of marijuana in a form for smoking. The department shall quantify by rule a daily dose amount with equivalent dose amounts for each allowable form of marijuana dispensed by a medical marijuana treatment center. The department shall use the daily dose amount to calculate a 70-day supply. 1. A qualified physician may request an exception to the daily dose amount limit, the 35-day supply limit of marijuana in a form for smoking, and the 4-ounce possession limit of marijuana in a form for smoking established in paragraph (14)(a). The request shall be made electronically on a form adopted by the department in rule and must include, at a minimum: a. The qualified patient s qualifying medical condition. b. The dosage and route of administration that was insufficient to provide relief to the qualified patient. c. A description of how the patient will benefit from an increased amount. d. The minimum daily dose amount of marijuana that would be sufficient for the treatment of the qualified patient s qualifying medical condition. 2. A qualified physician must provide the qualified patient s records upon the request of the department. 3. The department shall approve or disapprove the request within days after receipt of the complete documentation required by this paragraph. The request shall be deemed approved if the department fails to act within this time period. (g) A qualified physician must evaluate an existing qualified patient at least once every weeks,or at least once every weeks if the qualified patient is a service disabled veteran as defined in s. 295.187(3) or a totally and permanently disabled person as defined in s. 196.012(11), before issuing a new physician certification. A physician must: 1. Determine if the patient still meets the requirements to be issued a physician certification under paragraph (a). 2. Identify and document in the qualified patient s medical records whether the qualified patient experienced either of the following related to the medical use of marijuana: a. An adverse drug interaction with any prescription or nonprescription medication; or b. A reduction in the use of, or dependence on, other types of controlled substances as defined in s. 893.02. 3. Submit a report with the findings required pursuant to subparagraph 2. to the department. The department shall submit such reports to the Consortium for Medical Marijuana Clinical Outcomes Research established pursuant to s. 1004.4351. Section 2. This act shall take effect July 1, 2021.