Florida Medical Marijuana Caregivers
In Florida, a medical marijuana caregiver is a Florida resident aged 21 or older whom the patient designates and the patient’s qualified physician adds to the registry; once the caregiver meets the other legal requirements, including the state course, and receives a caregiver ID card, the caregiver may buy and carry medical marijuana for that patient.
Who are medical marijuana caregivers?
A Florida medical marijuana caregiver is someone with permission under the law to buy medical marijuana, and keep it in their possession, so long as it is for use by a patient who has been diagnosed with a qualifying condition and certified for medical marijuana.
The patient chooses the caregiver, who can be a parent, guardian, relative or friend who lives in Florida, is 21 or older and meets the state’s other requirements.
Not every patient can buy, pick up and take their own medical marijuana. When a patient needs another adult to handle it for them, a caregiver fills that role.
For example, if a patient with multiple sclerosis cannot leave home in order to purchase their marijuana from one of the licensed medical marijuana treatment centers, the caregiver could take on this responsibility, and be protected under Florida law while carrying it, as long as they carry their caregiver ID card and it is for that patient.
Who can be a caregiver in Florida?
Since July 27, 2026, a caregiver must be linked to an active patient before an ID card application can be completed. Florida sets these rules in s. 381.986(6), Florida Statutes, and the Office of Medical Marijuana Use applies them. The law sets several requirements, so not everyone can serve as a caregiver.
The restrictions and terms that caregivers must meet include:
- Not being employed by, or having an economic interest in, a treatment center or testing lab. If you work for, or have a financial stake in, one of these businesses, you cannot be issued a caregiver ID card.
- Must be 21 or older and a Florida resident. A person under 21 or living outside Florida cannot be issued a caregiver ID card.
- Can’t be a qualified physician. A qualified physician cannot be registered as a caregiver or buy marijuana for a patient as one.
- A state course is required. To become a caregiver, you must complete the caregiver certification course from the Florida Department of Health’s Office of Medical Marijuana Use, which is free and built into the Medical Marijuana Use Registry.
You must agree in writing to assist with the patient’s medical use of marijuana, as s. 381.986(6)(b)3, Florida Statutes, requires. - If you are not a close relative, you must pass a level 2 background screening with fingerprints.
How do you find a caregiver in Florida?
A caregiver is often someone the patient already knows. It is usually not a case of finding someone who already has a medical marijuana caregiver ID card. You will more likely be finding someone within a patient’s family who has an interest in the role of being a caregiver. They can then apply for the caregiver ID card.
If you are looking for a caregiver, check the criteria outlined above. If you have someone in mind, check if they meet all these criteria for the patient. A close relative, meaning a spouse, parent, sibling, grandparent, child or grandchild, does not need to pass the background screening that other caregivers must pass. A minor patient may have more than one caregiver when the caregivers are the patient’s parents or legal guardians, under s. 381.986(6)(c)1. A patient admitted to a hospice program may also have more than one caregiver, and a hospice employee who meets these rules and works directly with hospice clients may serve several hospice patients who ask for that help, under s. 381.986(6)(c)3 and (d)3.
If you cannot find a caregiver, ask a medical marijuana doctor. They can explain who may serve, since only the patient’s qualified physician can add a caregiver to the registry, and no qualified physician may serve as one (s. 381.986(6)(b)1).
How do you become a medical marijuana caregiver?
After the patient’s qualified physician adds you in the Medical Marijuana Use Registry, you apply for a medical marijuana caregiver ID card online or by mail, as the next section explains.
How do you apply for a caregiver ID card?
You can apply online or by mail to the Office of Medical Marijuana Use in Florida. To start, the qualified physician who certified the patient adds you as the caregiver on the patient profile in the Medical Marijuana Use Registry; only that physician can do this. If you are not a close relative, the OMMU emails you once your background screening clears to say you may apply. To apply by mail, print the caregiver application and send it to the office.
To apply online, sign in to the registry with the login credentials sent to your email and complete the application on its Your Card page.
Online applications are paid by credit card or eCheck, $75 plus a $2.75 fee. Mailed applications include a $75 check or money order with your Registry ID number and date of birth.
Last updated October 16, 2026 by the Dr. Green Relief Editorial Team.
