Florida Medical Marijuana Renewals by Telehealth
Since July 1, 2023, Florida patients can renew a medical marijuana certification by telemedicine, but only with the physician who first examined them in person. The Legislature passed HB 387 on May 4, 2023, and Governor Ron DeSantis signed it on June 26, 2023. For the renewal visit itself, see our page on Florida card renewal by telehealth. The law expands the use of telemedicine in Florida for renewals, not for first visits.
Overview of the Telemedicine Bill in Florida
Florida HB 387 lets a physician who certified you after an in-person exam do your later renewal exams by telehealth. The same-physician rule comes from section 381.986(4)(a)1 of the Florida Statutes. A new physician, even one in the same practice, must still examine you in person first.
Patients will still need an in-person examination, with the certifying physician in the same room, to get their initial certification. After that, a qualified physician must evaluate the patient at least once every 30 weeks before issuing a new certification. Until July 1, 2023, s. 381.986 required an in-person exam for every certification; HB 387 wrote telehealth recertification into the statute.
Why Renew a Florida Certification by Telemedicine?
Moving renewals to telehealth in July 2023 brought four advantages for Florida patients and the physicians who certify them:
- Increased accessibility and convenience for patients: Renewing by video with your own doctor saves a drive to the clinic.
- Reduction of barriers to healthcare access: After the first in-person visit, people who live many miles from their physician’s office can skip the long and costly drive at renewal time. Similarly, those who can’t drive or have disabilities will be able to access the healthcare they need more easily.
- Less travel for patients: The 2023 law that allows telehealth renewals can also cut travel costs for patients who renew from home. Patients can save money, as they won’t have to spend time and fuel getting to and from their local clinics, nor will they need to take time off work for their appointments. Practices can also keep office time for the visits the law requires in person, including every new patient’s first exam.
- Enhanced patient privacy and confidentiality: Telemedicine in Florida also lets a patient renew from home rather than from a clinic waiting room. The physician still evaluates the patient by video or phone.
Qualified Conditions for Medical Marijuana Renewals via Telemedicine
Under Florida’s medical marijuana law, every patient must be a permanent or seasonal Florida resident, including patients who renew by telehealth. They must also have been entered into the Medical Marijuana Use Registry by a qualified physician, as well as having a Medical Marijuana Use Registry card.
They will also need a qualifying condition, either one listed below or, under the rule after the list, a comparable condition:
- Cancer
- Epilepsy
- Glaucoma
- HIV (positive status)
- AIDS
- Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
- Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS)
- Crohn’s disease
- Parkinson’s disease
- Multiple sclerosis
- A terminal condition diagnosed by a physician other than the one who certifies you
- Chronic nonmalignant pain caused by, or originating from, a qualifying medical condition and lasting beyond its usual course
After examining you, a qualified physician may also certify you for another condition, such as some cases of anxiety, depression, migraines or neuropathy, if it is of the same kind or class as, or comparable to, one of the listed conditions other than a terminal condition or chronic nonmalignant pain; that decision is at the physician’s discretion, and certification is never promised.
How to Renew a Medical Marijuana Card via Telemedicine
Patients renewing their medical marijuana cards in Florida with the aid of telemedicine follow a few steps:
- First, schedule a telemedicine renewal with the medical marijuana doctor who certified you in person. You can book through the practice’s website or call if you need help.
- Next, share all of your relevant medical records. This includes the relevant documents to show that you have a qualifying condition, as diagnosed by your healthcare provider. You also need to provide a state ID and, when your ID card is due, pay the state’s $75 card fee, plus a $2.75 online convenience fee, through the registry, not to the doctor.
- Next, you’ll need to undergo your telemedicine appointment, connecting with your marijuana doctor through telehealth in Florida. The physician evaluates you by telehealth, checks that you still meet the requirements for a certification and decides whether to issue a new one.
- With the certification renewed, submit your ID card renewal in the 45 days before your card expires. OMMU says online applications average 10 business days for approval, and its October 16, 2026 update lists 5 business days to process a complete application and 5 business days to print the ID card.
Overall, with 942,952 patients holding an active Florida medical marijuana card on October 16, 2026, telehealth renewals can save patients a trip each certification cycle when they stay with the same physician. Telehealth rules differ by state, so check your own state program before you book a renewal by video or phone.
Last updated November 4, 2026 by the Dr. Green Relief Editorial Team.
