Florida MMJ Card Telemedicine in 2023 – Guide
Florida MMJ Card telemedicine laws in 2023. Can you get a medical marijuana card online in Florida? As I write this article on April 25th, 2023, telemedicine is currently not allowed in the state of Florida to receive a new medical marijuanas card or renew your Florida medical cannabis card online. I will break down the two bills that are currently in Florida session. I will review the current status and what the future looks like depending on the bills path to become law!
Florida (FL) medical marijuanas card online: what are the two bills?
There are currently two bills in session that could potentially become law in 2023.
CS/SB 344: Physician Certifications for the Medical Use of Marijuana. https://www.flsenate.gov/Session/Bill/2023/344
CS/CS/HB 387: Physician Certifications for the Medical Use of Marijuana. https://www.flsenate.gov/Session/Bill/2023/387
Florida MMJ Telemedicine – CS/SB 344: Physician Certifications for the Medical Use of Marijuana – Explained!
Physician Certifications for the Medical Use of Marijuana; Authorizing qualified physicians to perform patient examinations and evaluations through telehealth for renewals of physician certifications for the medical use of marijuana, subject to certain conditions; authorizing the Department of Health to suspend the registration of a qualified physician in the medical marijuana use registry for a specified timeframe for noncompliance with the act, etc.
Current status as of April 25th, 2023:
| 1/24/2023 | Senate | • Filed |
| 2/9/2023 | Senate | • Referred to Health Policy; Appropriations Committee on Health and Human Services; Fiscal Policy |
| 3/7/2023 | Senate | • Introduced |
| 3/22/2023 | Senate | • On Committee agenda– Health Policy, 03/27/23, 3:00 pm, 412 Knott Building |
| 3/27/2023 | Senate | • CS by Health Policy; YEAS 12 NAYS 0 |
| 3/29/2023 | Senate | • Pending reference review under Rule 4.7(2) – (Committee Substitute) • Now in Appropriations Committee on Health and Human Services • CS by Health Policy read 1st time |
| 4/13/2023 | Senate | • On Committee agenda– Appropriations Committee on Health and Human Services, 04/18/23, 8:30 am, 412 Knott Building |
| 4/18/2023 | Senate | • Favorable by Appropriations Committee on Health and Human Services; YEAS 16 NAYS 0 • Now in Fiscal Policy |
Florida MMJ Telemedicine – What comes next? What is the potential path SB344 will need to take to become law?
Based on the current status of Florida bill sb344, the next step is for the bill to go through the Fiscal Policy Committee for review. If the Fiscal Policy Committee approves the bill, it will then be sent to the full Senate for a vote. If the Senate approves the bill, it will then go to the House of Representatives for consideration.
If the bill is passed by both the Senate and the House, it will then be sent to the Governor for his signature. If the Governor signs the bill, it will become law. However, if the Governor vetoes the bill, it will not become law unless the veto is overridden by a two-thirds vote of both the Senate and the House.
The Fiscal Policy Committee (FPC) is a committee that is responsible for overseeing the fiscal policy of a country or organization. The FPC is typically made up of experts in economics, finance, and public policy, who provide advice and recommendations to the government or organization on matters related to fiscal policy.
CS/CS/HB 387: Physician Certifications for the Medical Use of Marijuana – Explained!
Physician Certifications for the Medical Use of Marijuana; Authorizes qualified physicians to perform patient examinations & evaluations through telehealth for renewals of physician certifications for the medical use of marijuana under certain circumstances; authorizes DOH to suspend registration of qualified physician in medical marijuana use registry for specified timeframe under certain circumstances.
Current status as of April 25th, 2023:
| 1/23/2023 | House | • Filed |
| 2/1/2023 | House | • Referred to Healthcare Regulation Subcommittee • Referred to Health & Human Services Committee • Now in Healthcare Regulation Subcommittee |
| 3/7/2023 | House | • Added to Healthcare Regulation Subcommittee agenda • 1st Reading (Original Filed Version) |
| 3/9/2023 | House | • Favorable with CS by Healthcare Regulation Subcommittee |
| 3/10/2023 | House | • Reported out of Healthcare Regulation Subcommittee • Laid on Table under Rule 7.18(a) • CS Filed |
| 3/13/2023 | House | • Referred to Health & Human Services Committee • Now in Health & Human Services Committee • 1st Reading (Committee Substitute 1) |
| 3/15/2023 | House | • Added to Health & Human Services Committee agenda |
| 3/17/2023 | House | • Favorable with CS by Health & Human Services Committee • Reported out of Health & Human Services Committee • Laid on Table under Rule 7.18(a) • CS Filed • 1st Reading (Committee Substitute 2) |
| 3/20/2023 | House | • Bill referred to House Calendar • Added to Second Reading Calendar |
| 4/24/2023 | House | • Bill added to Special Order Calendar (4/27/2023) |
| 4/27/2023 | House | • Read 2nd time • Added to Third Reading Calendar • Read 3rd time • CS passed; YEAS 109, NAYS 5 |
| 4/27/2023 | Senate | • In Messages • Referred to Fiscal Policy • Received |
| 5/3/2023 | Senate | • Withdrawn from Fiscal Policy -SJ 730 • Placed on Calendar, on 2nd reading • Placed on Special Order Calendar, 05/03/23 -SJ 730 • Read 2nd time -SJ 795 • Amendment(s) adopted (261896) -SJ 795 • Placed on 3rd reading |
| 5/4/2023 | Senate | • Read 3rd time -SJ 812 • CS passed as amended; YEAS 38 NAYS 0 -SJ 813 |
| 5/4/2023 | House | • In Messages • Added to Senate Message List • Amendment 261896 Concur • CS passed as amended; YEAS 105, NAYS 0 • Ordered engrossed, then enrolled |
What comes next? What is the potential path HB 387 will need to take to become law?
The Senate could choose to pass the bill as is, make amendments and send it back to the House, or reject the bill altogether.
If the Senate approves the bill without any changes, it would be sent to the governor for signature. If the Senate makes changes, the bill would be sent back to the House for approval of those changes. If the House approves the changes, the bill would then be sent to the governor for signature. If the House does not approve the changes, the bill would go to a conference committee made up of members of both chambers to resolve the differences.
Assuming the bill is ultimately approved by both the House and Senate and signed into law by the governor, it would take effect on July 1, 2023. At that point, physicians who provide certifications for medical marijuana use would be required to be registered with the Florida Board of Medicine or the Florida Board of Osteopathic Medicine and have completed a course on the medical use of marijuana. The penalties for non-compliance would also come into effect.
Florida MMJ Card Telemedicine – Medical Marijuana Card online in Florida (FL) 2023:
In the event that one of the two bills become law, existing Florida medical marijuana card holders will have the ability to renew medical marijuana card in Florida online or over the telephone! Yes, that is right. No more 2+ hour drives to a medical marijuana clinic. MMJ.com will be there to guide you on your telemedicine journey in Florida when the time comes. We will be updating this article according to the bills path and the final outcome of each bill! https://mmj.com
