Jacksonville residents considering Florida’s medical cannabis program will find that eligibility is set by statewide law, not city ordinance. The Office of Medical Marijuana Use (OMMU) outlines a straightforward pathway: patients must be Florida residents (permanent or seasonal), receive a diagnosis from a qualified physician, be entered into the Medical Marijuana Use Registry, and obtain an MMUR identification card.

What conditions qualify?

Florida Statute §381.986 lists specific qualifying diagnoses. A patient must have at least one of the following: cancer; epilepsy; glaucoma; HIV positive status; AIDS; post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD); amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS); Crohn’s disease; Parkinson’s disease; or multiple sclerosis (MS).

The law also recognizes three additional pathways to qualify:

• “Medical conditions of the same kind or class” as the conditions above, allowing physicians to certify comparable, debilitating illnesses based on clinical judgment.
• A terminal condition diagnosed by a physician other than the certifying physician.
• Chronic nonmalignant pain that is caused by, or originates from, a qualifying condition and persists beyond the usual course of that condition.

How certification works in practice

Initial certifications require an in-person physical examination by a qualified Florida physician. After the first in-person exam, renewals may be completed by telehealth under House Bill 387 (2023), provided the same physician previously examined the patient face-to-face.

For minors, extra safeguards apply. Parents or legal guardians must provide written consent and designate a caregiver who is registered in the state system. Minors may not purchase medical marijuana themselves, and additional restrictions apply to smoking: certification for smokable marijuana is generally prohibited for patients under 18 unless the minor has a terminal condition and a board-certified pediatrician concurs.

Residency and card basics

Patients must be Florida residents, but seasonal residents can also qualify if they meet documentation requirements. After a qualified physician enters the patient into the Registry, the applicant completes the online or mail-in MMUR ID card application and pays the $75 fee. Cards are valid for one year, and OMMU recommends renewing 45 days before expiration.

Local takeaways for Jacksonville

Because Florida law governs eligibility, patients in Jacksonville follow the same criteria as elsewhere in the state. The OMMU maintains a searchable list of qualified physicians, making it simple to find a nearby doctor who can evaluate qualifying conditions and place orders in the Registry. Once approved, patients and caregivers may purchase products only from licensed Medical Marijuana Treatment Centers.

Bottom line: Jacksonville patients qualify for medical cannabis when a state-qualified physician diagnoses one of the enumerated conditions—or a comparable debilitating illness—or when the patient has a terminal condition or chronic nonmalignant pain tied to a qualifying diagnosis. An initial in-person exam, proper documentation, and an active MMUR card complete the requirements. For most residents, the path starts with a thorough conversation with a nearby qualified physician about symptoms and medical history, and many find that telehealth renewals, where eligible, make ongoing care more convenient without changing the qualifying medical standards set by state law.