Florida is the ultimate vacation state, with more than 1,350 miles of coastline, 10 major theme parks, notorious nightlife in metropolises like Miami and undeniably beautiful natural scenery in unique ecosystems. Florida has cornered the market on nearly every type of travel — except canna-tourism.
Weed tourism is a new and lucrative travel industry that states like California and Colorado are fully capitalizing on, but Florida’s cannabis laws are lagging. For travelers interested in understanding what they can and cannot smoke during a trip to Florida in 2022, here’s a quick guide to Florida weed laws.
Medical Marijuana Has Long Been Legal
Florida boasts one of the largest and most active medical marijuana markets in the country — likely because medical marijuana is all Floridians have access to. Florida dispensaries exclusively cater to patients licensed with the state medical marijuana program, who are recommended for cannabis treatment by a registered health care provider. Typically, medical marijuana patients suffer from some of the most severe diseases, like cancer, AIDS, epilepsy and multiple sclerosis, but some patients with other debilitating and diagnosable conditions, like depression or migraines, can also qualify. In Florida, patients must have evidence that they have tried other treatments before they have turned to weed, which helps the medical marijuana board control the number of patients in the program.
Florida restricts the sale of cannabis products to licensed Florida dispensaries, which operate on much more stringent guidelines than recreational pot shops in other states. In Florida, dispensaries must package their cannabis product to hide the contents, which means patients make purchases based on the name of the strain and the weight, not how the product looks, feels or smells. Fortunately, there is a good breadth of cannabis products on offer: extracts, oils, tinctures, whole flower and edibles. Home delivery options became available to medical marijuana patients in Florida as a result of the COVID pandemic, so ordering from a Florida dispensary has never been easier.
Patients with active medical marijuana cards are allowed to purchase up to 2.5 ounces of smokable cannabis products every 35 days, depending on what a doctor recommends for treatment. Furthermore, medical marijuana users are allowed to possess up to 4 ounces of whole flower on their person at anytime. This ensures that patients can manage their treatment and achieve the comfort they need without constant visits to the dispensary. At dispensaries, patients are also allowed to buy pipes, bongs, rolling papers and other “delivery devices” for using bud.
Though medical marijuana patients are allowed to buy and possess cannabis — unlike regular Floridians — they are not allowed to light up wherever they want. Florida law restricts cannabis use to private areas not visible by the public. Thus, patients can smoke in their own homes and in other private accommodations, like friends’ houses or 420-friendly Airbnbs. Using cannabis in the car is strictly prohibited, and it might be best to travel with weed in the trunk or glove compartment to eliminate any suspicions of driving under the influence.
Reciprocity Is Not Yet Offered by Florida Dispensaries
Though Florida usually tries to use every type of tourism to boost its economy, canna-tourism isn’t yet feasible in the Sunshine State. Medical marijuana reciprocity, or when states recognize the regulatory agency of another state’s medical marijuana program, is not currently available in Florida. Thus, when medical marijuana patients travel to experience Florida’s beaches, amusement parks, wetlands and more, they will not have access to the medical treatment they need.
An option for getting around this rule is to apply for temporary residence in the state of Florida. Those who visit the state for long periods — i.e. at least 31 consecutive days — meet the definition for seasonal residents, who can apply for licenses with Florida’s medical marijuana program. This doesn’t apply to most Florida visitors, but for some, it might be essential for allowing patients to travel and enjoy themselves during a long trip to sunny Florida.
Florida’s current cannabis policy isn’t ideal for canna-travelers — yet. The coming years will likely bring recreational bud to Florida’s beaches, but for now, only those suffering from severe disease who spend long stretches of time in Florida’s sunshine can take full advantage of the state’s weed policies.