Welcome to our KindHealth FAST FAQ section! Whether you’re a seasoned professional or just curious about our field, we’ve compiled answers to common questions to guide you. If you don’t find what you’re looking for, feel free to reach out and let us know what we're missing!
NO. Breastfeeding offers numerous benefits but using marijuana while breastfeeding raises safety concerns due to insufficient data. Mothers should avoid marijuana and CBD to protect their infants from potential harm.
Guidelines:
While the data is not conclusive, prioritizing the health and safety of both mother and infant is crucial. To minimize risks, breastfeeding mothers should refrain from using marijuana or related products.
YES. A history of violent, drug-related crimes may lead to the denial of a medical marijuana card. Such crimes often involve illegal weapons, drug manufacturing, or sales. Moreover, if you don’t comply with Florida’s medical marijuana laws, you might lose your card’s protection. Consequently, you could face severe criminal charges. Remember, getting and keeping a medical cannabis card is a privilege, not a right. Other reasons patients can be denied can be found here: Top 5 Reasons Marijuana Cards are Denied. The existence of a drug-related crime may be an obstacle to you getting automatic approval as a patient with chronic disease or debilitating symptoms.
Many Americans have always used cannabis medicinally to help moderate symptoms, even before it was legalized. Unfortunately, some of these people have prior charges for cannabis possession. In most states, if the amount was less than two ounces, it is categorized as a ‘personal use’ amount. Having a personal-use drug charge or prior might not create a problem when you want to get your medical card. However, if you were charged with drug distribution or manufacturing, that may be a larger problem to getting a card. In addition, if you were ever convicted of a crime where a gun and/or drugs were involved, that may also pose a significant obstacle. Criminal charges resulting from a violent crime or involving guns may not make it possible to get approved for your medical marijuana card.
NO. A Florida recreational marijuana program does not exist at the time of this post. Although lawmakers have introduced bills pushing statewide referendums, these amendments have not passed. An amendment would need at least 60% of voters to pass. Despite the failures, attempts to legalize recreational marijuana in Florida continue. So, unfortunately, the only legal cannabis currently available in Florida is through the state medical marijuana program.
Optimistically, it is possible that could change sometime in the near future. A proposed amendment seeks to authorize the use of recreational marijuana for people 21 and older while also allowing individuals to possess up to 3 ounces of marijuana. The Florida Supreme Court heard arguments on the amendment from both state lawyers and cannabis advocates. The Supreme Court Justices have until April 1, 2024, to decide on the case. If the initiative passes, Florida residents will see recreational marijuana on the ballot as an initiated constitutional amendment on Nov. 5, 2024.
Recreational marijuana, also known as adult-use marijuana, would make the sale of marijuana to adults age 21 and older to use for personal enjoyment; not just health benefits. Recreational drugs are often used for their psychotropic effects without any medical justification. There is not much of a difference in quality between medicinal and recreational cannabis. There is however a stricter and controlled process in cultivating cannabis meant for medical use.
The main difference between them is how they’re sold. The medical marijuana program in Florida requires a medical marijuana card to make a purchase. There are many laws in place that now forbid the possession, selling, and transporting of marijuana, marijuana products and accessories. Of note, only Florida residents are eligible to participate. For a Florida recreational marijuana program, purchases can be made by any person over the age of 21, including non-Florida residents.
Learn more:
Are there Dispensaries in Florida?
YES. Patients often ask why do I need to try vaping before flower? Doctors ordering cannabis are bound by law to follow the 2021 Florida laws. Florida Statute 381.986 defines the Medical Use of Marijuana. Paraphrasing it, if the doctor finds smoking as an appropriate route of using cannabis, they must be able to show the Florida Medical Board the following:
The only way a doctor can show this is if they have you try vaping before they add flower to your prescription. The Medical Board’s rational is as follows. Between the two inhalation routes of smoking cannabis, the method of heating weed using a vape pen is safer than directly burning flower or bud. Burning allows more harmful particles into your lungs than vaping. As a result, first-time prescriptions, with the exception of patients with terminal cancer, do not include flower or bud.
For patients who have tried to vape in the past and not tolerated it, their prior use needs to have been under a doctor’s supervision. To meet the Statute requirements, new registry patients need to first buy and use a vape pen from a licensed MMTC. If they are unable to tolerate it, they can contact the doctor to have flower added. So, despite the inconvenience, patients do need tor try vaping before flower. Click here for a link to the 2021 Florida Statute 381.986.
YES. When traveling with edibles and CBD products, you must be aware of Transportation Security Administration (TSA) regulations. According to the TSA, marijuana and certain cannabis-infused products, including some cannabidiol (CBD) oil, remain illegal under federal law if they contain more than 0.3 percent THC by weight. Generally, TSA officers are not specifically searching for marijuana or other illegal drugs. However, if they see any substances they suspect are a violation of law, they are required to report it to local, state, or federal authorities.
For CBD products, as long as they contain less than 0.3% THC, they are generally allowed. However, it’s essential to check all laws for all departure and destination states, as state laws can vary. In summary, if you travel with CBD products there is still a risk. Although the products may comply with federal regulations, the TSA may stop you if they suspect you to be in violation of state or federal laws. Ultimately, the decision as to whether an item is allowed through the checkpoint is up to the TSA officer. Of note, there are also important differences to be aware of between domestic (US) and international flights. Researching and ensuring compliance with all relevant laws is always best before traveling with such edibles and CBD.