*Disclaimer: This blog is intended for educational purposes only and is not intended to be legal advice. Laws change frequently, and it is your responsibility to know the medical marijuana regulations as they stand.
With medical marijuana legal in Florida, residents now have the ability to find relief from their qualifying medical conditions. As more and more patients get access to medical marijuana treatments, cannabis is becoming a normalized aspect of healthcare.
Medical marijuana patients deserve to feel at ease when using their cannabis-based products. However, new patients may feel uneasy regarding the legal regulations of their treatment. Medical marijuana is legal in Florida for approved Florida residents, but driving with medical marijuana is a common concern.
We want to assure you that driving in possession of medical marijuana is legal in Florida if you have a valid medical marijuana ID card. Here’s everything you need to know:
Driving in possession of medical marijuana
A registered medical marijuana patient or caregiver (if the patient is underage) is allowed to drive in possession of medical marijuana. A patient is allowed to have medical marijuana in their vehicle if they are driving home from a dispensary or bringing their treatment with them anywhere else. You must have your state-issued medical marijuana card on your person.
However, it is illegal to use medical marijuana in a motor vehicle. A patient may not be under the influence of marijuana while driving or consuming medical marijuana while in a vehicle at all. The following places are other prohibited locations for marijuana usage:
- Any form of public transportation
- School bus
- Aircraft
- Motorboat
Driving between states with medical marijuana
While medical marijuana is legal in Florida and a few other states, it is still an illegal drug on a federal level. Traveling into another state in possession of medical marijuana, even if they legalized it, is illegal and may be considered drug trafficking. Never cross state lines in possession of medical marijuana.
Getting pulled over with medical marijuana
As a Florida resident, you are protected from unreasonable searches and seizures. However, if a police officer has probable cause, they may legally search your vehicle. “Probable cause” simply means the officer has reasonable evidence that the vehicle contains contraband or the marijuana product is in plain view.
If you are not under the influence of marijuana at the time of being pulled over, you are in accordance with the law and should not have cause for concern. You should always carry your Florida medical marijuana ID card with you when traveling to stay on the safe side of the law. Failure to present your ID card when in possession of medical marijuana may be considered a second-degree misdemeanor.
Driving with medical marijuana is legal for registered patients and caregivers. However, just how you would never drink and drive, never drive while under the effects of marijuana.
Looking to get started with Medical Marijuana? At MMTCFL, we can determine if you are eligible for medical marijuana and help you get your medical marijuana registration card. Get started with medical marijuana today by taking our online eligibility survey.
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