Do You Qualify for a Medical Marijuana Card in Naples?

As more and more research is done, the benefits of medical marijuana become apparent. It can help with anxiety, with muscle spasms, with Cohn’s disease, and even with depression. It’s even been found to help improve appetite and to combat nausea. Of course, Florida has not yet legalized recreational marijuana. In order to purchase it, you’ll need to get a Medical Marijuana Card. Naples residents who want to experience the health benefits first-hand will need to follow some specific steps. In this guide, we’ll walk you through what you need to do in order to get a medical marijuana card in Naples.

How to Get a Medical Marijuana Card in Naples?

The first thing that you need to do is make sure that you qualify for a medical marijuana card. Naples residents will need to visit a doctor, who will diagnose them with one of several qualifying conditions. While the list of conditions that qualify a person for medical marijuana is relatively lengthy, it is not exhaustive, and it is not open to interpretation. It is actually set forth in the Florida Medical Marijuana Legalization Initiative, under Amendment II. A few examples of qualifying conditions include anorexia, anxiety, spasticity and multiple sclerosis, but you can find the entire list here.

However, Florida does require that marijuana is used as a medication of last resort, which means that you’ll first need to be prescribed conventional pharmaceutical treatments in most cases. So, you’ll need to at least prove to a doctor that you have tried other treatments in the past with no luck, or you’ll need to work with your doctor to verify that other treatments do not work.

Ultimately, in order to qualify for a Medical Marijuana Card, Naples residents must have a qualified, licensed doctor sign off on their eligibility. They must also be at least 18 years old, and a legal resident of Florida. What’s next? Now we move on to the second step.

Complete Your Application to Order Your Medical Marijuana Card in Naples

Once you’ve got the doctor to sign off, your next step is to complete an application. You have a couple of options here. You can complete an electronic application online, or you can download, print out, complete a physical application and then mail it back to the Florida Department of Health. If you want to complete the application online, you can do so right here. Note that you will need login information, which should have already been sent to you by your physician.

 If you would rather complete a physical application than going the online route, you can download your patient application right here. Note that if you are a caregiver for someone who is applying for a Medical Marijuana Card in Naples, you’ll need a different application. A caregiver application can be downloaded here.

Additional Steps When Applying for a Medical Marijuana Card in Naples

In addition to completing the application (whether online or off), you’ll need to do a few other things to get your medical marijuana card. Naples residents who are completing a physical application will also need to provide a photograph (similar to the one on your passport or driver’s licenses), as well as proof of residence in Florida. Finally, you’ll need to make a $75 payment to the Florida Department of Health, with a note that shows your patient ID number and your date of birth. The payment can be via check or money order, or it can be made online, although a $2.75 fee is added, making the total $77.75.

If you are applying online, the process is a bit simpler because your physician will have already helped you set up the account. You will just need to submit the application online and make an online payment. There is no need to submit another picture.

What’s Next?

After applying for your Medical Marijuana Card, Naples residents will receive a temporary permit via email. You will need to print this out. Make sure your email address is included on your application! Your actual card will arrive via mail in a week or two.

As soon as your temporary permit arrives, you can use your medical marijuana card at a Naples area dispensary, as long as you have your prescription. Remember that you can only purchase 70 days’ worth of marijuana at a time, and you’ll need to be re-certified every 30 weeks to maintain eligibility for medical marijuana.