Eligibility for Qualified Patients
Eligibility for Qualified Caregivers
A Qualifying Physician must Confirm Eligibility
Patients and Caregivers are Entered into the Medical Marijuana Registry
Patients and Caregivers Apply for their Registry Card
For (Minor) Patient Applications – Since Richie is a minor, naturally I would be completing his application. For Richie’s proof of ID and residence, a picture that met the requirements for a passport photo would be allowed to upload along with a copy of his birth certificate (Richie was born in Florida). A $75 processing fee would need to be paid after clicking the submit button for completing Richie’s application.
For Caregiver Applications – Before accessing my profile as caregiver, I was required to complete the “Medical Marijuana Use Caregiver Certification Course.” This is a 48-slide online presentation that reviews the status of medical marijuana in Florida, the requirements for becoming a qualified patient and caregiver, the role and legal responsibilities of the caregiver, the physician recommendation process, what a medical marijuana treatment center is, and finally, the civil and criminal penalties for violations of Florida law. After reviewing the presentation, a short quiz (about five questions) must be passed before proceeding with the application process. My Florida driver’s license was sufficient for proof of residence, photo, and confirming my current address. I also needed to upload Richie’s birth certificate with my application to prove my legal representation as his caregiver. A $75 processing fee would need to be paid after clicking the submit button for completing my application.
Once the applications are submitted, we wait until the Office of Medical Marijuana Use either requires further information or approves our applications. This is currently where we are in the application process. Even though it’s typical for the registry to send notifications about your application, I read on their website that it’s advised to log in and check the status of your application. In the meantime, it’s also a good idea to stay informed of any legal changes, updates, and continue learning about cannabis and medical uses.
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Stay tuned for our next series segment Part IV: "The Science Behind the Development of a Treatment Plan."
Read our previous segment - part II: "Finding the Right Doctor with the Right Approach."
Although we received services as part of our collaboration with Wholistic Releaf for raising awareness on treating autism with medical cannabis, all opinions expressed are my own.