What physician certification is — and isn't

What certification is

A certification is a qualified Florida physician's documented determination that you have a qualifying condition and that, in the physician's judgment, medical marijuana use is appropriate for you. The physician enters the certification into the Florida Medical Marijuana Use Registry. Without it, there is no state application — certification always comes first.

What certification is not

Certification is not the registry ID card — the state issues that separately, after its own application. It is not a prescription; Florida physicians certify rather than prescribe. And it is not a guarantee of state approval, just as a diagnosis is not a guarantee of certification.

Certification is also not a product recommendation. Certifying physicians do not dispense, and this practice does not advise on products, strains, or dosing. Purchases happen only at state-licensed Medical Marijuana Treatment Centers, after the state issues your card.

The examination requirement

Florida requires an in-person physical examination and a full assessment of your medical history before an initial certification — a first certification cannot be done by telehealth. Renewal certifications may be eligible for telehealth when statutory conditions are met, including a prior in-person examination by the same qualified physician. We confirm the correct visit mode when you schedule.

The physician's authority — and how to verify it

Only physicians with an active, unrestricted Florida license who have completed the state's required training may issue certifications. The decision belongs to the physician alone — no scheduler, salesperson, or website can make it for them, and no practice can promise the outcome in advance.

You can confirm any physician's qualified status yourself, before you book, through the Florida Department of Health's official qualified physician search. We encourage every patient to verify independently.

Is a certification the same as a prescription?

No. Florida physicians certify patients in the state registry; they do not write prescriptions for medical marijuana. Certification is a clinical determination recorded in the registry, and it starts the state process.

Can any doctor certify me?

No. Only Florida-licensed physicians who hold qualified-physician status with the state may issue certifications. Verify any physician through the state's official search before booking.

Can my first certification be done by telehealth?

No. Under current Florida law, an initial certification requires an in-person physical examination. Some renewals may qualify for telehealth when statutory conditions are met.

Does certification guarantee the state will issue my card?

No. Certification is the physician's decision; the registry ID card is the state's separate decision after its own application. Neither outcome is ever promised.