Your First Florida Medical Marijuana Physician Visit: What to Expect
Bottom line
- What this means
- The first visit is a medical evaluation by a state-qualified physician. Under Florida law it is in person. The physician decides whether you qualify.
- What you need to do
- Bring Florida ID or proof of residency, be ready to describe your condition and history honestly, and ask your questions.
- What can change
- Each physician runs the visit a little differently, and Florida's telehealth rules for renewals can change.
- Where to verify
- Florida OMMU patient pages and section 381.986, linked in Sources.
Who this is for
Veterans and first responders going to their first evaluation, whether at a Red, White & Blue Tour stop or at a physician's office. This is education, not medical advice.
Before the visit
- Bring: a Florida driver license or ID card, or proof of Florida residency.
- Helpful but optional: a list of your current medications and supplements, and any records about the condition you want evaluated. Records go to the physician, not to TGV.
- Think through: what symptoms you have, how long, what you have tried, and what you hope changes. You do not need medical vocabulary. Plain words work.
During the visit
- Identity and residency check. The physician's office confirms who you are and that you are a Florida resident.
- History. The physician asks about your condition, your medical history, what you take now, and any past cannabis use. Be honest; it is a confidential medical conversation and it shapes the physician's decision.
- Examination. Florida law requires an in-person examination for the initial certification.
- Decision. The physician decides whether you have a qualifying condition and whether medical marijuana is appropriate for you. The Grateful Veteran has no role in that decision and cannot promise the outcome.
- If you qualify: the physician enters your certification into the Medical Marijuana Use Registry and sets an order for what you can obtain. You then apply to the state for your identification card.
- If you do not qualify: the physician will tell you. You can ask why, and you can seek a second opinion from another qualified physician. Nothing goes on a public record.
Questions worth asking the physician
- What in my history led to your decision?
- What are the risks and side effects I should watch for, and what should I do if they happen?
- Could this interact with anything I take?
- How and when do I recertify, and what does it cost?
- Who do I call between visits if something changes?
After the visit
Watch for the state's email about your registry account, apply for the card, and pay the state fee (or follow the campaign instructions if TGV is covering it for you). Costs and dates are in Florida MMUR card costs, renewals and deadlines.
Your privacy
The physician keeps your medical information under the physician's own privacy obligations. At a Red, White & Blue Tour stop, TGV staff do not sit in on your evaluation and do not receive your medical history. TGV collects only sign-up and check-in information through the approved form.
What The Grateful Veteran can help with
We connect eligible veterans and first responders with participating physicians, explain every step in plain language, and during active campaigns help with the cost for approved applicants. We do not diagnose, prescribe, choose your product or dose, or guarantee that you will qualify.
Next step
Sign up for the next tour stop, or ask us a question.
Sources & verification
- Florida OMMU: Patients (accessed August 27, 2026)
- Florida Statutes, section 381.986, physician certification requirements (accessed August 27, 2026)
Published August 27, 2026. Last reviewed August 27, 2026. Next review due November 2026. Content risk level: high. Physician review of this walk-through is pending; process facts are sourced above.
General education only, not medical advice. The physician determines eligibility and appropriateness.