Five Things to Know About the Florida Medical Marijuana Act of 2015
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| Florida Medical Marijuana Complete Text of Proposed 2015 Law |
The new law proposed in Florida may be known as “The Florida Medical Marijuana Act.” Yesterday, Florida joined other states in proposed legalization of marijuana / cannabis. Complete text of bill is below, but here are the bullet points:
- Conditions covered – Cancer, AIDS or Parkinson’s Disease
- Physician certifies its use.
- Potency “the specific concentrations of individual cannabinoids that must be present to treat the patient’s condition,”
- Limited to a 30-day supply.
- Dispensaries approved by county commission
Florida Medical Marijuana – Complete Text of Proposed 2015 Law
Florida Senate - 2015 SB 528
By Senator Brandes
22-00645A-15 2015528__
1 A bill to be entitled
2 An act relating to the medical use of marijuana;
3 creating s. 381.99, F.S.; providing a short title;
4 creating s. 381.991, F.S.; defining terms; creating s.
5 381.992, F.S.; allowing registered patients and
6 designated caregivers to purchase, acquire, and
7 possess medical-grade marijuana subject to specified
8 requirements; allowing a cultivation and processing
9 licensee, employee, or contractor to acquire,
10 cultivate, transport, and sell marijuana under certain
11 circumstances; allowing a retail licensee to purchase,
12 receive, possess, store, dispense, and deliver
13 marijuana under certain circumstances; allowing a
14 licensed laboratory to receive marijuana for
15 certification purposes; prohibiting certain actions
16 regarding the acquisition, possession, transfer, use,
17 and administration of marijuana; clarifying that a
18 person is prohibited from driving under the influence
19 of marijuana; creating s. 381.993, F.S.; specifying
20 registration requirements for a patient identification
21 card; allowing a qualified patient to designate a
22 caregiver subject to certain requirements; requiring
23 notification by the Department of Health of the denial
24 of a designated caregiver’s registration; requiring
25 the department to create certain patient registration
26 and certification forms for availability by a
27 specified date; requiring the department to update a
28 patient registry and issue an identification card
29 under certain circumstances within a specified
30 timeframe; specifying the requirements of the
31 identification card, including expiration and renewal
32 requirements; providing notification and return
33 requirements if the department removes the patient or
34 caregiver from the registry; creating s. 381.994,
35 F.S.; requiring the department to create an online
36 patient registry by a specified date subject to
37 certain requirements; creating s. 381.995, F.S.;
38 requiring the department to establish standards and
39 develop and accept licensure application forms for the
40 cultivation, processing, and sale of marijuana by a
41 specified date subject to certain requirements;
42 providing for an initial application fee, a licensure
43 fee, and a renewal fee for specified licenses;
44 requiring the department to issue certain licenses by
45 specified dates; specifying requirements for a
46 cultivation and processing license, including
47 expiration and renewal requirements; specifying
48 facility requirements for a cultivation and processing
49 licensee, including inspections and the issuance of
50 cultivation and processing facility licenses; allowing
51 a dispensing organization to use a contractor to
52 cultivate and process marijuana subject to certain
53 requirements; directing a dispensing organization or
54 contractor to destroy all marijuana byproducts under
55 certain conditions within a specified timeframe;
56 allowing a cultivation and processing licensee to
57 sell, transport, and deliver marijuana products under
58 certain circumstances; prohibiting the Department of
59 Health from licensing retail facilities in a county
60 unless the board of county commissioners for that
61 county determines by ordinance the number and location
62 of retail facilities subject to certain limitations;
63 specifying the application requirements for a retail
64 license; requiring the department to consider certain
65 factors when issuing retail licenses to encourage a
66 competitive marketplace; providing expiration and
67 renewal requirements for a retail license; requiring
68 inspection of a retail facility before dispensing
69 marijuana; providing dispensing requirements; allowing
70 retail licensees to contract with certain types of
71 carriers to deliver marijuana under certain
72 circumstances; prohibiting a licensee from advertising
73 marijuana products; specifying inspection, license,
74 and testing requirements for certain facilities;
75 requiring the department to create standards and
76 impose penalties for a dispensing organization subject
77 to certain restrictions; requiring the department to
78 maintain a public, online list of all licensed retail
79 facilities; creating s. 381.996, F.S.; providing
80 patient certification requirements relating to
81 qualified patients; requiring a physician to transfer
82 an order and update the registry subject to certain
83 requirements and time restraints; requiring physician
84 education; creating s. 381.997, F.S.; requiring
85 testing, certification, and reporting of results by an
86 independent laboratory before distribution or sale of
87 marijuana or marijuana products; providing package and
88 label requirements; requiring the department to
89 establish quality standards and testing procedures by
90 a certain date; creating s. 381.998, F.S.; providing
91 criminal penalties; creating s. 381.999, F.S.;
92 establishing that this act does not require or
93 restrict health insurance coverage for the purchase of
94 medical-grade marijuana; creating s. 381.9991, F.S.;
95 providing rulemaking authority; providing an effective
96 date.
97
98 Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
99
100 Section 1. Section 381.99, Florida Statutes, is created to
101 read:
102 381.99 Short title.—Sections 381.99-381.9991 may be cited
103 as “The Florida Medical Marijuana Act.”
104 Section 2. Section 381.991, Florida Statutes, is created to
105 read:
106 381.991 Definitions.—As used in ss. 381.991-381.9991 the
107 term:
108 (1) “Allowed amount of medical-grade marijuana” means the
109 amount of medical-grade marijuana, or the equivalent amount in
110 processed form, which a physician may determine is necessary to
111 treat a registered patient’s qualifying condition or qualifying
112 symptom or symptoms for 30 days.
113 (2) “Batch” means a specifically identified quantity of
114 processed marijuana that is uniform in strain; cultivated using
115 the same herbicides, pesticides, and fungicides; and harvested
116 at the same time from a single licensed cultivation and
117 processing facility.
118 (3) “Cultivation and processing facility” means a facility
119 licensed by the department for the cultivation of marijuana, the
120 processing of marijuana, or both.
121 (4) “Cultivation and processing license” means a license
122 issued by the department which authorizes the licensee to
123 cultivate or process, or to both cultivate and process,
124 marijuana at one or more cultivation and processing facilities.
125 (5) “Department” means the Department of Health.
126 (6) “Designated caregiver” means a person who is registered
127 with the department as the caregiver for one or more registered
128 patients.
129 (7) “Dispense” means the transfer or sale at a retail
130 facility of the allowed amount of medical-grade marijuana from a
131 dispensing organization to a registered patient or the patient’s
132 designated caregiver.
133 (8) “Dispensing organization” means an organization that
134 holds a cultivation and processing license, a retail license, or
135 both.
136 (9) “Identification card” means a card issued by the
137 department only to registered patients and designated
138 caregivers.
139 (10) “Marijuana” has the same meaning as the term
140 “cannabis” in s. 893.02.
141 (11) “Medical-grade marijuana” means marijuana that has
142 been tested in accordance with s. 381.997; meets the standards
143 established by the department for sale to registered patients;
144 and is packaged, labeled, and ready to be dispensed.
145 (12) “Medical marijuana patient registry” means an online
146 electronic registry created and maintained by the department to
147 store identifying information for all registered patients and
148 designated caregivers.
149 (13) “Medical use” means the acquisition, possession,
150 transportation, use, and administration of the allowed amount of
151 medical-grade marijuana.
152 (14) “Physician” means a physician who is licensed under
153 chapter 458 or chapter 459 and meets the requirements of s.
154 381.996(4).
155 (15) “Qualified patient” means a resident of this state who
156 has been certified by a physician and diagnosed as suffering
157 from:
158 (a) Cancer;
159 (b) Positive status for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV);
160 (c) Acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS);
161 (d) Epilepsy;
162 (e) Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS);
163 (f) Multiple sclerosis;
164 (g) Crohn’s disease;
165 (h) Parkinson’s disease; or
166 (i) Any physical medical condition or treatment for a
167 medical condition that chronically produces one or more
168 qualifying symptoms.
169 (16) “Qualifying symptom” means:
170 (a) Cachexia or wasting syndrome;
171 (b) Severe and persistent pain;
172 (c) Severe and persistent nausea;
173 (d) Persistent seizures; or
174 (e) Severe and persistent muscle spasms.
175 (17) “Registered patient” means a qualified patient who has
176 registered with the department and has been issued a medical
177 marijuana registry identification card.
178 (18) “Retail facility” means a facility licensed by the
179 department to dispense medical-grade marijuana to registered
180 patients and caregivers.
181 (19) “Retail license” means a license issued by the
182 department which authorizes the licensee to dispense medical
183 grade marijuana to registered patients and caregivers from a
184 retail facility.
185 Section 3. Section 381.992, Florida Statutes, is created to
186 read:
187 381.992 Medical-grade marijuana.—
188 (1) Notwithstanding s. 893.13, s. 893.135, s. 893.147, or
189 any other law, but subject to the requirements in ss. 381.991
190 381.9991, a registered patient or his or her designated
191 caregiver may purchase, acquire, and possess up to the allowed
192 amount of medical-grade marijuana, including paraphernalia, for
193 that patient’s medical use. In order to maintain the protections
194 under this section, a registered patient or his or her
195 designated caregiver must demonstrate that:
196 (a) He or she is legally in possession of the medical-grade
197 marijuana, by producing his or her medical marijuana
198 identification card; and
199 (b) Any marijuana in his or her possession is within the
200 registered patient’s allowed amount of marijuana, by producing a
201 receipt from the dispensing organization.
202 (2) Notwithstanding s. 893.13, s. 893.135, s. 893.147, or
203 any other law, but subject to the requirements in ss. 381.991
204 381.9991, a cultivation and processing licensee and an employee
205 or contractor of a cultivation and processing licensee may
206 acquire, cultivate, and possess marijuana while on the property
207 of a cultivation and processing facility; may transport
208 marijuana between licensed facilities owned by the licensee; may
209 transport marijuana to independent laboratories for
210 certification as medical-grade marijuana; and may transport and
211 sell medical-grade marijuana to retail facilities.
212 (3) Notwithstanding s. 893.13, s. 893.135, s. 893.147, or
213 any other law, but subject to the requirements in ss. 381.991
214 381.9991, a retail licensee and an employee of a retail licensee
215 may purchase and receive medical-grade marijuana from a
216 cultivation and processing licensee or its employee or
217 contractor; may possess, store, and hold medical-grade marijuana
218 for retail sale; and may dispense the allowed amount of medical
219 grade marijuana to a registered patient or designated caregiver
220 at a retail facility. A retail licensee and an employee or
221 contractor of a retail licensee may deliver medical-grade
222 marijuana to the residence of a registered patient.
223 (4) Notwithstanding s. 893.13, s. 893.135, s. 893.147, or
224 any other law, but subject to the requirements in ss. 381.991
225 381.9991, a licensed laboratory and an employee of an
226 independent testing laboratory may receive and possess marijuana
227 for the sole purpose of testing the marijuana for certification
228 as medical-grade marijuana.
229 (5) This section does not authorize:
230 (a) The acquisition, purchase, transportation, use,
231 possession, or administration of any type of marijuana other
232 than medical-grade marijuana by a registered patient or
233 designated caregiver.
234 (b) The use of medical-grade marijuana by anyone other than
235 the registered patient for whom the medical-grade marijuana was
236 ordered.
237 (c) The transfer or administration of medical-grade
238 marijuana to anyone other than the registered patient for whom
239 the medical-grade marijuana was ordered.
240 (d) The acquisition or purchase of medical-grade marijuana
241 by a registered patient or designated caregiver from an entity
242 other than a dispensing organization that has a retail license.
243 (e) A registered patient or designated caregiver to
244 transfer medical-grade marijuana to a person other than the
245 patient for whom the medical-grade marijuana was ordered or to
246 any entity except for the purpose of returning unused medical
247 grade marijuana to a dispensing organization.
248 (f) The use or administration of medical-grade marijuana:
249 1. On any form of public transportation.
250 2. In any public place.
251 3. In a registered patient’s place of work, if restricted
252 by his or her employer.
253 (g) The possession, use, or administration of medical-grade
254 marijuana:
255 1. In a correctional facility;
256 2. On the grounds of any preschool, primary school, or
257 secondary school; or
258 3. On a school bus.
259 (6) This section does not exempt any person from the
260 prohibition against driving under the influence provided in s.
261 316.193.
262 Section 4. Section 381.993, Florida Statutes, is created to
263 read:
264 381.993 Medical marijuana patient and designated caregiver
265 registration.—
266 (1) In order to register for an identification card, a
267 qualified patient must submit to the department:
268 (a) A patient registration form;
269 (b) Proof of Florida residency; and
270 (c) A passport-style photograph taken within the previous
271 90 days.
272 (2) For a qualified patient to be registered and to receive
273 an identification card, a physician must submit a patient
274 certification form directly to the department which includes:
275 (a) Certification by the physician that the patient suffers
276 from one or more qualifying conditions or symptoms specified in
277 s. 381.991(15); and
278 (b) Unless the patient suffers from a condition listed in
279 s. 381.991(15)(a)-(i), certification that in that physician’s
280 good faith medical judgment the patient has exhausted all other
281 reasonable medical treatments for those symptoms.
282 (3) If a qualified patient is under 21 years of age, a
283 second physician must also submit a patient-certification form
284 that meets the requirements of paragraphs (2)(a) and 2(b).
285 (4) The patient-certification form may be submitted through
286 the department website.
287 (5) A qualified patient may, at initial registration or
288 while a registered patient, designate a caregiver to assist him
289 or her with the medical use of medical-grade marijuana. A
290 designated caregiver must be at least 21 years of age and must
291 meet the background screening requirements in s. 408.809 unless
292 the caregiver is assisting only his or her own spouse, parents,
293 children, or siblings. A designated caregiver may not be
294 registered to assist more than one patient at any given time
295 unless:
296 (a) All of the caregiver’s registered patients are the
297 caregiver’s parents, siblings, or children;
298 (b) All of the caregiver’s registered patients are first
299 degree relations to each other who share a residence; and
300 (c) All of the caregiver’s registered patients reside in an
301 assisted living facility, nursing home, or other such facility
302 and the caregiver is an employee of that facility.
303 (6) If the department determines, for any reason, that a
304 caregiver designated by a registered patient may not assist that
305 patient, the department must notify that patient of the denial
306 of the designated caregiver’s registration.
307 (7) The department must create a registration form and a
308 patient-certification form and make the forms available to the
309 public by January 1, 2016. The registration form must require
310 the patient to include, at a minimum, the information required
311 to be on the patient’s identification card and on his or her
312 designated caregiver’s identification card if the patient is
313 designating a caregiver.
314 (8) Beginning on July 1, 2016, when the department receives
315 a registration form, the supporting patient-certification form,
316 and proof of the patient’s residency, the department must,
317 within 14 days:
318 (a) Enter the qualified patient’s and his or her designated
319 caregiver’s information into the medical marijuana patient
320 registry; and
321 (b) Issue an identification card to the qualified patient
322 and to that patient’s designated caregiver, if applicable. The
323 department is not required to issue an additional identification
324 card to a designated caregiver who already possesses a valid
325 identification card when that caregiver becomes registered as
326 the caregiver for additional registered patients unless the
327 required information has changed. The expiration date for a
328 designated caregiver’s identification card must coincide with
329 the last occurring expiration date on the identification card of
330 the patient the caregiver is registered to assist.
331 (9) Identification cards issued to registered patients and
332 designated caregivers must be resistant to counterfeiting and
333 include, but not be limited to, all of the following
334 information:
335 (a) The person’s full legal name.
336 (b) The person’s photograph.
337 (c) A randomly assigned identification number.
338 (d) The expiration date of the identification card.
339 (10) Except as provided in paragraph (8)(b), patient and
340 caregiver identification cards expire 1 year after the date they
341 are issued. In order to renew an identification card, a
342 qualified patient must submit proof of continued residency and a
343 physician must certify to the department:
344 (a) That he or she has examined the patient during the
345 course of the patient’s treatment with medical-grade marijuana;
346 (b) That the patient suffers from one or more qualifying
347 symptoms or conditions;
348 (c) That, except for patients suffering from the conditions
349 listed in s. 381.991(15)(a)-(i), in the physician’s good faith
350 medical judgment, there are no reasonable alternative medical
351 options for the relief of such symptom or symptoms;
352 (d) That, in the physician’s good faith medical judgment,
353 the use of medical-grade marijuana gives the patient some relief
354 from his or her symptoms; and
355 (e) The allowed amount of medical-grade marijuana that the
356 physician orders for the patient’s use.
357 (11) Should the department become aware of information that
358 would disqualify a patient or caregiver from being registered,
359 the department must notify that person of the change in his or
360 her status as follows:
361 (a) For registered patients, the department must give
362 notice at least 30 days before removing that patient from the
363 registry. The patient must return all medical-grade marijuana,
364 medical-grade marijuana products, and his or her identification
365 card to a retail facility within 30 days after receiving such
366 notice. A dispensing organization must notify the department
367 within 24 hours after it has received such a return. Such
368 notification may be submitted electronically.
369 (b) For designated caregivers, the department must give
370 notice to the registered patient and the designated caregiver at
371 least 15 days before removing a caregiver from the registry. The
372 caregiver must return his or her identification card to a retail
373 facility within 15 days after receiving such notice. A
374 dispensing organization must notify the department within 24
375 hours after it has received such a return. Such notification may
376 be submitted electronically.
377 Section 5. Section 381.994, Florida Statutes, is created to
378 read:
379 381.994 Electronic medical marijuana patient registry.—
380 (1) By July 1, 2016, the department must create a secure,
381 online, electronic medical marijuana patient registry containing
382 a file for each registered patient and caregiver and for each
383 certifying physician consisting of, but not limited to, all of
384 the following:
385 (a) For patients and caregivers:
386 1. His or her full legal name;
387 2. His or her photograph;
388 3. The randomly assigned identification number on his or
389 her identification card; and
390 4. The expiration date of the identification card.
391 (b) For physicians, the physician’s full legal name and
392 license number.
393 (c) For a registered patient:
394 1. The full legal name of his or her designated caregiver,
395 if any;
396 2. His or her allowed amount of medical-grade marijuana;
397 and
398 3. The concentration ranges of specified cannabinoids, if
399 any, ordered by the patient’s certifying physician.
400 (d) For a designated caregiver:
401 1. The full legal name or names of all registered patients
402 whom the caregiver is registered to assist;
403 2. The allowed amount of medical-grade marijuana for each
404 patient the caregiver is registered to assist; and
405 3. The concentration ranges of specified cannabinoids, if
406 any, ordered by the certifying physician for each respective
407 patient the caregiver is registered to assist.
408 (e) The date and time of dispensing, and the allowed amount
409 of medical-grade marijuana dispensed, for each of that
410 registered patient’s or caregiver’s transactions with the
411 dispensing organization.
412 (2) The registry must be able to:
413 (a) Be accessed by a retail licensee or employee to verify
414 the authenticity of a patient identification card, to verify the
415 allowed amount and any specified type of medical-grade marijuana
416 ordered by his or her physician, and to determine the prior
417 dates on which and times at which medical-grade marijuana was
418 dispensed to the patient and the amount dispensed on each
419 occasion;
420 (b) Accept in real time the original and updated orders for
421 medical-grade marijuana from certifying physicians;
422 (c) Be accessed by law enforcement agencies in order to
423 verify patient or caregiver authorization for possession of an
424 allowed amount of medical-grade marijuana; and
425 (d) Accept and post initial and updated information to each
426 registered patient’s file from the dispensing organization that
427 shows the date, time, and amount of medical-grade marijuana
428 dispensed to that patient at the point of sale.
429 Section 6. Section 381.995, Florida Statutes, is created to
430 read:
431 381.995 Dispensing organizations.—
432 (1) By January 1, 2016, the department shall establish
433 operating standards for the cultivation, processing, packaging,
434 and labeling of marijuana, establish standards for the sale of
435 medical-grade marijuana, develop licensure application forms for
436 cultivation and processing licenses and retail licenses, make
437 such forms available to the public, establish procedures and
438 requirements for cultivation facility licenses and renewals and
439 processing facility licenses and renewals, and begin accepting
440 applications for licensure. The department may charge an initial
441 application fee of up to $100,000 for cultivation and processing
442 licenses and up to $10,000 for retail licenses, a licensure fee,
443 and a license renewal fee as necessary to pay for all expenses
444 incurred by the department in administering this section.
445 (2) The department must begin issuing cultivation and
446 processing licenses by March 1, 2016, and retail licenses by
447 July 1, 2016.
448 (3) The department may issue a cultivation and processing
449 license to an applicant who provides:
450 (a) A completed cultivation and processing license
451 application form;
452 (b) The initial application fee;
453 (c) The legal name of the applicant;
454 (d) The physical address of each location where marijuana
455 will be cultivated and processed;
456 (e) The name, address, and date of birth of each principal
457 officer and board member, if applicable;
458 (f) The name, address, and date of birth of each of the
459 applicant’s current employees who will participate in the
460 operations of the dispensing organization;
461 (g) Proof that all principals and employees of the
462 applicant have passed a level 2 background screening pursuant to
463 chapter 435 within the prior year;
464 (h) Proof of an established infrastructure or the ability
465 to establish an infrastructure in a reasonable amount of time
466 designed to cultivate, process, test, package, and label
467 marijuana and to deliver medical-grade marijuana to retail
468 facilities throughout the state;
469 (i) Proof that the applicant possesses the technical and
470 technological ability to cultivate and process medical-grade
471 marijuana;
472 (j) Proof of operating procedures designed to secure and
473 maintain accountability for all marijuana and marijuana-related
474 byproducts it may possess;
475 (k) Proof of the financial ability to maintain operations
476 for the duration of the license;
477 (l) Proof of at least $1 million of hazard and liability
478 insurance for each cultivation and processing facility; and
479 (m) A $5 million performance and compliance bond, to be
480 forfeited if the licensee fails to maintain its license for the
481 duration of the licensure period or fails to comply with the
482 substantive requirements of this subsection and applicable
483 agency rules for the duration of the licensure period.
484 (4) A cultivation and processing license expires 2 years
485 after the date it is issued. The licensee must apply for a
486 renewed license before the expiration date. In order to receive
487 a renewed license, a cultivation and processing licensee must
488 demonstrate continued compliance with the requirements in
489 subsection (3) and have no outstanding substantial violations of
490 the standards established by the department for the cultivation,
491 processing, packaging, and labeling of marijuana and medical
492 grade marijuana.
493 (5) A cultivation and processing licensee may cultivate
494 marijuana at one or more facilities only if each facility used
495 for cultivation has been inspected by the department and issued
496 a cultivation facility license. A cultivation and processing
497 licensee may process marijuana at one or more processing
498 facilities only if each facility used for processing has been
499 inspected by the department and issued a processing facility
500 license. A cultivation and processing licensee may cultivate and
501 process marijuana at the same facility only if that facility has
502 been inspected by the department and issued both a cultivation
503 facility license and a processing facility license. Each
504 cultivation and processing facility must be secure and closed to
505 the public and may not be located within 1,000 feet of an
506 existing public or private elementary or secondary school, a
507 child care facility licensed under s. 402.302, or a licensed
508 service provider offering substance abuse services. The
509 department may establish by rule additional security and zoning
510 requirements for cultivation and processing facilities. All
511 matters regarding the licensure and regulation of cultivation
512 and processing facilities, including the location of such
513 facilities, are preempted to the state.
514 (6) Before beginning cultivation or processing at a
515 facility, that facility must be inspected and licensed as a
516 cultivation facility, a processing facility, or both by the
517 department. A cultivation and processing licensee may cultivate
518 and process marijuana only for the purpose of producing medical
519 grade marijuana and may do so only at a licensed cultivation and
520 processing facility. Such processing may include, but is not
521 limited to, processing marijuana into medical-grade marijuana
522 and processing medical-grade marijuana into various forms
523 including, but not limited to, topical applications, oils, and
524 food products for a registered patient’s use. A dispensing
525 organization may use a contractor to cultivate the marijuana, to
526 process marijuana into medical-grade marijuana, or to process
527 the medical-grade marijuana into other forms, but the dispensing
528 organization is responsible for all of the operations performed
529 by each contractor relating to the cultivation and processing of
530 marijuana and the physical possession of all marijuana and
531 medical-grade marijuana. All work done by a contractor must be
532 performed at a licensed cultivation and processing facility. All
533 marijuana byproducts that are unable to be processed or
534 reprocessed into medical-grade marijuana must be destroyed by
535 the dispensing organization or its contractor within 48 hours
536 after processing is completed.
537 (7) A cultivation and processing licensee may transport, or
538 contract to have transported, marijuana and marijuana products
539 to independent testing laboratories to be tested and certified
540 as medical-grade marijuana.
541 (8) A cultivation and processing licensee may sell,
542 transport, and deliver medical-grade marijuana and medical-grade
543 marijuana products to retail licensees throughout the state.
544 (9) The department may not license any retail facilities in
545 a county unless the board of county commissioners for that
546 county determines by ordinance the number and location of any
547 retail facilities that may be located within that county. A
548 retail facility may not be located on the same property as a
549 facility licensed for cultivation or processing of marijuana or
550 within 1,000 feet of an existing public or private elementary or
551 secondary school, a child care facility licensed under s.
552 402.302, or a licensed service provider that offers substance
553 abuse services.
554 (10) An applicant for a retail license must provide the
555 department with at least all of the following:
556 (a) A completed retail license application form.
557 (b) The initial application fee.
558 (c) The full legal name of the applicant.
559 (d) The physical address of the retail facility where
560 marijuana will be dispensed.
561 (e) Identifying information for all other current or
562 previous retail licenses held by the applicant.
563 (f) The name, address, and date of birth for each of the
564 applicant’s principal officers and board members.
565 (g) The name, address, and date of birth of each of the
566 applicant’s current employees who will participate in the
567 operations of the dispensing organization.
568 (h) Proof that all principals and employees of the
569 applicant have passed a level 2 background screening pursuant to
570 chapter 435 within the prior year.
571 (i) Proof of an established infrastructure or the ability
572 to establish an infrastructure in a reasonable amount of time
573 which is designed to receive medical-grade marijuana from
574 cultivation and processing facilities, the ability to maintain
575 the security of the retail facility to prevent theft or
576 diversion of any medical marijuana product received, the ability
577 to correctly dispense the allowed amount and specified type of
578 medical-grade marijuana to a registered patient or his or her
579 designated caregiver pursuant to a physician’s order, the
580 ability to check the medical marijuana patient registry, and the
581 ability to electronically update the medical marijuana patient
582 registry with dispensing information.
583 (j) Proof of operating procedures designed to secure and
584 maintain accountability for all medical-grade marijuana and
585 products that it may receive and possess.
586 (k) Proof of the financial ability to maintain operations
587 for the duration of the license.
588 (l) Proof of at least $500,000 of hazard and liability
589 insurance for each license.
590 (m) A $1 million performance and compliance bond, for each
591 license, to be forfeited if the licensee fails to maintain the
592 license for the duration of the licensure period or fails to
593 comply with the requirements of this subsection for the duration
594 of the licensure period.
595 (11) The department may issue multiple retail licenses to a
596 single qualified entity; however, to encourage a competitive
597 marketplace, when multiple entities have applied for a license
598 in the same county, in addition to the qualifications of each
599 applicant, the department shall consider the number of retail
600 licenses currently held by each applicant and the number of
601 separate entities that hold retail licenses within the same
602 geographic area.
603 (12) A retail license expires 2 years after the date it is
604 issued. The retail licensee must reapply for renewed licensure
605 before the expiration date. In order to qualify for a renewed
606 license, a retail licensee must meet all the requirements for
607 initial licensure and have no outstanding substantial violations
608 of the applicable standards established by the department.
609 (13) Before beginning to dispense, each retail facility
610 must be inspected by the department. Retail licensees may
611 dispense the allowed amount of medical-grade marijuana to a
612 registered patient or the patient’s designated caregiver only if
613 the dispensing organization’s employee:
614 (a) Verifies the authenticity of the patient’s or
615 caregiver’s identification card with the medical marijuana
616 patient registry;
617 (b) Verifies the physician’s order for medical-grade
618 marijuana with the medical marijuana patient registry;
619 (c) Determines that the registered patient has not been
620 dispensed the allowed amount of marijuana within the previous 30
621 days;
622 (d) Issues the registered patient or the patient’s
623 caregiver a receipt that details the date and time of
624 dispensing, the amount of medical-grade marijuana dispensed, and
625 the person to whom the medical-grade marijuana was dispensed;
626 and
627 (e) Updates the medical marijuana patient registry with the
628 date and time of dispensing and the amount and type of medical
629 grade marijuana being dispensed to the registered patient before
630 dispensing to that patient or that patient’s designated
631 caregiver.
632 (14) Retail licensees may contract with licensed and bonded
633 carriers to transport medical-grade marijuana and medical-grade
634 marijuana products between properties owned by the licensee and
635 to deliver it to the residence of a registered patient.
636 (15) A licensee under the Florida Medical Marijuana Act may
637 not advertise its marijuana products.
638 (16) The department must inspect and license each
639 dispensing organization’s cultivation and processing facilities
640 and retail facilities before those facilities begin operations.
641 The department must also inspect each licensed facility at least
642 once every 2 years. The department may also conduct additional
643 announced or unannounced inspections at reasonable hours in
644 order to ensure that such facilities meet the standards set by
645 the department. The department may test any marijuana, marijuana
646 product, medical-grade marijuana, or medical-grade marijuana
647 product in order to ensure that such marijuana, marijuana
648 product, medical-grade marijuana, or medical-grade marijuana
649 product meets the standards established by the department. The
650 department may, by interagency agreement with the Department of
651 Business and Professional Regulation or with the Department of
652 Agriculture and Consumer Services, perform joint inspections of
653 such facilities with those agencies.
654 (17) The department must create a schedule of violations in
655 rule in order to impose reasonable fines not to exceed $10,000
656 on a dispensing organization. In determining the amount of the
657 fine to be levied for a violation, the department shall
658 consider:
659 (a) The severity of the violation;
660 (b) Any actions taken by the dispensing organization to
661 correct the violation or to remedy complaints; and
662 (c) Any previous violations.
663 (18) The department may suspend, revoke, or refuse to renew
664 the license of a dispensing organization or of an individual
665 facility for violations of the standards established by the
666 department.
667 (19) The department shall maintain a publicly available,
668 easily accessible list on its website of all licensed retail
669 facilities.
670 Section 7. Section 381.996, Florida Statutes, is created to
671 read:
672 381.996 Patient certification.—
673 (1) A physician may certify a patient to the department as
674 a qualified patient if:
675 (a) The physician has seen the patient on a regular basis
676 for a period of at least 3 months;
677 (b) The physician certifies that, in his or her good faith
678 medical judgment, the patient chronically suffers from one or
679 more of the qualifying conditions or symptoms; and
680 (c) For patients who do not suffer from a condition listed
681 in s. 381.991(15)(a)-(i), the physician certifies that in his or
682 her good faith medical judgment the patient has exhausted all
683 other reasonably available medical treatments for any of the
684 patient’s qualifying symptoms.
685 (2) After certifying a patient, the physician must
686 electronically transfer an original order for medical-grade
687 marijuana for that patient to the medical marijuana patient
688 registry. Such order must include, at a minimum, the allowed
689 amount of medical-grade marijuana and the concentration ranges
690 for individual cannabinoids, if any. The physician must also
691 update the registry with any changes in the specifications of
692 his or her order for that patient within 7 days.
693 (3) If the physician becomes aware that alternative
694 treatments are available, that the patient no longer suffers
695 from his or her qualifying condition or symptom, or if the
696 physician’s order for the allowed amount of medical marijuana
697 changes for that patient, the physician must update the registry
698 with the new information within 7 days.
699 (4) In order to qualify to issue patient certifications for
700 medical-grade marijuana, and before ordering medical-grade
701 marijuana for any patient, a physician must successfully
702 complete an 8-hour course and subsequent examination offered by
703 the Florida Medical Association or the Florida Osteopathic
704 Medical Association, as appropriate, which encompasses the
705 clinical indications for the appropriate use of medical-grade
706 marijuana, the appropriate delivery mechanisms, the
707 contraindications of the use of medical-grade marijuana, and the
708 relevant state and federal laws governing ordering, dispensing,
709 and possession. The appropriate boards shall offer the first
710 course and examination by October 1, 2015, and shall administer
711 them at least annually thereafter. Successful completion of the
712 course may be used by a physician to satisfy 8 hours of the
713 continuing medical education requirements imposed by his or her
714 respective board for licensure renewal. This course may be
715 offered in a distance-learning format. Successful completion of
716 the course and examination is required for every physician who
717 orders medical-grade marijuana each time such physician renews
718 his or her license.
719 Section 8. Section 381.997, Florida Statutes, is created to
720 read:
721 381.997 Medical-grade marijuana testing and labeling.—
722 (1) A cultivation and processing licensee may not
723 distribute or sell medical-grade marijuana or product to a
724 retail licensee unless the batch of origin of that marijuana or
725 product has been tested by an independent testing laboratory and
726 the cultivation and processing licensee has received test
727 results from that laboratory which certify that the batch meets
728 the quality standards established by the department.
729 (2) When testing a batch of marijuana or product a testing
730 laboratory must, at a minimum, test for unsafe contaminants and
731 for presence and concentration of individual cannabinoids.
732 (3) Each testing laboratory must report its findings for
733 each batch tested to the cultivation and processing licensee
734 from which the batch originated and to the department. Such
735 findings must include, at a minimum, the license number or
736 numbers of the processing and cultivation facility from which
737 the batch originated, the size and batch number of the batch
738 tested, the types of tests performed on the batch, and the
739 results of each test.
740 (4) Before distribution or sale to a retail licensee, any
741 medical-grade marijuana that meets department testing standards
742 must be packaged in a child-resistant container and labeled with
743 at least the name and license number of the cultivation and
744 processing licensee, the license number of the facility or
745 facilities where the batch was harvested and processed, the
746 harvest or production batch number, the concentration range of
747 each individual cannabinoid present at testing, and any other
748 labeling requirements established in Florida or federal law or
749 rules for that form of the product. For the purposes of this
750 subsection, any oil-based extraction meant for direct
751 consumption in small quantities as a supplement need not be
752 labeled as a food product.
753 (5) Before sale to a registered patient or caregiver, a
754 retail licensee must affix an additional label to each product
755 that includes the licensee’s name and license number.
756 (6) By January 1, 2016, the department must establish
757 standards for quality and testing procedures and for maximum
758 levels of unsafe contaminants. The department must also create a
759 list of individual cannabinoids that must be tested for,
760 concentrations that are considered significant for those
761 cannabinoids, and varying ranges of concentrations for each
762 cannabinoid upon which a physician may base his or her order for
763 a patient’s use of a specific strain of medical-grade marijuana.
764 Section 9. Section 381.998, Florida Statutes, is created to
765 read:
766 381.998 Penalties.—
767 (1) A physician commits a misdemeanor of the first degree,
768 punishable as provided in s. 775.082 or s. 775.083, if he or she
769 orders medical-grade marijuana for a patient without a
770 reasonable belief that the patient is suffering from a condition
771 or symptom listed in s. 381.991(15) or s. 381.991(16).
772 (2) A person who fraudulently represents that he or she has
773 a medical condition or symptom listed in s. 381.991(15) or s.
774 381.991(16) for the purpose of being ordered medical-grade
775 marijuana by such physician commits a misdemeanor of the first
776 degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082 or s. 775.083.
777 Section 10. Section 381.999, Florida Statutes, is created
778 to read:
779 381.999 Insurance.—The Florida Medical Marijuana Act does
780 not require a governmental, private, or other health insurance
781 provider or health care services plan to cover a claim for
782 reimbursement for the purchase of medical-grade marijuana nor
783 does it restrict such coverage.
784 Section 11. Section 381.9991, Florida Statutes, is created
785 to read:
786 381.9991 Rulemaking Authority.-The department may adopt
787 rules related to health, safety, and welfare as necessary to
788 implement this act.
789 Section 12. This act shall take effect July 1, 2015.