On August 26, 2022, the Florida Office of Medical Marijuana Use (OMMU) sent a directive to certifying physicians regarding a new milligram cap scheduled to go into effective on August 29, 2022.
As Florida’s leading network of medical marijuana physicians, CannaMD has summarized everything patients need to know.
Current CannaMD patient? No need to call: Your existing certification is not affected. However, pursuant to the OMMU’s new rules, future certifications will be capped according to the new route limits.
Questions about exceptions? Keep reading for more details.
Medical Marijuana Milligram Limits
Effective Monday, August 29, 2022, the Florida Department of Health will limit medical marijuana recommendations to the following milligram totals:
According to the OMMU:
[T]he Medical Marijuana Use Registry (Registry) will be updated pursuant to section 381.986(4)(f), Florida Statutes (F.S.), which states, in part, “The department [of Health] shall quantify by rule a daily dose amount with equivalent dose amounts for each allowable form of marijuana dispensed by a medical marijuana treatment center. The department shall use the daily dose amount to calculate a 70-day supply.” In compliance with Florida law, the Department of Health has published Emergency Rule 64ER22-8, Dosing and Supply Limits for Medical Marijuana, to determine daily dose amounts and 70-day supply limits for approved routes of administration of marijuana (excluding low-THC cannabis).
What About Current Certifications?
The OMMU states:
An active physician certification issued before the effective date of Emergency Rule 64ER22-8 (August 29, 2022) that exceeds the daily dose amount defined by the Rule, and begins within 210 days of the effective date of the Rule, will be valid for the remainder of said physician certification(s).However, should a qualified physician make any modifications to an existing certification after the effective date of the Rule that would deem the certification in excess of the daily dose amount, the qualified physician must submit a “Request for Exception” form.
Translation? If you have a current certification, the new rules will not apply retroactively (meaning you don’t need to worry). However, if any change is made to your certification following August 29, your “protection” is invalidated and you immediately fall under the new rules (meaning an exception is required for any milligrams exceeding the new cap limits).
How Do Exceptions Work?
Certifying physicians are allowed to submit requests for exception to the current rules.
According to the OMMU:
[A] qualified physician may request an exception to the daily dose amount for their qualified patient by electronically submitting the “Request for Exception” form in the Registry. Upon receiving the information and documentation required by the form and determining the form is complete, the Office of Medical Marijuana Use (OMMU) will approve or disapprove the complete “Request for Exception” form within 14 calendar days. Prior to the form’s approval, a qualified patient will only be authorized to obtain the daily dose amounts determined by the Rule.
CannaMD physicians are happy to request exceptions for patients who demonstrate appropriate medical necessity; however, CannaMD has no influence over whether an exception is approved or rejected. The Florida OMMU holds sole power in exception decisions.
A few important notes, per the OMMU:
Each approved exception is valid for up to the duration of the qualified patient’s physician certification; therefore, a qualified physician will need to submit a new “Request for Exception” form with each new certification they create in which a daily dose amount exceeds the determined limits.A qualified physician who accepts a qualified patient who has an existing certification with an approved exception request from their previous qualified physician, will have seven (7) calendar days to close the existing certification, including the approved exception request.
