Overview
Florida allows medical marijuana only. Every licensed cannabis business is a Medical Marijuana Treatment Center (MMTC), a single license that covers cultivation, processing, transport and retail. The Office of Medical Marijuana Use (OMMU), part of the Florida Department of Health, issues licenses in occasional competitive rounds.
License types
Florida does not issue separate dispensary, grow or delivery licenses. The MMTC is the main license, with a separate category reserved under state law for eligible Pigford (Black farmer) applicants.
Requirements
- A Florida business entity with background-screened owners and managers
- Plans for a vertically integrated, seed-to-sale operation
- A $5 million performance bond ($2 million once you serve 1,000+ patients)
- Certified financial statements and a physician medical director
- A diversity plan
Fees
Under the December 2022 licensing rule, the application fee is $146,000 and non-refundable. Licensed MMTCs also pay a biennial renewal fee calculated from program costs, which has historically exceeded $1 million.
Application process
- Watch for OMMU to announce an application window.
- Prepare a full application covering operations, security, cultivation, finances and diversity.
- Submit with the fee before the deadline.
- Applications are scored; top scorers are selected.
- Post the bond within 10 business days, then pass inspections.
Timeline
The last general window opened in April 2023, and selections were finalized in late 2024. Windows are infrequent, so preparing in advance matters.
Key regulations
- Sales only to registered patients with a state ID card
- Seed-to-sale tracking and independent testing
- Counties and cities may ban dispensaries locally
Licensing rules change often. Confirm details with OMMU and consider working with an experienced cannabis attorney or consultant.
