HB 1183 - The Florida Medical Marijuana Act

• Establishes a comprehensive medical marijuana program allowing registered patients and designated caregivers to purchase and possess medical-grade marijuana for qualifying conditions including cancer, HIV/AIDS, epilepsy, ALS, multiple sclerosis, Crohn's disease, Parkinson's disease, and terminal illness.

• Creates a Department of Health online patient registry and identification card system, with patient registration requiring physician certification and proof of residency; caregivers must be at least 21 years old and pass background screening.

• Authorizes cultivation and processing licenses (initial application fee up to $100,000) and retail licenses (up to $10,000) to be issued by March 1, 2017 and July 1, 2017 respectively; cultivation facilities must be 1,000 feet from schools and child care facilities.

• Requires independent testing laboratories to certify batches of marijuana meet quality standards for contaminants and cannabinoid concentrations before distribution; products must be packaged in child-resistant containers with specific labeling requirements.

• Mandates physicians complete an 8-hour education course before ordering medical marijuana; prohibits patients from smoking marijuana or using it while driving, in public places, or on school grounds; does not require insurance coverage for medical marijuana purchases.