Recent legislation raises questions for patients, doctors, and dispensaries across Miami-Dade
Miami is home to a growing number of residents who rely on medical marijuana to manage chronic pain, anxiety, and other health conditions. But a new Florida law passed during the 2025 Legislative Session may change how some patients access this treatment. With Governor Ron DeSantis signing Senate Bill 2514 into law, medical marijuana patients now face stricter rules—particularly when it comes to legal issues involving drug-related crimes.
What the new law says
The legislation includes a provision that could revoke a patient’s ability to legally use medical marijuana if they are convicted of participating in illegal drug activities. According to Sha’Ron James, a Tallahassee-based attorney and healthcare policy lobbyist, “A simple possession [of illicit marijuana] would not fall under the scope of this law.”
Instead, the law targets more serious criminal activity, though it leaves some room for interpretation. Enforcement will be handled by the Florida Department of Health’s Office of Medical Marijuana Use (OMMU), which is responsible for issuing patient and caregiver ID cards. Patients can learn more about their rights at knowthefactsmmj.com.
One of the biggest challenges right now? Communication gaps. James notes that currently, there is no system in place to automatically notify patients if their medical marijuana ID card has been revoked. Law enforcement agencies also do not directly alert the Department of Health. This means patients must take responsibility for monitoring their own status, because once a card is revoked, possession of medical marijuana becomes illegal—even if the patient was originally approved for treatment.
What patients need to know
For Miami-Dade residents who depend on cannabis-based treatment, this law introduces several important considerations:
- Check your card status regularly. Until a better notification system exists, patients must verify that their medical marijuana ID remains valid.
- Reapplication is possible. Anyone who loses their ID under this law may reapply by submitting a new application and a notarized statement confirming they have completed any court-ordered jail time, probation, or supervision.
- Doctors and dispensaries are in limbo. At this stage, it is unclear whether physicians or dispensaries will be directly informed about revoked cards. Future regulations will likely address this gap.
- Legal gray areas remain. With the law still fresh, many details will depend on how the Department of Health decides to enforce it.
Community organizations are already working to educate patients. The Medical Marijuana Education and Research Initiative (MMERI) at Florida A&M University, for example, recently hosted a virtual forum featuring attorney Sha’Ron James to break down how this law could impact patients. A replay of the forum is available here.
Medical marijuana has been a lifeline for many Miami residents, but new laws highlight the importance of staying informed. As the state clarifies enforcement rules, patients should take extra care to monitor their card status and stay engaged with trusted sources of information.
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