Florida Statute 381.986 names 10 specific qualifying conditions: cancer, epilepsy, glaucoma, HIV/AIDS, PTSD, ALS, Crohn's disease, Parkinson's disease, multiple sclerosis, and chronic nonmalignant pain. The law also lets a licensed physician certify any condition "of the same kind or class" as those, or one where the physician believes cannabis's benefit is likely to outweigh the risk. In practice, that clause is how many Florida patients get certified for anxiety, insomnia, and migraines — none of which are named outright in the statute. A Florida-licensed physician makes the final call during your evaluation.
"Do I qualify?" is the question behind almost every visit to this site. The honest answer has two parts: a short list of conditions the law names by name, and a much longer, physician-discretion list that covers most of what actually walks through a Florida telehealth visit. Both parts matter, and conflating them is where most of the confusion online comes from.
This isn't medical or legal advice, and it isn't a guarantee — only a Florida-licensed physician can certify you, and that's a clinical judgment made during your evaluation, not a checklist. What follows is the plain breakdown of how the law is actually structured, so you walk into that conversation informed.
The 10 conditions named in Florida law
Florida Statute 381.986, administered by the state's Office of Medical Marijuana Use (OMMU), names the following conditions outright. If you have a formal diagnosis for any of these, you meet the statutory bar on its face — the physician's evaluation confirms it and handles the paperwork.
| Condition | Basis |
|---|---|
| Cancer | Named in FL Statute 381.986 |
| Epilepsy | Named in FL Statute 381.986 |
| Glaucoma | Named in FL Statute 381.986 |
| HIV/AIDS | Named in FL Statute 381.986 |
| PTSD | Named in FL Statute 381.986 |
| ALS (Lou Gehrig's disease) | Named in FL Statute 381.986 |
| Crohn's disease | Named in FL Statute 381.986 |
| Parkinson's disease | Named in FL Statute 381.986 |
| Multiple sclerosis (MS) | Named in FL Statute 381.986 |
| Chronic nonmalignant pain | Named in FL Statute 381.986; often tied to an underlying diagnosis |
| Anxiety | Physician discretion — comparable-condition clause |
| Insomnia | Physician discretion — comparable-condition clause |
| Migraines | Physician discretion — comparable-condition clause |
A few of these are worth a plain-English note. ALS (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis) and Parkinson's disease are both progressive neurological conditions, certified on diagnosis. Crohn's disease is an inflammatory bowel condition, often certified alongside its associated chronic pain. Chronic nonmalignant pain is the broadest of the named conditions — it doesn't require cancer or a terminal diagnosis, only pain that persists beyond the normal course of an underlying condition, which is why it's one of the most frequently certified conditions in the state.
The clause that covers everything else
The statute doesn't stop at 10 conditions. It also authorizes a Florida-licensed physician to certify "a medical condition of the same kind or class as, or comparable to" one of the named conditions — or one for which the physician believes the medical use of cannabis is likely to outweigh the potential health risks for that patient. That single clause is doing most of the practical work, because it covers everything the original 10-condition list didn't anticipate by name.
In practice, this is the clause behind most anxiety, insomnia, and migraine certifications — three of the most common reasons patients book a telehealth visit through this site. None of the three appear in the statute's named list. All three are routinely certified under the comparable-condition standard, at the evaluating physician's clinical discretion.
What if your condition isn't on either list?
It might still qualify. The comparable-condition clause is broad by design — Florida lawmakers wrote it that way specifically so the statute wouldn't need constant amendment as clinical understanding of cannabis evolved. Conditions this site hears about often that aren't named in the statute include fibromyalgia, irritable bowel syndrome, endometriosis, and certain sleep disorders beyond simple insomnia. None of these are guaranteed, and none are denied by default — each is a case-by-case clinical call.
The practical move isn't to guess. It's to book the evaluation and let the physician make the determination with your actual history in front of them. Florida telehealth visits are short — 15 to 20 minutes — and low-commitment relative to an in-person specialist visit, which makes "just ask" a reasonable first step rather than a last resort.
Conditions people ask about most
Anxiety
Not named in the statute. Certified case by case under the comparable-condition clause, usually after the physician reviews your symptom history and what you've already tried. Anxiety is one of the most frequent reasons patients come to this site's eligibility check.
Chronic pain
Named directly, as "chronic nonmalignant pain." No cancer diagnosis required — persistent pain tied to a prior injury, a musculoskeletal condition, or another underlying diagnosis generally qualifies.
Migraines
Not named outright. Frequently certified under the comparable- condition clause, particularly for patients with a documented history of chronic or recurring migraines that haven't responded well to other treatment.
Insomnia
Not named outright, and rarely certified in complete isolation. Physicians most often certify it alongside a related diagnosis — chronic pain, anxiety, or PTSD are common companions — under the same discretionary clause.
How the determination actually happens
There's no online form that certifies a condition — only a licensed physician can. The process runs through a telehealth video consultation: the physician reviews your history, asks about your symptoms and what you've already tried, and makes a clinical determination in real time. If you qualify, they submit the certification to the state's Medical Marijuana Use Registry during or immediately after the visit — no separate paperwork on your end.
Bringing documentation helps but usually isn't mandatory: prior diagnoses, a prescription history, or specialist notes give the physician more to work with. If you don't have records handy, say so — many physician offices can request them on your behalf, or proceed based on your reported history during the visit.
Frequently asked questions
Does anxiety qualify for a medical marijuana card in Florida?
Anxiety is not one of the 10 conditions named outright in Florida Statute 381.986, but physicians regularly certify it under the law's comparable-condition clause. Whether anxiety qualifies for you is a clinical decision your evaluating physician makes case by case.
Is chronic pain a qualifying condition in Florida?
Yes. Chronic nonmalignant pain is named directly in the statute, typically when it's tied to or persists beyond an underlying diagnosis. It's one of the most commonly certified conditions in the state.
Can I qualify with just insomnia?
Insomnia alone isn't named in the statute. Physicians typically certify it under the comparable-condition clause, often alongside a related diagnosis such as chronic pain, anxiety, or PTSD.
Do I need medical records to prove my condition?
Not always, but they help. If you don't have records, the physician's office can often request them on your behalf, or make a determination based on your reported history and symptoms during the visit.
What happens if a physician says I don't qualify?
You're not charged the state's $75 annual fee unless you're certified, since that fee is paid at application. Consultation-fee refund policies vary by physician group — ask before booking. You can also seek a second opinion from a different Florida-licensed physician; one evaluation is not final.
