Florida medical marijuana evaluation in Lakeland via Ascend Mind and Body: in-person Compassionate Use Registry evaluation at our Polk County office (832 South Florida Ave, Suite 1, Floor 2, 33801) for adults with qualifying medical conditions. Conducted by a board-certified family medicine physician with a real workup, not a fifteen-minute mill visit. Dr. Jason Saylor, DO is the qualifying physician. [NEEDED: Saylor MMU registry status confirmation - Florida Office of Medical Marijuana Use qualifying-physician registration verified] Call (863) 510-2624 or book online.
What the Florida medical marijuana evaluation covers
Florida law (Section 381.986, Florida Statutes) authorizes physicians registered as qualifying physicians with the state's Office of Medical Marijuana Use (OMMU) to recommend medical cannabis for adults with specific qualifying conditions. The recommendation enters the Compassionate Use Registry; from there, the patient applies for a state-issued ID card through the OMMU and can purchase from licensed Medical Marijuana Treatment Centers in Florida.
Our Lakeland evaluation reviews your medical history, current medications, prior treatments, and how the qualifying condition has been managed up to now. We discuss what's been studied for cannabis in your condition, the FDA's regulatory position (medical cannabis is not FDA-approved), drug interactions to know about, and the state ID-card process. We also discuss alternatives that might be appropriate alongside or instead.
Florida's qualifying conditions
Florida statute lists specific qualifying medical conditions, including (at the time of this writing): cancer, epilepsy, glaucoma, HIV/AIDS, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), Crohn's disease, Parkinson's disease, multiple sclerosis, medical conditions of the same kind or class as those listed, terminal conditions diagnosed by a physician other than the qualifying physician, and chronic nonmalignant pain caused by or originating from a qualifying medical condition. The list can change as Florida law evolves; we confirm eligibility at your evaluation. [NEEDED: cite - Florida Statute §381.986; current OMMU rules]
How it works
Step one: the evaluation
Your in-person evaluation takes 30 to 45 minutes at our Lakeland office. You'll bring records documenting your qualifying condition (specialist notes, imaging reports, prior medication trials, related diagnoses). We review symptoms, treatment history, current medications, and what you're hoping cannabis might help with. We discuss what the actual research says for your condition, what risks and side effects to know, and what to expect from the state ID-card process. If clinically appropriate, the recommendation is entered into the Compassionate Use Registry that same visit.
Step two: the state ID card
After your registry entry, you complete the patient application through the Florida Office of Medical Marijuana Use website. The state fee is paid separately to OMMU (not to us). Processing typically takes a few weeks. Once your ID card is issued, you can visit any licensed Florida Medical Marijuana Treatment Center.
Step three: follow-up
Florida law requires ongoing physician evaluation to maintain the registry recommendation. Most patients need a follow-up visit at the state-required interval (currently 210 days, subject to statutory change). Many follow-up visits are appropriate via telehealth in Florida. We coordinate with your other providers when cannabis affects medication management for other conditions.
Where we are in Lakeland
The Lakeland office is at 832 South Florida Avenue, Suite 1, Floor 2, Lakeland, FL 33801, in downtown Lakeland just south of Lake Mirror. From central Lakeland, expect a 5-minute drive. From Mulberry or Bartow via 98 South, about 15 minutes. From Plant City via I-4, about 20 minutes east. From Auburndale or Winter Haven via 540, about 20 minutes west or northwest.
Who we work with in Lakeland & nearby Polk County
- Lakeland: 33801, 33803, 33805, 33809, 33810, 33811, 33812, 33813
- Mulberry: 33860
- Bartow: 33830
- Auburndale: 33823
- Winter Haven: 33880, 33881, 33884
- Plant City: 33563, 33566 (often closer to Lakeland than to Tampa)
- Polk City: 33868
Conditions where evaluation is most often appropriate
- Chronic nonmalignant pain - when caused by or originating from a qualifying medical condition under Florida statute
- PTSD - documented diagnosis required; we coordinate with our talk therapy team and psychiatric program
- Cancer-related symptoms - nausea, appetite, pain (coordinated with oncology)
- Crohn's disease and inflammatory bowel disease - coordinated with gastroenterology
- Multiple sclerosis - spasticity and pain coordinated with neurology
- Parkinson's disease - symptom management coordinated with neurology
- Other qualifying conditions per Florida statute
Our physician
Dr. Jason Saylor, DO is a board-certified osteopathic family medicine physician with 17 years of clinical experience, serving as Chief Medical Officer at Ascend. His clinical scope explicitly includes chronic disease management, chronic pain, and preventive medicine. [NEEDED: Saylor MMU registry status confirmation - verify Florida Office of Medical Marijuana Use qualifying-physician registration is active for Lakeland]
Insurance & pricing
Most insurance plans do not cover medical marijuana evaluations because cannabis remains a federally controlled Schedule I substance. The clinical visit itself is typically self-pay. We can sometimes bill insurance for the underlying chronic disease management visit when that's the appropriate clinical scope, separately from the certification.
[NEEDED: medical marijuana evaluation self-pay rate confirmation - initial certification, follow-up, and renewal pricing per CMO/billing review]
Florida ID card application fees are paid separately to the OMMU. Those fees are not part of our clinical visit fee.
Also see our nearby options
- Medical marijuana evaluation in Tampa: Hillsborough County office option
- Medical marijuana program pillar: full program detail
- Chronic pain: comprehensive evaluation and non-cannabis options
- PTSD: full evaluation and treatment options
- Psychiatry: medication management and diagnostic clarity
- Ascend Lakeland: full Lakeland office detail
FAQs about medical marijuana evaluation in Lakeland
What are Florida's qualifying conditions?
Florida law lists specific qualifying conditions, including cancer, epilepsy, glaucoma, HIV/AIDS, PTSD, ALS, Crohn's disease, Parkinson's disease, multiple sclerosis, medical conditions of the same kind or class, terminal conditions, and chronic nonmalignant pain caused by or originating from a qualifying medical condition. We confirm eligibility at your evaluation based on current statute.
Where in Lakeland is the evaluation done?
832 South Florida Avenue, Suite 1, Floor 2, in downtown Lakeland (33801). The initial Compassionate Use Registry evaluation is in-person per Florida law. Follow-up visits can often be done via telehealth.
How much does it cost?
[NEEDED: rate confirmation] Florida ID card application fees are paid separately to the state's Office of Medical Marijuana Use; those are not part of the clinical visit fee.
Is the evaluation covered by insurance?
Most insurance plans do not cover medical marijuana evaluations. The clinical visit is typically self-pay. We can sometimes bill insurance for the underlying chronic disease management visit when that's the appropriate clinical scope.
How long does the state ID card take?
After we enter the recommendation in the Compassionate Use Registry, you submit the patient application through the OMMU website with the state fee. Processing time varies, typically a few weeks. Once issued, the card is valid for the period set by current state rule.
What if I don't have a qualifying condition?
We won't recommend cannabis when the qualifying condition isn't documented or doesn't meet statute. We're a family medicine practice, not a mill - the certification is a clinical decision. If your situation doesn't fit the qualifying criteria, we'll be straightforward about that and discuss other options.
Medical cannabis is regulated under Florida Statute §381.986 and is not approved by the FDA for the treatment of any condition. The clinical evidence varies substantially by condition. Side effects and drug interactions exist and are discussed during evaluation. Cannabis remains a federally controlled Schedule I substance. This page is informational and does not substitute for a clinical visit. [NEEDED: cite - Florida Statute §381.986; current OMMU rules]