Contact:
Communications Office
NewsMedia@flhealth.gov
850-245-4111

Tallahassee, Fla. — The Florida Department of Health (DOH) reminds Florida residents to use caution to avoid falling victim to medical marijuana scams. The department has recently received reports of fraudulent letters claiming to come from DOH and circulating misinformation about medical marijuana laws in Florida.

Below are tips to help protect you from scams involving medical marijuana:

• If you receive suspicious looking letters claiming to be from the Florida Department of Health or the Office of Medical Marijuana Use, please call the office toll-free to verify at 1-800-808-9580.
• Only approved medical marijuana treatment centers are authorized in Florida to dispense medical marijuana to qualified patients and legal representatives. Patients are not allowed to grow marijuana in Florida. Find a list of approved medical marijuana treatment centers here.
• Only qualified physicians are permitted to certify patients for medical marijuana use. Qualified physicians can be searched here.

The department continues to focus on the health and safety of Florida’s families and is dedicated to ensuring patients have safe access to medicine. Patients can learn about qualified conditions, search for a qualified physician, apply for an ID card, and find dispensing locations at www.flhealth.gov/ommu.

To report scams to the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services call 1-800-HELP-FLA (1-800-435-7352).

To report fraud to the Attorney General’s office call 1-866-966-7226.

About the Florida Department of Health

The department, nationally accredited by the Public Health Accreditation Board, works to protect, promote and improve the health of all people in Florida through integrated state, county and community efforts.

Follow us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter at @HealthyFla. For more information about the Florida Department of Health please visit www.FloridaHealth.gov.