Original story by Hernán Panessi for El Planteo.
Wherever the GOAT appears, a revolution takes place. Ever since Messi arrived at Inter Miami in 2023, the entire United States has been feverishly tuning in to a sport that was barely noticed just five minutes ago.
Thousands of people are converging on the shores of Florida from all over the world to see Leo Messi’s Inter live and direct.
Miami is, in fact, today’s new epicenter of global entertainment. Recently, Messi’s presence attracted visitors including Camila Cabello, Maluma, DJ Khaled, Kim Kardashian and LeBron James, among other top celebrities.
And there are thousands of curious, enthusiasts, upstarts and soccer players traveling to Florida to create a personal memory with David Beckham’s team and its most precious gem. This has brought up a couple of questions, including many people who are wondering about cannabis.
Can you go to Inter Miami’s match and see Leo Messi after smoking or using marijuana in some way?
Marijuana Use In Miami
“Of course, you can attend a soccer/sporting event at a stadium after consuming or smoking cannabis,” renowned Clark Hill’s lawyer Robert Hoban told El Planteo in an exclusive talk.
However, he clarified: “Public or open consumption in the parking lot or at the stadium is prohibited by the state cannabis laws and the general ‘smoking’ laws. Florida Medical Marijuana Laws prohibit you to use your high-THC medication in public or in public transportation.”
What Florida Law Says
Currently, Florida is a state that contemplates medical marijuana on a finite list of conditions to qualify as a purchaser.
As information is power, heads up to the curious, enthusiastic, upstarts and footballers out there: Let’s plunge a bit further here.
To legally qualify as a medical marijuana patient in Florida, you must be a permanent or seasonal resident, be diagnosed by a qualified physician with a medical condition from a specific list, be listed in the Medical Marijuana Use Registry and obtain a Medical Marijuana Use Registry ID Card.
So currently, medical use of marijuana is legal in Florida. On the other hand, recreational marijuana remains illegal.
Additional facts about the state law: Qualified patients with a valid Medical Marijuana Use Registry ID card can purchase and use medical marijuana. Recreational use is still illegal, and possession of cannabis outside the medical program is prohibited. Possession of 20 grams or less without authorization is a misdemeanor; possession of more than 20 grams is a felony, with penalties increasing at 25 pounds or 300 plants (trafficking). It is illegal for patients or caregivers to grow marijuana at home — only state-licensed Medical Marijuana Treatment Centers may cultivate. Florida law imposes fines and possible jail time for unauthorized possession in any amount.
Inter Miami And Medical Marijuana
What are the qualifying conditions?
A patient must be diagnosed with at least one of the following conditions: ALS or Lou Gehrig’s disease; cancer; Crohn’s disease; epilepsy; glaucoma; HIV/AIDS; multiple sclerosis; Parkinson’s disease; PTSD; a terminal condition diagnosed by another physician other than the licensed physician who issued the medical certification; a non-malignant chronic pain induced by a qualifying medical condition or medical conditions comparable to those listed above.
Meanwhile, patients can consume medical marijuana before going to the stadium and get excited about Lionel Messi, captain of the Argentine National Team.
“People with a qualifying medical condition can use medical marijuana. However, the consumption of medical marijuana must take place within a private residence,” the lawyer pointed out.
“Under Florida law, there are no places within a stadium that can be used to consume marijuana at present.”
Cannabis Derivatives
Florida has made progress in recent years in terms of expanding rights and guarantees related to hemp derivatives and other cannabinoids, so “one could bring in drinks, edibles, and the like to the stadium; however, the stadium limits what spectators can bring into an event.”
So, in practical terms, “this would prohibit a spectator from bringing in a beverage and using a vape at the event, would likely also prohibit edibles from being brought in for consumption purposes,” the lawyer concluded.
Photo by Bryan Berlin, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
