Sarasota has 13 dispensaries licensed by the Florida Office of Medical Marijuana Use (OMMU). They serve registered medical patients only, so the question most winter visitors ask, "can I just walk in?", has a short answer: no. Part-time residents who meet Florida's seasonal-resident rule can qualify for a card, though, and that matters in a city where so many people split the year with a home up north.
Sarasota's stores follow its main roads rather than one strip: two sit on Main Street downtown, three line the Tamiami Trail as it runs south, and the rest are scattered from Fruitville Road out to the north side. In February 2018 the city commission cleared the way for dispensaries in specific zoning districts, after a short ban while it rewrote the code, according to the Sarasota News Leader. Curaleaf and MÜV run two stores each; nine other companies have one apiece.
All 13 Licensed Dispensaries in Sarasota, FL
The 34231 ZIP south of downtown has the most stores, four, along S Tamiami Trail, Clark Road and Stickney Point Road. Downtown's 34236 has three and 34239, just south of downtown, has two. The north side (34243) and the Fruitville and Beneva area (34232) have two each.
Downtown and the bayfront: Sunburn at 1410 Main Street and MÜV (1618 Main Street) are a short walk apart, with Sanctuary Cannabis on N Washington Boulevard. Just south, Curaleaf (1435 S Tamiami Trail) and Ayr Cannabis Dispensary on Siesta Drive.
South Trail: Mint Cannabis and Eden Florida on S Tamiami Trail, GrowHealthy on Clark Road and Planet 13 on Stickney Point Road. East and north: MÜV (5045 Fruitville Road), Trulieve on N Beneva Road, Sunnyside on Lockwood Ridge Road and Curaleaf (3704 84th Avenue Circle E).
Best Sarasota Dispensaries for Every Need
Based on public Google ratings and hours, checked October 2026:
- Highest rated: Sunburn, Sunnyside, Mint Cannabis, MÜV on Main Street and Eden Florida, all at 4.9 stars with at least 100 reviews.
- Most reviewed: Sunburn (about 1,400 reviews), Sunnyside and MÜV on Fruitville Road (about 1,100 each), then Trulieve (about 1,000).
- Early birds: Eden Florida, Mint Cannabis and Planet 13 open at 7 a.m.
- Close early: Eden Florida and GrowHealthy shut at 7 p.m., so plan evening trips elsewhere. Mint, Sunburn and Trulieve stay open until 8:45 p.m.
Visiting a Dispensary in Sarasota: ID, Payment and Hours
At the counter you show two things: your Florida registry ID card and a photo ID. The store checks the state registry and your physician's order before filling anything. Payment rules differ by company, so look at the listing or phone ahead rather than counting on a credit card. State law forbids dispensing from a store between 9 p.m. and 7 a.m.
Snowbirds and Seasonal Residents: Can You Get a Card?
Florida has no reciprocity, so a card from Ohio, New York or Michigan does nothing here. But section 381.986 lets a seasonal resident qualify. You count as one if you live in Florida at least 31 consecutive days each calendar year, keep a temporary residence here, return to your home state at least once a year, and are registered to vote or pay income tax in another state. Instead of a Florida driver license, you give two proofs of your Florida address, such as a deed or lease, a utility bill, or bank or government mail. Then the process is the same as for anyone else: a qualified physician, the registry and the $75 yearly card.
Sarasota and Florida Cannabis Laws: Purchase Limits, Public Use and Driving
Stores may not dispense more than a 70-day supply in any 70 days, and smokable flower is limited to one 35-day supply, capped at 2.5 ounces, in any 35 days. Lido, Siesta and the bayfront parks are public places, where smoking medical marijuana is a misdemeanor, and impaired driving is DUI regardless of your card. See our Florida marijuana laws guide for the full picture.
Cannabis Taxes in Sarasota
Florida's sales tax law exempts medical marijuana and delivery devices, so a Sarasota receipt shows no sales tax at all. Each company must post its menu and the price of a 30, 50 and 70-day supply online. See our 2026 price comparison.
Medical Marijuana in Sarasota
All 13 stores are medical stores. Caregivers who are 21 or older and Florida residents can register to shop for a patient, and treatment centers may deliver to patients' homes at any hour.
Dispensaries Near Sarasota
- Dispensaries in Bradenton: 12 stores just north in Manatee County.
- Dispensaries in North Port: 4 stores south on I-75.
- Dispensaries in Port Charlotte: 7 stores in Charlotte County.
- Dispensaries in St. Petersburg: 18 stores across the Sunshine Skyway.
Browse all cities in our Florida directory.
Sarasota Dispensary FAQ
Is marijuana legal in Sarasota?
Only for medical use by registered Florida patients. Recreational marijuana is still illegal; the 2024 legalization amendment got 55.9% of the vote but needed 60%.
How many dispensaries are in Sarasota?
13 licensed stores from 11 companies.
Can snowbirds buy at Sarasota dispensaries?
Only after getting a Florida card. Part-time residents who meet the seasonal-resident rule can qualify using two proofs of a Florida address.
Can tourists buy weed in Sarasota?
No. Florida does not honor other states' medical cards, and there is no adult-use sale.
Is there a dispensary near Siesta Key?
Not on the key itself. Ayr on Siesta Drive and Planet 13 on Stickney Point Road, the roads that lead to the key's bridges, are the closest.
What time do Sarasota dispensaries open?
Eden Florida, Mint Cannabis and Planet 13 open at 7 a.m., the earliest the law allows; most others open at 9 a.m.
Can I smoke on the beach in Sarasota?
No. Beaches are public places, and smoking medical marijuana in public is a first-degree misdemeanor.
What is the best dispensary in Sarasota?
Sunburn on Main Street combines a 4.9-star rating with the most reviews in the city. The ratings list above has the rest.
Does your dispensary need more visibility? Cannabis shoppers use The Weed Street Journal to compare stores, read strain guides and check the law before they buy. Advertise with us · Spotted a wrong address, phone number or hours? Tell us and we will fix it free.
How we build this list: Every store comes from the OMMU's published list of approved dispensing locations, matched to the treatment center that runs it. Ratings, review counts and opening hours are from public Google Maps data, and the list is refreshed monthly.