If you’re walking into any medical cannabis dispensary in Southern Florida—Miami, Fort Lauderdale, Boca Raton—there’s a good chance the most popular product you’ll see is dried smokable flower. Despite the rising popularity of vapes, edibles, and concentrates, data and patient behavior show flower remains the top choice for many. Here’s why, which brands dominate, and how flower compares to other forms.
What the Data Says
- According to Headset’s market breakdown, “smokable flower (including flower + pre-rolls)” accounted for ~44% of total Florida medical cannabis sales in March 2025. In that month alone, Florida medical cannabis sales reached $162.99 million, with flower commanding the largest share.
- In another breakdown (“Florida’s cannabis market set to explode with adult-use legalization …”), flower and pre-rolls dominate with 47.1% of total sales in the market. That’s nearly half of what patients spend. READ MORE: headset.io
- Usage incidence (how often patients report using certain product types) shows that in Florida, ~61% of patients reported consuming flower, while about 57% reported using gummies/edibles. So while edibles are close, flower still leads in both dollars spent and frequency. READ MORE: Cannabis Business Times
Why Flower Is the Go-To Consumable
Several factors make flower the preferred choice among medical patients in South Florida:
- Effectiveness and speed
Smoking or inhaling flower provides fast onset—relief often begins within minutes. For patients managing pain, nausea, or acute symptoms, that immediate effect matters more than delayed release from edibles. - Dose flexibility
You can control how much flower you use much more easily: adjust puff size, number of puffs, etc. This is harder with pre-dosed edibles or concentrates. - Flavor & strain variety
Flower offers nuance: terpenes, aroma, strain differences. Brands like Surterra, Trulieve, Curaleaf, MÜV, and others carry wide strain selections. Patients report wanting specific strains (e.g. Bubba Kush, Blue Dream) for desired effects. SITE: DocMJ - Cost per dose
On a gram-basis, flower tends to offer better “bang for buck” than vapes or concentrates, though good hardware and quality flower matter. Pre-rolls (flower rolled) often cost more per gram, but for some users the convenience balances out the price.
Popular Brands & Dispensaries for Flower
Here are some of the go-to brands and dispensaries in Southern Florida known for flower offerings:
- Trulieve is among the most popular chains. Many Southern Florida patients turn to Trulieve dispensaries (in Miami-Dade, Broward, Palm Beach) for a wide flower menu, pre-rolls, and strong strain variation. SITE: My Florida Green
- Curaleaf also has multiple locations in this region and emphasizes quality flower, indoor/greenhouse grows, and strain selection. Their inventory often includes strong flower phenotypes. SITE: My Florida Green
- Surterra Wellness is notable for its curated flower offerings, indoor/greenhouse flower, and specialty strains. Many patients prefer Surterra when flavor, aroma, and consistency are key. SITE: My Florida Green
- MÜV is another brand that offers flower, concentrates, edibles etc. For those who want alternatives, but when flower is the goal, many of their flower lines are considered high quality. SITE: MÜV Florida
Comparison: Flower vs Other Consumables
| Consumable Type | Onset Time | Duration | Precision / Dosing Control | Popularity in SoFL | Best for … |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flower (smoking) | Very fast (minutes) | Short to moderate (2-4 hrs) | Moderate-High (users control their intake) | #1 by dollars and incidence. ~44-47% sales share. | Acute relief (pain, nausea), anxiety, when faster acting effect needed |
| Vapes / Cartridges | Very fast | Moderate (2-3 hrs) | Good (dose per puff) | Growing share, but below flower in SoFL & Florida overall. | Discreet use, portability, less odor |
| Edibles / Gummies | Slow (30-90 min) | Long (4-8+ hrs) | Lower control (ingestion timing, metabolism variation) | High incidence; gummies rank 2nd in usage. But smaller portion of sales dollars. | Overnight relief, long-lasting effects, those who avoid inhalation |
| Concentrates / Extracts | Fast, powerful | Shorter bursts | High potency, risk of overuse | Lower in dollars vs flower; used by more experienced patients. | Very strong symptom relief, tolerance, strong effects needed |
What Flower Looks Like in Practice: Strain Examples & THC Content
- Bubble Gum (also “Bubba Gum”) is one of the most frequently cited strains in Florida. It averages ~17% THC and is popular for its balance of uplifting and calming effects.
- Blue Dream is another favorite, particularly among patients wanting relief + mood uplift. THC content generally runs in the upper-teens in many Florida products.
- Stronger phenotypes & flower cultivars (often from premium and indoor grows) may reach 20-25% THC or higher, but pricing often reflects that premium. Many patients are willing to pay more for flavor and potency when flower is first choice.
Challenges & Trends
- Flower’s dominance is under slight pressure from rising interest in edibles / gummies. Many patients who dislike smoking or inhalation shift to edibles. Yet shifts have been gradual; edibles still lag flower in dollars. READ MORE: Marijuana Venture
- Vape products saw rapid growth, especially among those who want discretion or fast onset; yet regulatory scrutiny (product quality, safety) often makes flower more reliable.
- Patients cite price, strain selection, and trust in quality as reasons to stick with flower: lab tested, third-party (or internal) analytics, visible product (smell, bud trimming) provide reassurance.
What Patients Should Know
- Always check lab test results for pesticide, potency, mold. Flower quality can vary widely among cultivators. Dispensaries usually display them (Surterra, Curaleaf, Trulieve all do). SITE: surterra.com
- If you’re new, start with lower THC flower (15-18%) or hybrids with balanced effects. 25%+ flower can hit hard.
- For long-lasting relief, combining flower with other methods (e.g. edibles overnight) might improve efficacy without overuse.
- Be aware of inhalation risk: smoke irritates lungs; vaporizing flower (dry herb vape) can be less harsh.
Leading in Both Sales and Use
In Southern Florida dispensaries, dried smokable flower remains the number one go-to cannabis consumable for medical patients. It leads in both sales dollars and frequency of use, due to fast onset, dose flexibility, strain variety, and perceived value. Brands like Trulieve, Surterra, Curaleaf, and MÜV dominate when it comes to stocking quality flower options.
Other consumables—edibles, vapes, concentrates—are growing and offer important alternatives, but for those seeking reliability, control, and effect, flower is still king in Southern Florida. MORE DISPENSARIES HERE: Visit Florida Dispensaries