Qualifying Health Conditions for Medical Marijuana

Medical marijuana (MMJ) refers to the use of marijuana (also referred to as cannabis) for medical purposes, such as reducing pain, nausea, and muscle spasms caused by certain medical conditions. In recent years, many states in the United States have legalized the use of medical marijuana, and currently, most US states allow it in some form.

Some states have even begun approving marijuana for recreational - 21 states, to be exact. Of course, the laws and regulations regarding medical marijuana vary from state to state. In general, patients with certain medical conditions can access marijuana with a prescription from a licensed healthcare provider.

To qualify for medical marijuana, the patient must first be diagnosed with a qualifying health condition. These qualifying health conditions for medical marijuana vary from state to state, so understanding the specific regulations in your state is of the utmost importance.

We've compiled a list of qualifying health conditions for each state. Keep in mind that you must seek state approval for a medical marijuana card after diagnosis with a qualifying condition, and these conditions only apply to residents of that state seeking medical marijuana. Unless noted with the date of legalization, adult-use cannabis remains illegal in some states.

Alabama

Qualifying health conditions:

• Cancer-related symptoms: weight loss, cachexia/wasting syndrome, nausea or vomiting, and chronic pain
• Neurological and psychiatric conditions: PTSD, depression, epilepsy, autism spectrum disorders, panic disorder, Parkinson’s disease, spasticity related to spinal cord injury, MS, ALS and other motor neuron diseases, and Tourette’s syndrome
• Digestive conditions: Crohn’s disease
• Blood disorders: sickle cell anemia
• HIV/AIDS-related nausea or weight loss
• Persistent nausea unresponsive to common treatments and not caused by pregnancy or marijuana use
• Terminal illness
• Chronic pain unresponsive to opioids or for which opioid therapy is inadvisable

2021: Medical cannabis legalized

Alaska

2010: Medical cannabis legalized

2020: Adult-use cannabis legalized

Qualifying health conditions:

• Neurological conditions: Alzheimer's disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (otherwise known as ALS/ Lou Gehrig's disease), persistent muscle spasms, seizures, and PTSD
• Cancer and related conditions: cancer, cachexia/wasting syndrome
• Chronic pain
• Digestive conditions: Crohn's disease
• Glaucoma
• Liver conditions: hepatitis C
• HIV or AIDS
• Nausea

Arizona

2010: Medical cannabis legalized

2020: Adult-use cannabis legalized

Qualifying health conditions:

• Neurological conditions: amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), Alzheimer’s disease (when agitation occurs), multiple sclerosis, post-traumatic stress disorder
• Chronic or debilitating diseases: cachexia or wasting syndrome, severe pain, chronic pain, seizures, severe nausea
• Gastrointestinal conditions: Chron’s disease
• HIV/AIDS
• Glaucoma
• Cancer

Arkansas

2016: Medical cannabis legalized

Qualifying health conditions:

• Neurological conditions: amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), Alzheimer's disease, multiple sclerosis (MS), peripheral neuropathy, Tourette's syndrome, seizures.
• Chronic or debilitating diseases: cachexia or wasting syndrome, chronic or debilitating disease, fibromyalgia, glaucoma, intractable pain, severe arthritis, severe nausea, severe and persistent muscle spasms.
• Gastrointestinal conditions: Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis.
• Cancer
• Hepatitis C
• HIV/AIDS
• PTSD
• Any medical condition or its treatment approved by the Department of Health (DOH)

California

1996: Medical cannabis legalized

2016: Adult-use cannabis legalized

Qualifying health conditions:

• Chronic or debilitating conditions: chronic pain, anorexia, arthritis, migraine, persistent muscle spasms, severe nausea, seizures, and cachexia or wasting syndrome
• Life-threatening conditions: cancer, HIV/AIDS, and glaucoma
• Any other illness deemed appropriate by a physician

Colorado

2000: Medical cannabis legalized

2012: Adult-use cannabis legalized

Qualifying health conditions:

• Neurological and developmental conditions: autism spectrum disorders, chronic nervous system disorders, persistent muscle spasms, seizures, and post-traumatic stress syndrome
• Cancer and related conditions: cancer, cachexia/wasting syndrome
• Chronic pain
• Glaucoma
• HIV/AIDS
• Nausea
• Any condition where a physician would prescribe an opioid for relief

Connecticut

2012: Medical cannabis legalized

2021: Adult-use cannabis legalized

Qualifying health conditions:

• Neurological conditions: amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS, also known as Lou Gehrig's disease), epilepsy, glaucoma, hydrocephalus with intractable headache, intractable neuropathic pain, intractable spasticity, intractable headache syndromes, irreversible spinal cord injury with an objective neurological indication of intractable spasticity, movement disorders associated with Huntington's disease, multiple sclerosis, muscular dystrophy, neuropathic facial pain, Parkinson's disease, post-herpetic neuralgia, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), Tourette's syndrome, and other medical conditions that may be approved by the Department of Consumer Protection.
• Chronic pain conditions: chronic neuropathic pain associated with degenerative spinal disorders, chronic pain of at least six months duration associated with a specified underlying chronic condition refractory to other treatment intervention, complex regional pain syndrome, Ehlers-Danlos syndrome associated with chronic pain, MALS (median arcuate ligament syndrome), post-surgical back pain with a condition called chronic radiculopathy, post-laminectomy syndrome, and spasticity or neuropathic pain associated with fibromyalgia.
• Autoimmune and rheumatological conditions: cystic fibrosis, osteogenesis imperfecta, severe psoriasis, psoriatic arthritis, severe rheumatoid arthritis, and vulvodynia/ vulvar burning.
• Cancer and related conditions: cancer, cachexia or wasting syndrome, and terminal illness requiring end-of-life care.
• Digestive conditions: Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis,
• Blood disorders: sickle cell disease
• Urogenital conditions: interstitial cystitis
• HIV/AIDS: Positive status for human immunodeficiency virus or acquired immune deficiency syndrome
• Other conditions: cerebral palsy, chronic pancreatitis, uncontrolled intractable seizure disorder

Delaware

2011: Medical cannabis legalized

Qualifying health conditions:

• Neurological conditions: Alzheimer's disease, amyotrophic lateral Sclerosis (ALS/ Lou Gehrig's disease), autism with self-injurious or aggressive behavior, intractable epilepsy, multiple sclerosis, seizures, severe and persistent muscle spasms, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
• Cancer and related conditions: cancer, cachexia or wasting syndrome, and terminal illness
• Chronic pain: chronic debilitating migraines, other chronic pain
• Glaucoma
• Digestive conditions: decompensated cirrhosis
• HIV/AIDS
• Nausea

Florida

2015: Medical cannabis legalized

Qualifying health conditions:

• Neurological and chronic conditions: amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS/ Lou Gehrig's disease), epilepsy, glaucoma, multiple sclerosis, muscle spasms, Parkinson's disease, PTSD, seizures, and other debilitating medical conditions comparable to those enumerated.
• Cancer and related conditions: cancer and terminal illness (patients diagnosed with no more than 12 months to live)
• Digestive conditions: Crohn's disease
• Chronic nonmalignant pain
• HIV/AIDS

Georgia

2015: Certain patients were given the right to use low-THC oil only.

Qualifying health conditions:

• Neurological conditions: Alzheimer's disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS/ Lou Gehrig's disease), autism, multiple sclerosis, Parkinson's disease, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), seizure disorder, and Tourette's syndrome.
• Chronic and debilitating conditions: AIDS, epidermolysis bullosa, intractable pain, severe or end-stage peripheral neuropathy, hospice care patients.
• Cancer
• Digestive conditions: Crohn's disease
• Blood disorders: sickle cell disease
• Mitochondrial disease

Hawaii

2000: Medical cannabis legalized

Qualifying health conditions:

• Neurological and chronic conditions: amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS/ Lou Gehrig's disease), epilepsy, glaucoma, multiple sclerosis, nausea, persistent muscle spasms, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and seizures
• Cancer and related conditions: cancer, cachexia, or wasting syndrome
• Chronic pain
• Crohn's disease
• Immune disorders: HIV or AIDS, Lupus
• Rheumatoid arthritis

Idaho

As of 2023, both adult-use and medical cannabis remain illegal.

Illinois

2013: Medical cannabis legalized

2019: Adult-use cannabis legalized

Qualifying health conditions:

• Neurological conditions: Alzheimer's disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS/ Lou Gehrig's disease), autism, anorexia nervosa, Arnold Chiari malformation, causalgia, chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy, complex regional pain syndrome type 2 (CRPS), dystonia, fibromyalgia, hydrocephalus, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), migraines, multiple sclerosis, myasthenia gravis, myoclonus, nail-patella syndrome, neurofibromatosis, neuropathy, Parkinson's disease, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), seizures, spinal cord disease, spinocerebellar ataxia (SCA), superior canal dehiscence syndrome, syringomyelia, Tarlov cysts, Tourette's syndrome, traumatic brain injury, and post-concussion syndrome.
• Chronic pain conditions and connective tissue disorders: cachexia/wasting syndrome, fibrous dysplasia, lupus, osteoarthritis, reflex sympathetic dystrophy (RSD), residual limb pain, and rheumatoid arthritis
• Cancer
• Digestive conditions: Crohn's disease, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), and ulcerative colitis
• Urogenital conditions: interstitial cystitis
• Blood disorders: sickle cell disease
• Autoimmune and rheumatological conditions: lupus, Sjogren's syndrome
• Hepatitis C
• Genetic conditions: polycystic kidney disease (PKD)
• HIV/AIDS

Indiana

2018: CBD products legalized only

Qualifying health conditions:

• Epilepsy, but only when traditional treatment is ineffective
• Dravet syndrome
• Lennox-Gastaut syndrome

Iowa

2018: CBD products legalized only

Qualifying health conditions:

• Neurological conditions: amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS/ Lou Gehrig's disease), corticobasal degeneration, intractable epilepsy, multiple sclerosis, Parkinson's disease, post-traumatic stress disorder, seizures, severe intractable autism with self-injurious or aggressive behaviors
• Cancer and related conditions: cancer, cancer-related chronic pain, nausea, or cachexia, Terminal illness
• Digestive conditions: Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis
• Chronic pain: Untreatable pain
• HIV/AIDS

Kansas

As of 2023, both adult-use and medical cannabis remain illegal in Kansas. The state did take CBD and Delta-8 THC off the list of controlled substances, but products containing these two compounds cannot contain any THC.

Kentucky

2017: CBD products legalized only

Qualifying health conditions:

• Intractable epilepsy

Louisiana

2019: Medical cannabis legalized via vaporization by inhaler only

2022: All medical cannabis methods legalized

Qualifying health conditions:

• Neurological conditions: autism spectrum disorders, epilepsy, glaucoma, multiple sclerosis, Parkinson's disease, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), seizure disorders/spasticity, severe muscle spasms
• Cancer and related conditions: cancer, cachexia or wasting syndrome
• Digestive conditions: Crohn's disease
• Muscular conditions: muscular dystrophy
• Chronic pain: intractable pain
• HIV/AIDS

1999: Medical cannabis legalized

Maine

2016: Adult-use cannabis legalized

Qualifying health conditions:

• Neurological conditions: Alzheimer's disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS/ Lou Gehrig's disease), epilepsy, glaucoma, Huntington's disease, multiple sclerosis, nail-patella syndrome, Parkinson's disease, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
• Cancer and related conditions: cancer, cachexia or wasting syndrome
• Chronic pain conditions
• Digestive conditions: Crohn's disease, inflammatory bowel disease
• Hepatitis C
• HIV/AIDS
• Nausea

Maryland

2014: Medical cannabis legalized

2022: Adult-use cannabis legalized (effective July 1, 2023)

Qualifying health conditions:

• Chronic pain conditions and related symptoms: cachexia or wasting syndrome, anorexia, glaucoma, nausea
• Neurological conditions: post-traumatic stress disorder, seizures, severe or persistent muscle spasms
• Other chronic medical conditions: chronic medical conditions that are severe and for which other treatments have been ineffective

Massachusetts

2013: Medical cannabis legalized

2016: Adult-use cannabis legalized

Qualifying health conditions:

• Neurological conditions: amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), multiple sclerosis, Parkinson's disease, anxiety, glaucoma, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
• Cancer and related conditions: cancer, cachexia or wasting syndrome
• Digestive conditions: Crohn's disease
• Chronic illness: HIV or AIDS, Hepatitis C
• Other conditions recommended by a physician.

Michigan

2008: Medical cannabis legalized

2018: Adult-use cannabis legalized

Qualifying health conditions:

• Neurological conditions: Alzheimer's disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS or Lou Gehrig's disease), autism, nail-patella, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), Parkison’s disease, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), seizures, severe and persistent muscle spasms, spinal cord injury, Tourette’s syndrome
• Cancer, cachexia or wasting syndrome
• Chronic pain conditions: arthritis, chronic pain, rheumatoid arthritis
• Digestive conditions: colitis, Crohn's disease, inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), ulcerative colitis
• HIV/AIDS
• Hepatitis C
• Cerebral palsy

Minnesota

2014: Medical cannabis legalized in non-smokable forms

2022: Revised to include smokable medical cannabis

2022: Products containing THC derived from industrial hemp are legalized if they contain less than 5 mg THC/serving

Qualifying health conditions:

• Neurodegenerative diseases: Alzheimer's disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS or Lou Gehrig’s disease), autism
• Cancer
• Neurological disorders: chronic motor or vocal tic disorder, epilepsy, multiple sclerosis, seizures, severe and persistent muscle spasms, Tourette’s syndrome
• Immune system disorders: HIV/AIDS
• Gastrointestinal disorders: Crohn’s disease, inflammatory bowel disease (IBD)
• Chronic pain, intractable pain
• Ophthalmological disorder: glaucoma
• Sleep disorder: obstructive sleep apnea
• Psychiatric disorder: post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
• Terminal illness

Mississippi

2022: Medical cannabis legalized

Qualifying health conditions:

• Neurodegenerative diseases: Alzheimer's disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS or Lou Gehrig’s disease), dementia, Huntington's disease, Parkinson's disease
• Cancer
• Neurological disorders: autism, diabetic/peripheral neuropathy, multiple sclerosis, muscular dystrophy, seizures, severe and persistent muscle spasms, spastic quadriplegia, spinal cord disease or severe injury
• Immune system disorders: HIV/AIDS, hepatitis
• Gastrointestinal disorders: Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis
• Cachexia or wasting syndrome
• Chronic pain: pain refractory to appropriate opioid management
• Ophthalmological disorder: Glaucoma
• Nausea: Severe or intractable nausea
• Psychiatric disorder: post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
• Hereditary disease: sickle-cell anemia

Missouri

2018: Medical cannabis legalized

2022: Adult-use cannabis legalized

Qualifying health conditions:

• Neurodegenerative diseases: Alzheimer's disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS or Lou Gehrig’s disease), Huntington's disease, Parkinson's disease
• Cancer
• Neurological disorders: autism, epilepsy, multiple sclerosis, seizures, severe persistent muscle spasms, Tourette’s syndrome
• Immune system disorders: HIV/AIDS, hepatitis C
• Gastrointestinal disorders: Crohn’s disease, inflammatory bowel disease (IBD)
• Chronic pain
• Migraines: intractable migraines unresponsive to other treatment
• Neuropathies
• Psychiatric disorders: debilitating psychiatric disorders, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
• Cachexia or wasting syndrome
• Ophthalmological disorder: glaucoma
• Hereditary disease: sickle cell anemia
• Terminal illness

Montana

2016: Medical cannabis legalized

2022: Adult-use cannabis legalized

Qualifying health conditions:

• Neurological disorders: a CNS disorder that results in muscle spasms or painful/chronic spasticity, epilepsy or an intractable seizure disorder, multiple sclerosis
• Cancer
• Gastrointestinal disorders: Crohn’s disease
• Immune system disorders: HIV/AIDS
• Neurological disorder: chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy
• Ophthalmological disorder: glaucoma
• Psychiatric disorder: post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
• Cachexia/wasting syndrome
• Symptoms: severe nausea or pain
• Hospice care

Nebraska

As of 2023, adult-use and medical cannabis are both illegal in Nebraska.

Nevada

2015: Medical cannabis legalized

2017: Adult-use cannabis legalized

Qualifying health conditions:

• Psychiatric disorders: anxiety, anorexia nervosa, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
• Neurological disorders: autism spectrum disorders, epilepsy, seizures, muscle spasms
• Cancer
• Chronic pain
• Dependence upon or addiction to opioids
• Ophthalmological disorder: glaucoma
• Immune system disorders: HIV/AIDS, autoimmune diseases
• Neurological disorder: multiple sclerosis
• Symptoms: nausea, neuropathy, cachexia or wasting syndrome

New Hampshire

2013: Medical cannabis legalized

Qualifying health conditions:

• Neurodegenerative diseases: Alzheimer's disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS or Lou Gehrig’s disease), Parkinson's disease
• Cancer
• Symptoms caused by cancer treatment: chemotherapy-induced anorexia, moderate to severe vomiting, nausea
• Chronic pain that has not responded to previously prescribed medication
• Gastrointestinal disorders: Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis, chronic pancreatitis
• Immune system disorders: lupus, hepatitis C, HIV/AIDS
• Neurological disorders: epilepsy, multiple sclerosis, muscular dystrophy, seizures, persistent muscle spasms, spinal cord injury or disease
• Ophthalmological disorders: Glaucoma, elevated intraocular pressure
• Hereditary disorder: Ehlers-Danlos syndrome
• Cachexia or wasting syndrome
• Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
• Terminal illness
• Traumatic brain injury (TBI)

New Jersey

2010: Medical cannabis legalized

2021: Adult-use cannabis legalized

Qualifying health conditions:

• Neurodegenerative diseases: amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS or Lou Gehrig’s disease)
• Psychiatric disorders: anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
• Cancer
• Chronic Pain
• Gastrointestinal disorders: Crohn’s disease, inflammatory bowel disease (IBD)
• Neurological disorders: epilepsy, multiple sclerosis, muscular dystrophy, seizures, Tourette’s syndrome, intractable skeletal-muscular spasticity
• Immune system disorders: HIV/AIDS
• Symptoms/other conditions: nausea, dysmenorrhea, migraines
• Opioid use disorder
• Cachexia or wasting syndrome
• Terminal illness (if a doctor has determined the patient will die within a year).

New Mexico

2007: Medical cannabis legalized

2021: Adult-use cannabis legalize

Qualifying health conditions:

• Neurodegenerative diseases: Alzheimer's disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS or Lou Gehrig’s disease), Huntington's disease, Lewy body disease, Parkinson's disease
• Eating disorders like anorexia
• Neurological disorders: autism spectrum disorders, epilepsy, seizures, multiple sclerosis, damage to the nervous tissue of the spinal cord, painful peripheral neuropathy, Friedreich’s ataxia, inclusion body myositis, spinal muscular atrophy, spasmodic torticollis (cervical dystonia)
• Immune system disorders: HIV/AIDS, hepatitis C, inflammatory autoimmune-mediated arthritis
• Cancer
• Chronic pain
• Gastrointestinal disorders: Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis
• Ophthalmological disorder: Glaucoma
• Sleep disorder: obstructive sleep apnea
• Substance use disorder: Opioid use disorder
• Psychiatric disorder: post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
• Hospice patients
• Cachexia or wasting syndrome
• Intractable nausea/vomiting

New York

As of 2022, a physician in New York has the authority to certify a patient to use medical cannabis for the treatment of any condition they deem to be severe and for which other treatments have not worked. Unlike other states, they are not limited to a specific list of conditions. This marks New York as one of the most progressive states in relation to the use of medical cannabis.

In 2021, New York legalized adult-use cannabis.

North Carolina

The only current marijuana policy active in North Carolina gives residents the right to use CBD oil derived from industrial hemp. This is not limited to any specific health conditions. Anyone is welcome to use CBD oil to treat any medical issues they may have.

North Dakota

2016: Medical cannabis legalized

Qualifying health conditions:

• Neurodegenerative diseases: amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS or Lou Gehrig’s disease) agitation from Alzheimer’s disease or related dementia
• Eating disorders: anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa
• Psychiatric disorders: anxiety disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
• Neurological disorders: autism spectrum disorders, brain injury, epilepsy, seizures, Tourette’s syndrome, severe and persistent muscle spasms
• Immune system disorders: hepatitis C, HIV/AIDS
• Cancer
• Chronic or debilitating diseases
• Gastrointestinal disorders: Crohn’s disease
• Hereditary disorder: Ehlers-Danlos syndrome
• Gynecological disorder: endometriosis
• Chronic pain: fibromyalgia, severe debilitating pain
• Ophthalmological disorder: glaucoma
• Neurological disorder: neuropathy, migraine, multiple sclerosis
• Inflammatory disease: rheumatoid arthritis
• Bladder disorder: interstitial cystitis
• Intractable nausea
• Cachexia or wasting syndrome
• Spinal stenosis

Ohio

2016: Medical cannabis legalized

Qualifying health conditions:

• Neurodegenerative diseases: Alzheimer's disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS or Lou Gehrig’s disease), Huntington's disease, Parkinson's disease
• Cancer
• Neurological disorders: epilepsy, seizures, multiple sclerosis, Tourette’s syndrome, traumatic brain injury, spinal cord disease or injury, spasticity
• Chronic pain: fibromyalgia, pain that is either chronic and severe or intractable
• Immune system disorders: HIV/AIDS, hepatitis C
• Gastrointestinal disorders: Crohn’s disease, inflammatory bowel disease, ulcerative colitis
• Neurological disorder: chronic traumatic encephalopathy
• Wasting Syndromes: cachexia, wasting syndrome
• Hereditary disease: sickle cell anemia
• Terminal illness

Oklahoma

2018: Medical cannabis legalized

While there are no qualifying health conditions in Oklahoma, common uses for medical cannabis in Oklahoma include:

• Psychiatric disorders: anxiety disorders, depression
• Symptoms: body aches, loss of appetite, nausea
• Neurological disorders: epilepsy, seizures
• Chronic pain: neuropathic pain disorders, muscle pain
• Migraines
• Cancer
• Immune system disorder: HIV/AIDS
• Cachexia or Wasting Syndrome
• Ophthalmological disorder: glaucoma
• Inflammation

Oregon

1998: Medical cannabis legalized

2014: Adult-use cannabis legalized

Qualifying health conditions:

• Neurodegenerative diseases: Alzheimer's disease
• Cancer
• Chronic pain
• Ophthalmological disorder: glaucoma
• Immune system disorder: HIV or AIDS
• Symptoms: nausea, persistent muscle spasms
• Psychiatric disorder: post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
• Neurological disorder: seizures
• Cachexia or wasting syndrome
• "Other conditions" are subject to approval, meaning that they may or may not be included in this list, depending on approval from an authorized person or institution.

Pennsylvania

2016: Medical cannabis legalized

Qualifying health conditions:

• Neurodegenerative diseases: amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS/ Lou Gehrig’s disease), Huntington’s disease, multiple sclerosis, Parkinson’s disease
• Nervous system disorders: damage to the nervous tissue of the central nervous system (brain and spinal cord), dyskinetic and spastic movement disorders, epilepsy, intractable seizures, intractable spasticity, neuropathies
• Mental health disorders: anxiety disorders, autism, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
• Chronic illnesses: cancer, Crohn’s disease, inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), opioid use disorder
• Blood Disorders: sickle cell anemia
• Infectious diseases: HIV/AIDS
• Terminal illness
• Tourette’s syndrome
• Severe chronic or intractable pain
• Glaucoma (an eye disorder)

Rhode Island

2006: Medical cannabis legalized

2022: Adult-use cannabis legalized

Qualifying health conditions:

• Neurodegenerative diseases: Alzheimer's disease
• Cancer
• Chronic pain
• Gastrointestinal disorders: Crohn’s disease
• Neurological disorders: epilepsy, seizures, persistent muscle spasms
• Immune system disorders: HIV/AIDS, hepatitis C
• Neurological disorder: multiple sclerosis
• Nausea
• Post-traumatic stress disorder
• Cachexia or wasting syndrome

South Carolina

2022: Medical cannabis legalized

Qualifying health conditions:

• Neurological disorders: autism, multiple sclerosis, epilepsy, other neurological diseases
• Gastrointestinal disorders: Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis
• Cancer
• Chronic pain: A chronic medical condition causing severe and persistent muscle spasms or a chronic medical condition for which an opioid is or could be prescribed based on standards of care
• Severe or persistent nausea
• Cachexia or wasting syndrome
• Hereditary disease: sickle cell anemia
• Psychiatric disorder: post-traumatic stress disorder
• Terminal illness
• Any condition causing a person to be homebound

South Dakota

2020: Medical cannabis legalized

Qualifying health conditions:

• Neurodegenerative diseases: amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS or Lou Gehrig’s disease)
• Cancer
• Chronic pain
• Gastrointestinal disorders: Crohn’s disease
• Neurological disorders: epilepsy, seizures, multiple sclerosis
• Immune system disorder: HIV/AIDS
• Ophthalmological disorder: glaucoma
• Nausea or severe vomiting
• Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
• Cachexia or wasting syndrome

Tennessee

Only CBD oil derived from industrial hemp is allowed to be sold and prescribed in the state of Tennessee.

Qualifying health conditions:

• Neurodegenerative diseases: Alzheimer's disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS or Lou Gehrig’s disease), Parkinson’s disease
• Cancer and related conditions
• Gastrointestinal disorders: Crohn’s disease, inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), ulcerative colitis
• Neurological disorders: epilepsy, seizures, multiple sclerosis
• Immune system disorder: HIV/AIDS
• Hereditary diseases: sickle cell disease

Texas

2015: Medical cannabis legalized (low-THC only)

Qualifying health conditions:

• Neurodegenerative diseases: amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS/ Lou Gehrig’s disease)
• Neurological disorders: epilepsy, seizures, multiple sclerosis, spasticity
• Psychiatric disorder: post-traumatic stress disorder
• Autism
• Terminal cancer

Utah

2018: Medical cannabis legalized

Qualifying health conditions:

• Neurodegenerative diseases: Alzheimer's disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS or Lou Gehrig’s disease)
• Neurological disorders: epilepsy, seizures, multiple sclerosis, autism, persistent and debilitating muscle spasms
• Cancer and related conditions
• Gastrointestinal disorders: Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis
• Chronic pain
• Immune system disorder: HIV/AIDS
• Nausea
• Psychiatric disorder: post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
• Cachexia or wasting syndrome
• Terminal illness
• Hospice patients

Vermont

2004: Medical cannabis legalized

2018: Adult-use cannabis legalized

Qualifying health conditions:

• Cancer and related conditions
• Crohn’s disease
• Neurological disorders: epilepsy, seizures, multiple sclerosis, Parkinson’s disease
• Ophthalmological disorder: glaucoma
• HIV/AIDS
• Severe nausea
• Severe or chronic pain
• Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
• Cachexia or wasting syndrome

Virginia

2021:  Medical cannabis legalized

2021: Adult-use cannabis legalized

Qualifying health conditions:

• Neurodegenerative diseases: Alzheimer's disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS or Lou Gehrig’s disease), Huntington’s disease, Parkinson’s disease
• Cancer and related conditions
• Gastrointestinal disorders: Crohn’s disease, inflammatory bowel disease (IBD)
• Neurological disorders: epilepsy, seizures, multiple sclerosis (MS)
• Hepatitis C
• Sickle cell anemia
• Chronic pain
• Psychiatric disorders: anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
• Fibromyalgia
• Autism
• Cachexia or wasting syndrome
• Tourette's syndrome

Washington

1998: Medical cannabis legalized

2012: Adult-use cannabis legalized

Qualifying health conditions:

• Cancer and related conditions
• Crohn’s disease
• Neurological disorders: epilepsy, seizures, multiple sclerosis, persistent muscle spasms and/or spasticity
• Glaucoma
• Immune system disorders: HIV/AIDS, hepatitis C
• Nausea, appetite loss
• Chronic renal failure requiring hemodialysis
• Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
• Cachexia or wasting syndrome
• Traumatic brain injury
• Terminal or debilitating conditions
• Anorexia nervosa
• Intractable pain

West Virginia

2017: Medical cannabis legalized

Qualifying health conditions:

• Neurodegenerative diseases: Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS/ Lou Gehrig’s disease), Huntington’s disease, Parkinson’s disease
• Cancer and related conditions
• Crohn’s disease
• Neurological disorders: epilepsy, intractable seizures, multiple sclerosis, neuropathy, spinal cord damage
• HIV/AIDS
• Sickle cell anemia
• Severe chronic or intractable pain
• Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
• Intractable spasticity
• Terminal illness

Wisconsin

In 2014, Wisconsin legalized CBD as the only accepted form of medical cannabis. Anyone in the state is welcome to use CBD oil for their ailments with a doctor's recommendation.

Wyoming

In 2015, Wyoming officially allowed anyone with intractable epilepsy access to CBD-only products to help manage seizures.

Washington, DC

2010: Medical cannabis legalized

2014: Adult-use cannabis legalized

There are no limitations on the qualifying conditions required to purchase or use cannabis in Washington, DC. All individuals have access to medical cannabis with the advice of a physician. All individuals 21 and older may purchase cannabis for adult use from dispensaries in the District.

Medical Marijuana FAQ

If medical marijuana is legal in your state, you’ll want to learn more about marijuana and the process necessary to get your medical card. These frequent questions can help.

Want to Learn More? Zen Leaf Can Help

If you want to learn more about medical marijuana, Zen Leaf can provide you with a wealth of information about the various medical cannabis products we carry. Our experienced staff can help you weigh the benefits and side effects of medical cannabis and answer any questions you may have about your state’s qualifying health conditions for medical marijuana. Find a Zen Leaf dispensary near you today.

References:

1. Birdsall, S.M., Birdsall, T.C. & Tims, L.A. The Use of Medical Marijuana in Cancer. Curr Oncol Rep 18, 40 (2016). Retrieved February 21, 2023, from https://doi.org/10.1007/s11912-016-0530-0
2. Alger, B. E. (2013, November 1). Getting High on the Endocannabinoid System - PMC. NCBI. Retrieved February 21, 2023, from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3997295/
3. Clinical Data for the Use of Cannabis-Based Treatments: A Comprehensive Review of the Literature - Shannon Inglet, Bradly Winter, Sarah E. Yost, Sophia Entringer, Anh Lian, Meryl Biksacky, Renee D. Pitt, Whitney Mortensen, 2020. (2020, June 2). SAGE Journals. Retrieved February 21, 2023, from https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/1060028020930189