Qualifying Conditions for MMJ - State by State
- Seniors MMJ Network
- Jun 20, 2016
- 10 min read
We hope to educate you on what conditions qualify for Medical Marijuana. Reading through the lists, we all know at least one person who has battled with any of these conditions. Quality of life is an important factor to many and the goal of this article is to let you know if you could qualify for MMJ in your state. We have done our best to bring you accurate, up to date information as well as links to the specific states FAQ on the Medical Marijuana program.
As you will see, not every state has the same Qualifying Conditions, but you will find a commonality with many of them. Not all states have robust programs, some are limited to CBD only. Other states, like New Jersey, have a Medical Marijuana program on the books but no real action has begun in the process of developing an actual working system for the patients. With the 2016 elections around the corner, this list will undoubtedly grow. If your state has a measure on the ballot, be sure to vote your mind!
You can view a short list, courtesy of NORML - HERE
Alaska
Qualifying conditions to become a medical marijuana patient in Alaska include:
Cancer
Glaucoma
HIV/AIDS
Cachexia (wasting syndrome)
Pain
Nausea
Seizures
Muscle spasms
Multiple sclerosis
For a complete list of qualifying conditions and guidelines, please refer to Alaska's application for medical marijuana registry.
Arizona
Qualifying conditions to become a medical marijuana patient in Arizona include:
Cancer
Glaucoma
HIV/AIDS
Cachexia (wasting syndrome)
Pain
Nausea
Seizures
Muscle spasms
Multiple sclerosis
PTSD
For a complete list of qualifying conditions and guidelines, please refer to the Arizona state legislature concerning medical marijuana.
California
Qualifying conditions to become a medical marijuana patient in California include:
Cancer
Anorexia
AIDS
Chronic pain
Cachexia
Persistent muscle spasms, including those associated with multiple sclerosis
Seizures, including, but not limited to, those associated with epilepsy
Severe nausea
Glaucoma
Arthritis
Migraines
Any other chronic or persistent medical symptom that substantially limits the ability of the person to conduct one or more major life activities (as defined by the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990) or, if not alleviated, may cause serious harm to the patient's safety or physical or mental health
For a complete list of qualifying conditions and guidelines, please refer to California Proposition 215, with revised Senate Bill 420.
Colorado
Although Colorado has implemented a legal recreational cannabis market, it still operates medical marijuana dispensaries for valid patients. Colorado medical marijuana patients still pay standard sales tax on cannabis but are exempt from the high excise taxes and additional state taxes collected from recreational cannabis sales.
Qualifying conditions to become a medical marijuana patient in Colorado include:
Cancer
Glaucoma
HIV/AIDS
Cachexia (wasting syndrome)
Persistent muscle spasms
Seizures
Severe nausea
Severe pain
For a complete list of qualifying conditions and guidelines, please refer to Colorado's Debilitating Conditions for Medical Marijuana Use.
Connecticut
Qualifying conditions to become a medical marijuana patient in Connecticut include:
Cancer
Glaucoma
HIV/AIDS
Parkinson's disease
Multiple sclerosis
Damage to the nervous tissue of the spinal cord with objective neurological indication of intractable spasticity
Epilepsy
Cachexia (wasting syndrome)
Wasting syndrome
Crohn's disease
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
For a complete list of qualifying conditions and guidelines, please refer to Connecticut's medical marijuana qualification requirements.
Delaware
Qualifying conditions to become a medical marijuana patient in Delaware include:
Cancer
HIV/AIDS
Hepatitis C
Lou Gehrig's disease (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, or ALS)
Alzheimer's
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
Cachexia (wasting syndrome)
Intractable nausea
Seizures
Muscle spasms
Multiple sclerosis
For a complete list of qualifying conditions and guidelines, please refer to Delaware's medical marijuana program guidelines.
District of Columbia (Washington, D.C.)
Qualifying conditions to become a medical marijuana patient in Washington, D.C. include:
HIV/AIDS
Cancer
Glaucoma
Muscle spasms
Multiple sclerosis
Lou Gehrig's disease (ALS)
Cachexia (wasting syndrome)
Decompensated cirrhosis
Alzheimer's
Seizure disorders
Any condition diagnosed as "debilitating" by a licensed physician
For a complete list of qualifying conditions and guidelines, please refer to the District of Columbia's Medical Marijuana Program Patient FAQ.
Florida
Florida only allows for the use of cannabis extracts that are low in THC and high in CBD, as well as allowing a legal defense for the use of low THC cannabis for medicinal purposes.
Qualifying conditions to become a medical marijuana patient in Florida include:
Severe, debilitating epileptic conditions
For a complete list of qualifying conditions and guidelines, please refer to the Florida Senate's Bill Analysis.
Georgia
Georgia only allows for the use of low THC oil (less than 5% THC by weight).
Qualifying conditions to become a medical marijuana patient in Georgia include:
Cancer
Lou Gehrig's disease (ALS)
Seizure disorders related to diagnosis of epilepsy or trauma-related head injuries
Multiple sclerosis
Crohn's disease
Mitochondrial disease
Parkinson's disease
Sickle cell disease
For a complete list of qualifying conditions and guidelines, please refer to House Bill 1 (Haleigh's Hope Act).
Hawaii
Qualifying conditions to become a medical marijuana patient in Hawaii include:
Cancer
Glaucoma
HIV/AIDS
Cachexia (wasting syndrome)
Pain
Nausea
Seizures
Muscle spasms
Multiple sclerosis
For a complete list of qualifying conditions and guidelines, please refer to Hawaii Senate Bill 862.
Illinois
Qualifying conditions to become a medical marijuana patient in Illinois include:
Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS)
Alzheimer's disease
Lou Gehrig's disease (ALS)
Arnold-Chiari malformation and syringomyelia
Cachexia/wasting syndrome
Cancer
Causalgia
Chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy
Crohn's disease
CRPS (Complex Regional Pain Syndrome Type I)
CRPS (Complex Regional Pain Syndrome Type II)
Dystonia
Fibromyalgia (severe)
Fibrous dysplasia
Glaucoma
Hepatitis C
Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV)
Hydrocephalus
Interstitial cystitis
Lupus
Multiple sclerosis
Muscular dystrophy
Myasthenia gravis
Myoclonus
Nail-patella syndrome
Neurofibromatosis
Parkinson's disease
Post-concussion syndrome
Residual limb pain
Rheumatoid arthritis (RA)
Seizures
Sjogren's syndrome
Spinal cord disease (including but not limited to arachnoiditis, Tarlov cysts, hydromyelia & syringomelia)
Spinal cord injury
Spinocerebellar ataxia (SCA)
Tourette syndrome
Traumatic brain injury (TBI)
For a complete list of qualifying conditions and guidelines, please refer to the Illinois Medical Cannabis Pilot Program's FAQ.
Iowa
Iowa allows for the use of high-CBD cannabis extracts with less than .3% THC.
Qualifying conditions to become a medical marijuana patient in Iowa include:
Intractable epilepsy
For a complete list of guidelines, please refer to Iowa Medical Cannabidiol Act Quick Facts.
Kentucky
Kentucky allows for the use of low-THC cannabis or industrial hemp-derived CBD oil. Only those who are participating in a clinical trial or expanded access program are legally allowed to possess CBD oil.
For more information on accessing CBD in Kentucky, please refer to Senate Bill 124.
Louisiana
Qualifying conditions to become a medical marijuana patient in Louisiana include:
Symptoms related to cancer
Glaucoma
Spastic quadriplegia
For more information on Louisiana's medical marijuana law, please refer to Senate Bill 143.
Maine
Qualifying conditions to become a medical marijuana patient in Maine include:
Chronic pain that has not responded to conventional therapy for more than six months
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
Lou Gehrig's disease (ALS)
Alzheimer's
Cachexia (wasting syndrome)
Cancer
Crohn's disease
Glaucoma
Hepatitis C (active form)
HIV
Inflammatory bowel disease (IBS)
Seizure disorders
Severe muscle spasms (including multiple sclerosis and other diseases causing severe and persistent muscle spasms)
Severe nausea
For a complete list of qualifying conditions and guidelines, please refer to Maine's medical use of marijuana guidelines.
Maryland
Qualifying conditions to become a medical marijuana patient in Maryland include:
Cachexia (wasting syndrome)
Severe, debilitating, or chronic pain
Severe nausea
Seizures, including those characteristic of epilepsy
Severe and persistent muscle spasms
Multiple sclerosis
Crohn's disease
Alzheimer's
Cancer
Glaucoma
HIV/AIDS
Hepatitis C
For a complete list of qualifying conditions and guidelines, please refer to Maryland Senate Bill 757.
Massachusetts
Qualifying conditions to become a medical marijuana patient in Massachusetts include:
Cancer
Glaucoma
AIDS
Hepatitis C
Lou Gehrig's disease (ALS)
Crohn's disease
Parkinson's disease
Multiple sclerosis
Other debilitating conditions as determined in writing by a qualifying patient’s certifying physician.
For a complete list of qualifying conditions and guidelines, please refer to the Massachusetts medical use of marijuana overview.
Michigan
Qualifying conditions to become a medical marijuana patient in Michigan include:
Cancer
Glaucoma
HIV/AIDS
Hepatitis C
Lou Gehrig's disease (Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, or ALS)
Alzheimer's
Nail-patella syndrome
Cachexia (wasting disease)
Severe and chronic pain
Severe nausea
Seizures
Epilepsy
Muscle spasms
Multiple sclerosis
For a complete list of qualifying conditions and guidelines, please refer to the Michigan Medical Marihuana Registry Program FAQ.
Minnesota
Minnesota does not allow for smokeable cannabis, only a 30-day supply of oils, edibles, and concentrates. Qualifying conditions to become a medical marijuana patient in Minnesota include:
Lou Gehrig's disease (Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, or ALS)
Cancer
Cachexia
Crohn's disease
Glaucoma
HIV/AIDS
Seizures
Severe and persistent muscle spasms
Terminal illness
Tourette syndrome
Intractable pain*
*Recently recommended qualifying condition soon to be available for Minnesota patients.
For more information, please visit the Minnesota Department of Health - Medical Cannabis.
Mississippi
Mississippi allows access to CBD oil only. Qualifying conditions to become a medical marijuana patient in Mississippi include:
Debilitating epileptic seizure disorders
Patients must receive medical recommendations by a physician from the University of Mississippi Medical Center to participate in the clinical trial. For more information, please refer to House Bill 1231 or Harper Grace's Law.
Missouri
Missouri allows access to CBD oil only. Qualifying conditions to become a medical marijuana patient in Missouri include:
Intractable epilepsy
For more information, please refer to House Bill 2238.
Montana
Qualifying conditions to become a medical marijuana patient in Montana include:
Cancer
Glaucoma
HIV/AIDS
Cachexia (wasting syndrome)
Chronic pain
Intractable nausea or vomiting
Epilepsy or an intractable seizure disorder
Multiple sclerosis
Crohn's disease
Painful peripheral neuropathy
A central nervous system disorder resulting in chronic, painful spasticity or muscle spasms
For a complete list of qualifying conditions and guidelines, please refer to Montana Code Annotated 2015.
Nevada
Qualifying conditions to become a medical marijuana patient in Nevada include:
AIDS
Cancer
Glaucoma
Condition or treatment for a medical condition that produces cachexia (general physical wasting and malnutrition)
Persistent muscle spasms (including multiple sclerosis)
Seizures (including epilepsy)
Severe nausea
Severe pain
For a complete list of qualifying conditions and guidelines, please refer to the Nevada Medical Marijuana Program.
New Hampshire
Qualifying conditions to become a medical marijuana patient in New Hampshire include:
A chronic or terminal disease
Cachexia (wasting syndrome)
Severe pain
Severe nausea/vomiting
Seizures
Severe, persistent muscle spasms
For a complete list of qualifying conditions and guidelines, please refer to New Hampshire House Bill 573.
New Jersey
Qualifying conditions to become a medical marijuana patient in New Jersey include:
Lou Gehrig's disease (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, or ALS)
Multiple sclerosis
Terminal cancer
Muscular dystrophy
Inflammatory bowel disease (IBS)
Crohn’s disease
Terminal illness if the physician has determined a prognosis of less than 12 months of life
Seizure disorder, including epilepsy
Intractable skeletal muscular spasticity
Glaucoma
HIV/AIDS
Cancer
For a complete list of qualifying conditions and guidelines, please refer to the New Jersey Medicinal Marijuana Program.
New Mexico
Qualifying conditions to become a medical marijuana patient in New Mexico include:
Severe chronic pain
Painful peripheral neuropathy
Intractable nausea/vomiting
Severe anorexia
Cachexia (wasting syndrome)
Hepatitis C infection currently receiving antiviral treatment
Crohn’s disease
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
Lou Gehrig's disease (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, or ALS)
Cancer
Glaucoma
Multiple sclerosis
Damage to the nervous tissue of the spinal cord with intractable spasticity
Epilepsy
HIV/AIDS
Inflammatory autoimmune-mediated arthritis
Hospice patients
For a complete list of qualifying conditions and guidelines, please refer to the New Mexico Medical Cannabis Program FAQ.
New York
Qualifying conditions to become a medical marijuana patient in New York include:
Cancer
Epilepsy
HIV/AIDS
Huntington's disease
Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBS)
Lou Gehrig’s disease (ALS)
Parkinson’s disease
Multiple sclerosis (MS)
Neuropathies
Spinal cord damage
For a complete list of qualifying conditions and guidelines, please refer to the , New York State Medical Marijuana Program FAQ.
North Carolina
North Carolina allows for the use of CBD oil only. Qualifying conditions to become a medical marijuana patient in North Carolina include:
Intractable epilepsy
For more information, please refer to House Bill 1220.
Oklahoma
Oklahoma allows for the use of CBD oil only. Qualifying conditions to become a medical marijuana patient in Oklahoma include:
Must be under the age of 18 suffering from:
Lennox-Gastaut syndrome
Dravet syndrome
Severe myoclonic epilepsy of infancy
Any form of refractory epilepsy not treatable by traditional medical therapies
Oregon
Qualifying conditions to become a medical marijuana patient in Oregon include:
Cancer
Glaucoma
Alzheimer’s
HIV/AIDS
Cachexia (wasting syndrome)
Severe pain
Severe nausea
Seizures, including but not limited to seizures caused by epilepsy
Persistent muscle spasms
Multiple sclerosis
For a complete list of qualifying conditions and guidelines, please refer to the Oregon Medical Marijuana Act.
Pennsylvania
Qualifying conditions to become a medical marijuana patient in Pennsylvania include:
Cancer
HIV/AIDS
Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS)
Parkinson's Disease
Multiple sclerosis
Damage to the nervous tissue of the spinal cord with objective neurological indication of intractable spasticity
Epilepsy
Inflammatory bowel disease (IBS)
Neuropathies
Huntington's disease
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
Intractable seizures
Glaucoma
Sickle cell anemia
Severe, chronic or intractable pain of neuropathic origin or severe chronic or intractable pain in which conventional therapeutic intervention and opiate therapy is contraindicated or ineffective
Autism
"Terminally ill" - a medical prognosis or life expectancy of approximately one year or less if the illness runs its normal course.
For more information, please refer to Senate Bill 3.
Rhode Island
Qualifying conditions to become a medical marijuana patient in Rhode Island include:
Cancer
Glaucoma
HIV/AIDS
Hepatitis C
Cachexia (wasting syndrome)
Chronic pain
Severe nausea
Seizures, including but not limited to those characteristic of epilepsy
Severe and persistent muscle spasms
Multiple sclerosis
Crohn's disease
Alzheimer's
For a complete list of qualifying conditions and guidelines, please refer to Rhode Island's medical marijuana approved qualifying debilitating medical conditions.
South Carolina
South Carolina allows for the use of CBD oil only. Qualifying conditions to become a medical marijuana patient in South Carolina include:
Certain forms of epilepsy as part of a state-run clinical trial
For more information, please refer to the Medical Cannabis Therapeutic Treatment Research Act.
Tennessee
Tennessee allows for the use of CBD oil only. Qualifying conditions to become a medical marijuana patient in Tennessee include:
Intractable seizures (as part of a clinical research study)
For more information, please refer to Senate Bill 280.
Texas
Texas allows for the use of CBD oil only. Qualifying conditions to become a medical marijuana patient in Texas include:
Intractable epilepsy
For more information, please refer to Senate Bill 339.
Utah
Utah allows for the use of CBD oil only. Qualifying conditions to become a medical marijuana patient in Utah include:
Intractable epilepsy
For more information, please refer to House Bill 105.
Vermont
Qualifying conditions to become a medical marijuana patient in Vermont include:
Cancer
AIDS/HIV
Multiple sclerosis
Cachexia (wasting syndrome)
Severe pain
Nausea
Seizures
For a complete list of qualifying conditions and guidelines, please refer to the Vermont patient marijuana registry FAQ.
Washington
Changes to Washington state's marijuana laws via Senate Bill 5052 will result in the state's medical marijuana industry being absorbed by its recreational cannabis market.
Qualifying conditions to become a medical marijuana patient in Washington include:
Cancer
HIV/AIDS
Multiple sclerosis
Epilepsy or other seizure disorder
Spasticity disorders
Intractable pain
Glaucoma
Crohn's disease
Hepatitis C
Diseases, including anorexia, which result in nausea, vomiting, wasting, appetite loss, cramping, seizures, muscle spasms, or spasticity
For a complete list of qualifying conditions and guidelines, please refer to the Washington state legislature regarding medical cannabis.
Wisconsin
Wisconsin allows for the use of non-psychoactive CBD oil only. Qualifying conditions to become a medical marijuana patient in Wisconsin include:
Seizure disorders
For more information, please refer to Lydia's Law (Act 267).
Wyoming
Wyoming allows for the use of CBD oil only. Qualifying conditions include:
Intractable epilepsy
For more information, please refer to House Bill 32.
We hope you found this useful for yourself or a loved one. As you can see, there are many conditions that Cannabis can offer comfort or relief too. This list was compiled and update May 3, 2016 at leafly.com Please share this with someone you know and care for.
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