Although
cannabis remains illegal on the federal level in the United States, some individual states have legalized
cannabis for valid medical purposes (and two states, Washington and Colorado, have legalized
cannabis both medically and recreationally).
Here's a list of which states authorize medical
marijuana for valid, qualified patients. Each entry includes a link to the state's qualifying conditions, as well as a rundown of which medical conditions and symptoms must be verified by a physician in order to get authorized as a valid medical
marijuana patient. Please note that some states allow physicians to approve other medical conditions not listed on a case-by-case basis, so check with your doctor.
AlaskaQualifying conditions 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.
ArizonaQualifying conditions 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.
CaliforniaQualifying conditions 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.
ColoradoAlthough Colorado has implemented a legal recreational
cannabis market, it still operates medical
marijuana dispensaries for valid patients. Colorado MMJ 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 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.
ConnecticutQualifying conditions include:
Cancer
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.
DelawareQualifying conditions 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 ColumbiaQualifying conditions include:
HIV/AIDS
Cancer
Glaucoma
Muscle spasms
Multiple sclerosis
Lou Gehrig's Disease (ALS)
Cachexia (wasting syndrome)
decompensated cirrhosis
Alzheimer's Disease
Seizure disorders
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 include:
Severe, debilitating epileptic conditions
For a complete list of qualifying conditions and guidelines, please refer to the Florida Senate's Bill Analysis.
GeorgiaGeorgia only allows for the use of low
THC oil (less than 5%
THC by weight).
Qualifying conditions include:
Cancer
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS)
Seizure disorders related to diagnosis of epilepsy or trauma-related head injuries
Multiple sclerosis
Crohn's diseas
Mitochondrial disease
Parkinson's disease
Sickle cell diease
For a complete list of qualifying conditions and guidelines, please refer to House Bill 1 (Haleigh's Hope Act).
HawaiiQualifying conditions 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.
IllinoisQualifying conditions include:
Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS)
Anorexia nervosa*
Alzheimer's disease
Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS)
Arnold-Chiari malformation and Syringomelia
Cachexia/wasting syndrome
Cancer
Causalgia
Chronic Inflammatory Demyelinating Polyneuropathy
Chronic Post-Operative Pain*
Crohn's disease
CRPS (Complex Regional Pain Syndrome Type II)
Dystonia
Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome*
Fibromyalgia (severe)
Fibrous dysplasia
Glaucoma
Hepatitis C
Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV)
Hydrocephalus
Interstitial Cystitis
Irritiable Bowel Syndrome*
Lupus
Migraines*
Multiple Sclerosis
Muscular Dystrophy
Myasthenia Gravis
Myoclonus
Nail-patella syndrome
Neuro-Behcet's Autoimmune Disease*
Neurofibromatosis
Neuropathy (peripheral and diabetic)*
Osteoarthritis*
Parkinson's disease
Polycystic kidney disease*
Post-concussion syndrome
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PSTD)*
RSD (Complex Regional Pain Syndromes Type I)
Residual limb pain
Rheumatoid arthritis (RA)
Seizures
Sjogren's syndrome
Spinal cord diesase (including, but not limited to arachnoiditis, Tarlov cysts, hydromyelia & syringomelia)
Spinal cord injury
Spinocerebellar Ataxia (SCA)
Superior Canal Dehiscence Syndrome*
Tourette's syndrome
Traumatic brain injury (TBI)
*New conditions recommended by the Illinois Medical
Cannabis Advisory Board.
For a complete list of qualifying conditions and guidelines, please refer to the Illinois Medical
Cannabis Pilot Program's FAQ.
IowaIowa allows for the use of high-CBD cannbis extracts with less than .3%
THC.
Qualifying conditions include:
Intractable epilepsy
For a complete list of guidelines, please refer to Iowa Medical
Cannabidiol Act Quick Facts.
KentuckyKentucky 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.
LouisianaQualifying conditions include:
Symptoms related to cancer
Glaucoma
Spastic quadripilegia
For more information on Lousiana's medical
marijuana law, please refer to Senate Bill 143.
MaineQualifying conditions include:
Chronic pain (which has not responded to conventional therapy for more than six months)
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
Lou Gehrig's disease (Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, or ALS)
Alzheimer's disease
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.
MarylandQualifying conditions 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 disease
Cancer
Glaucoma
HIV/AIDS
Hepatitis C
For a complete list of qualifying conditions and guidelines, please refer to Maryland Senate Bill 757.
MassachusettsQualifying conditions include:
Cancer
Glaucoma
AIDS
Hepatitis C
Lou Gehrig's disease (Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, or ALS)
Crohn's disease
Parkinson's disease
Multiple sclerosis
For a complete list of qualifying conditions and guidelines, please refer to the Massachusetts medical use of
marijuana overview.
MichiganQualifying conditions 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.
MississippiMississippi allows access to
CBD oil only. Qualifying conditions include:
Debilitating epileptic seizure disorders
Must receive medical recommendation by physician from University of Mississippi Medical Center to participate in clinical trial. For more information, please refer to House Bill 1231 or Harper Grace's Law.
MontanaQualifying conditions 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 2013.
NevadaQualifying conditions 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 HampshireQualifying conditions 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 JerseyQualifying conditions 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 MexicoQualifying conditions 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 YorkQualifying conditions 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.
OregonQualifying conditions 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.
Rhode IslandQualifying conditions 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 CarolinaSouth Carolina allows for
CBD oil only. Qualifing conditions include:
Certain forms of epilepsy as part of a state-run clinical trial
For more infomation, please refer to the Medical
Cannabis Therapeutic Treatment Research Act.
VermontQualifying conditions 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.
WashingtonAlthough Washington voters have passed Initiative 502, which will result in a legal recreational
cannabis market, it will not debut until late spring/early summer 2014. Until that time,
cannabis can still only be acquired by valid medical
marijuana patients.
Qualifying conditions 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.
Source:
Leafly