Understanding Qualifying Conditions for a Medical Cannabis Card
Medical cannabis laws vary from state to state, but most programs require patients to have a diagnosed medical condition that meets their state’s eligibility criteria. These conditions, often called “qualifying conditions,” are recognized by state health departments or medical boards as illnesses or symptoms that may be alleviated through the use of medical cannabis.
Qualifying conditions typically include chronic or severe illnesses such as cancer, epilepsy, multiple sclerosis, and chronic pain, as well as symptoms like nausea, muscle spasms, or anxiety when caused by an underlying condition. Some states also allow physicians to recommend medical cannabis for other debilitating ailments at their discretion.
It’s important to note that having a condition on the list doesn’t guarantee approval — you must still meet your state’s application requirements, provide medical documentation, and receive certification from a licensed medical professional. The following A–Z list includes many of the conditions that, depending on your location, may help you qualify for a medical cannabis card.
Qualifying Medical Cannabis Conditions – A to Z
A
- Acne
- Acute Pain
- Age-Related Macular Degeneration (AMD)
- Alcoholism
- Alopecia Areata
- Alzheimer’s Disease
- Amphetamine Addiction
- Amyloidosis
- Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS / Lou Gehrig’s Disease)
- Anorexia
- Anxiety
- Arteriosclerosis
- Arthritis
- Asthma
- Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)
- Autism Spectrum Disorder
- Autoimmune Diseases
B
- Back Pain
- Bell’s Palsy
- Bipolar Disorder
- Breast Cancer
- Bulimia
C
- Cachexia
- Cancer
- Cardiovascular Disease
- Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
- Cataracts
- Cerebral Palsy
- Cerebrovascular Disease (Stroke)
- Chickenpox (Varicella)
- Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
- Chronic Itch (Pruritus)
- Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) & Dialysis
- Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)
- Chronic Pain
- Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE)
- Cirrhosis
- Concussion
- Crohn’s Disease
- Cystic Fibrosis
D
- Darier Disease
- Dementia
- Depression
- Diabetes
- Digestive Disorders
E
- Eating Disorders
- Eczema
- Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome
- Emphysema
- Endometriosis
- Epidermolysis Bullosa
- Epilepsy
F
- Fibromyalgia
- Fibrous Dysplasia
- Focal Neuropathy
- Friedreich’s Ataxia
G
- Gastritis
- Giardia
- Glaucoma
- Gout
H
- Headaches
- Hearing Loss
- Heart Disease
- Hepatitis C
- Heroin Addiction
- High Blood Pressure
- HIV/AIDS
- Huntington Disease
- Hypoglycemia
I
- Inflammation
- Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD)
- Insomnia
- Interstitial Cystitis
- Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)
J
- Jamestown Canyon Virus (JCV)
- Jaundice
K
- Kidney Stones
L
- Lennox-Gastaut Syndrome (LGS)
- Liver Disease
- Lupus
- Lyme Disease
- Lymphoma
M
- Meniere’s Disease
- Meningitis
- Menopause
- Mesothelioma
- Migraines
- Mitochondrial Disease
- Mood Disorders
- Motion Sickness
- Motor Neuron Disease
- Movement Disorders
- Multiple Sclerosis
- Muscle Cramps & Spasms
- Muscular Dystrophy
- Myelomalacia
N
- Nausea
- Neuroblastoma
- Neuropathy
- Night Terrors
O
- Obesity
- Obsessive Compulsive Disorder
- Opioid Dependency
- Oral Ulcers
- Osteoarthritis
- Osteoporosis
P
- Pancreatitis
- Parkinson’s Disease
- Personality Disorders
- Phantom Pain
- Plummer Disease
- Postherpetic Neuralgia
- Pre-Menstrual Syndrome (PMS)
- Psoriasis
- PTSD
- Pulmonary Fibrosis
R
- Restless Legs Syndrome (RLS)
- Rheumatoid Arthritis
- Rosacea
S
- Sciatica
- Scoliosis
- Sepsis / Blood Poisoning
- Shingles
- Sickle Cell Disease
- Skin Cancer
- Skin Ulcers & Wounds
- Sleep Apnea
- Spasticity Disorders
- Spinal Cord Injury
- Spinal Stenosis
- Stomach Ulcers
T
- Tendinitis
- Tinnitus
- Traumatic Brain Injury
- Tuberculosis
U
- Ulcerative Colitis
- Ulcers
V
- Vaginismus
- Vertigo
- Vibrio Illness / Vibriosis
- Vulvodynia
X
- Xeroderma Pigmentosum
Y
- Yeast Infection
- Yellow Fever
- Yersinia Pestis
Z
- Zieve’s Syndrome
