For relief from symptoms that prescription medication and other therapies can’t control, some form of medical marijuana is an option in 35 states. To obtain it, you’ll need to be diagnosed with a qualifying medical condition. Here are 10 ailments treatable with medical marijuana and the states where it’s approved for that use.
Multiple sclerosis
The Multiple Sclerosis Society and the American Academy of Neurology (AAN) support the use of oral cannabis extract and synthetic THC for reducing spasticity and pain due to multiple sclerosis (MS). According to the AAN, more research needs to be done on smoked cannabis and MS.
MS or a symptom of MS such as muscle spasms is a qualifying condition for medical marijuana in:
Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia/Washington D.C., Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Illinois, Iowa, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York State, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia.
Cancer
A few studies suggest that smoking marijuana can help to treat cancer-related nerve pain. No studies have been done on CBD and cancer. The American Cancer Societysays more research needs to be done on cannabinoids and cancer patients. Meanwhile, cancer is a qualifying medical condition for medical marijuana in 35 states.
Cancer is a qualifying condition for medical marijuana in:
Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia/Washington D.C., Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Illinois, Iowa, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland (for cancer wasting), Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Vermont, Virginia.
Arthritis
The Arthritis Foundation doesn’t take a stand on medical marijuana as a treatment for arthritis. But medical marijuana offered pain relief for the 188 arthritis sufferers in this study.
Arthritis or an associated symptom, such as severe pain, is a qualifying condition for medical marijuana in:
Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia/Washington D.C., Florida, Hawaii, Iowa, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York State, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia.
Epilepsy
Doctors can prescribe Epidiolex, which is an FDA-approved drug that contains a purified form of CBD, to treat seizures associated with Lennox-Gastaut syndrome and Dravet syndrome, which are rare forms of epilepsy in people 2 years and older. For other forms of epilepsy that can’t be well controlled with conventional treatment, the Epilepsy Foundation says “it’s not unreasonable” to consider cannabidiol (CBD) oil.
Epilepsy is a qualifying condition for medical marijuana in:
Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia/Washington D.C., Florida, Hawaii, Indiana, Iowa, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee (intractable seizures; must be part of a clinical study), Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming.
Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD)
According to the Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation, endocannabinoids—molecules in the body that resemble compounds in marijuana–may play a role in reducing intestinal inflammation and decreasing intestinal motility. Still, more studies are needed to establish direct evidence that marijuana decreases intestinal inflammation in IBD patients.
IBD is a qualifying condition for medical marijuana in:
Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, District of Columbia/Washington D.C., Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Iowa, Louisiana, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia.
Chronic Pain
The American Academy of Pain Medicine supports the rescheduling of marijuana from Schedule 1 to Schedule II so it can be studied more easily. Meanwhile, according to this study, there’s high-quality evidence to support using marijuana for chronic pain.
Chronic pain is a qualifying condition for medical marijuana in:
Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia/Washington D.C., Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Illinois, Iowa, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia.
Nausea
According to the American Cancer Society, a small number of studies have shown that smoked marijuana can help treat nausea and vomiting from cancer chemotherapy.
Nausea is a qualifying condition for medical marijuana in:
Alaska, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Delaware, District of Columbia/Washington D.C., Hawaii, Iowa, Maine, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Mexico, New York, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia.
ALS is a qualifying condition for medical marijuana in:
Arizona, Arkansas, California, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Iowa, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Mexico, New York, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Utah, West Virginia.
Anxiety
Only one state, New Jersey, lists anxiety as a qualifying condition for medical marijuana.
PTSD
In many states, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a qualifying condition for medical marijuana. According to this study, medical marijuana may be effective, especially for patients with PTSD who fail conventional treatment.
PTSD is a qualifying condition for medical marijuana in:
Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Illinois, Maryland, Missouri (debilitating psychiatric disorders), Montana, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Mexico, New York, North Dakota, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Utah, Vermont, Washington, West Virginia.
About the Author
Sandra Gordon is a writer specializing in health and medicine for consumers and physicians. She has written for Everyday Health, Prevention, Healthgrades, Parents, the Cleveland Clinic, NYU Langone Health, Harvard Medical School, Your Teen, WebMD and many more.
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