Delaware Medical Marijuana Qualification

Who Qualifies for Medicinal Marijuana in Delaware

Senate Bill 17 was signed by Delaware Governor Jack Markell (D), on May 13, 2011, thereby protecting a patient from arrest if he or she has a written certification from their physician, stating that they may “benefit from the therapeutic use of medical marijuana”, where the patient has a specified debilitating medical condition.

The Department of Health and Social Services requires all certified patients to send in a copy of the written certification, upon receipt of which, the patient will be issued with a Delaware ID card, validating the information.

The Delaware medical marijuana program allows for state-regulated, non-profit distribution of medical marijuana by compassion centers, also known as a dispensary.

What Ailments Qualify For Medical Cannabis in Delaware

Adult patients in Delaware diagnosed with one of the following severe, debilitating, or life-threatening medical conditions, are afforded legal protection under the Delaware Medical Marijuana law, as per Senate Bill 17:

• Cancer
• HIV/AIDS
• Decompensated cirrhosis (about 20% of patients with Hepatitis C may develop this condition)
• amyotrophic lateral sclerosis
• Crohn’s disease
• Alzheimer’s disease
• autism; or
• A chronic or debilitating disease or medical condition or its treatment that produces one or more of the following:
  • cachexia or wasting syndrome;
  • severe/debilitating pain, that has not responded to previously prescribed medication or surgical measures for more than three months or for which other treatment options produced serious side effects;
  • severe nausea;
  • seizures;
  • severe and persistent muscle spasms, including but not limited to those characteristic of multiple sclerosis.
  • terminal illness
  • Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)

Patients 18 years or younger — qualified by a pediatric neurologist, pediatric gastroenterologist, pediatric oncologist or pediatric palliative care specialist — must be diagnosed with one of the following severe, debilitating, or life-threatening medical conditions:

• Intractable epilepsy
• A chronic or debilitating disease or medical condition where they have failed treatment involving one or more of the following symptoms
• Cachexia or wasting syndrome
• Intractable nausea
• Severe, painful and persistent muscle spasms