Qualifying Conditions For Medical Marijuana (2021 Update).

As of now, cannabis is still classed as a Schedule I drug and thought about prohibited under Federal criminal law. This suggests that those captured with cannabis can still get substantial fines, and in some states, can even still serve prison time.
Regardless of individual state laws, ALL kinds of cannabis are still illegal at the federal level.
Despite cannabis being prohibited on a Federal level, though, private states have obviously adopted various laws that enable clients to take in medical cannabis for a wide variety of illness and conditions. Some states have actually taken it one action even more, even, and have actually permitted the leisure usage of weed. (Please note however that utilizing cannabis goes through not just the state you live in, but also the county or town. Sometimes, it might be even further specified by the city).
Need a Medical Marijuana Card?
Qualifying Conditions for Medical Marijuana: The Turning Point
2009 was a major turning point for the cannabis industry as President Barack Obama announced that the federal government would not seek to apprehend or prosecute Medical Marijuana Card cannabis users and suppliers, as long as they complied with state legal laws.
I do not believe [cigarette smoking cannabis] is more dangerous than alcohol …
— President Barack Obama, January 2014
This newly found «leniency» led lots of states to give the green light as far as implementing a medical cannabis program, as they knew millions of dollars in possible state tax income loomed as soon as a valid program — with certified dispensaries — was up and running. Moreover, independent companies within each state’s Department of Health were charged with developing a list of certifying medical conditions — a task that, if you can envision, is no little task.
In this post, we’ve assembled a list of the most common medical conditions that are qualified for MMJ usage in the United States. As you’ll see, many states have a pretty comparable list, which makes sense thinking about that physician suggestions are based upon the availability of clinical research study and medical trials that reveal favorable results on each condition.
There are additional certifying conditions aside from the ones noted below, and in fact, a lot of states with an MMJ program permit conditions to be included under unique scenarios and case-by-case bases. Therefore, if you struggle with a condition not stated below, we suggest contacting your state’s Department of Health to see if any exceptions can be made.
One Of The Most Common Qualifying Conditions for Medical Marijuana in the U.S. (Update for 2021)
* [Please note that these are only the most typical qualifying conditions for medical cannabis in the U.S. — not all states will include every condition noted below]
1) ADHD
ADD/ADHD is a condition associated with a wide range of signs, including:
— Inattention

— Hyperactivity

— Impulsiveness

Over the years there hasn’t been much research on medical cannabis and ADHD, however a number of initial studies have actually supplied proof that cannabis may have the ability to be used as an effective treatment for this condition.
From the National Center for Biotechnology Information:
Despite no clinical suggestions [existing] that support the useful effects of cannabis use for ADHD, online discussions show that cannabis is [indeed] considered therapeutic for ADHD.
2) HIV/ AIDS
Contrary to what most people think, AIDS is not a virus in itself but rather a set of signs that are brought on by the human immunodeficiency virus, or HIV. HIV is an infection that attacks the immune system and destroys helper-T cells (aka CD4 cells, a type of leukocyte), then clones itself inside the cells in order to duplicate non-stop.
AIDS is the term utilized when a patient with HIV can no longer fight the infection due to a weakened body immune system. This triggers them to establish certain specifying symptoms and illnesses, and is likewise the last phase of HIV, when the infection is really advanced.
From «Marijuana as Medicine? The Science Beyond the Controversy» (2000 ):
While cannabis is NOT understood to reverse the actual effects of HIV, it is frequently used to help treat symptoms of the infection, consisting of relief from nausea and throwing up, wasting syndrome, cravings loss, pain, and reduced state of mind.
3) Anorexia
Anorexia divides into various types, with Anorexia and Anorexia Nervosa being the most typical. It is a potentially a lethal eating disorder, and is frequently accompanied by an extreme psychological disorder.
In general, anorexia:
— Is a basic anorexia nervosa or a loss of interest in food

— Is a major mental disorder — clients do not necessarily lose interest in food, however intentionally restrict their food consumption because of an illogical fear of being or ending up being fat (anorexia).

As of now, Anorexia has no single cause but it does have numerous danger factors, including:
— Having a propensity towards depression.

— Being excessively stressed over one’s weight and shape.

— Having had an anxiety disorder throughout youth.

Cannabis is known to assist those that experience Anorexia, and it has actually been classed by some cannabis doctors as an effective treatment.
4) Arthritis
Arthritis is of course really common, however it is unfortunately still a condition that is not very well understood — particularly rheumatoid arthritis. In truth, «arthritis» is a general term utilized to describe over 100 different types of conditions that belong to joint pain or joint illness.
People of all ages can have arthritis, and it is the leading cause of special needs in America. Common symptoms of arthritis consist of:
— Swelling in the joints.

— Joint discomfort and swelling.

— Stiffness.

— Decreased the variety of movement.

DID YOU KNOW: Arthritis is the leading cause of employment special needs in the U.S.?
In 2000, researchers discovered that cannabis contains anti-inflammatory compounds, in addition to natural analgesics (painkiller) which can make it a really useful arthritis treatment for a large range of patients.
From a 2017 publication in Clinical and Experimental Rheumatology:
… preclinical data exists indicates that the use of cannabis need to be taken seriously as a potential treatment of joint pain.
5) Cachexia (losing syndrome)
Cachexia is basically a condition which denotes an excessive loss of weight. It most commonly occurs due to depletion of adipose tissue and muscle mass in individuals experiencing a persistent illness such as cancer or HIV.
Cachexia is also called «losing syndrome,» and it is known for triggering excessive muscle losing, weakness, fatigue, and anorexia nervosa in patients. The word «cachexia» stems from the Greek terms -kakos, implying «bad,» and -hexis, which means «condition.»
From the National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN):
The NCCN guidelines carefully discuss cannabinoids as a development treatment for chemotherapy-induced nausea, [as well as] vomiting not responsive to other antiemetics …
6) Cancer (and cancer treatments)
Cancer is classified as a group of diseases identified by out-of-control cell growth. Currently, there are well over 100 various types of cancer, each being classified by the specific kind of cell that it impacts.
Cancer changes cellular development and recreation, and might cause swellings or masses of tissue (growths) to form. If untreated, growths can grow and hinder the gastrointestinal, worried, and circulatory systems, and might even release hormonal agents that modify body function.
Research in mice and rats has recommended that cannabinoids may hinder tumor development by:
— Causing apoptosis (set cell death).

— Blocking cell growth.

— Blocking the advancement of capillary needed by tumors to grow.

Other research on animal models has actually shown that cannabinoids might have the ability to kill cancer cells, though this is not the reason that some states consist of cancer and cancer treatments within their list of certifying conditions for medical cannabis.
From Dr. D.I. Abrams (San Francisco General Hospital, Integrative Oncology) in a 2016 report for Current Oncology:
Cannabis and cannabinoids work in handling signs connected to cancer and its treatment.
Current Oncology, 2016
7) Chronic pain
About 100 million Americans experience persistent discomfort — pain that is defined as long lasting longer than 6 months — daily. The most typical sources of discomfort stem from:
— Headaches.

— Joint discomfort.

— Acute/traumatic injury.

— Back discomfort.

— Tendinitis.

— Sinus discomfort.

— Carpal tunnel syndrome.

Studies on chronic pain with both neuropathic and inflammatory origins have found cannabis to be an effective treatment, as cannabinoids are understood to release endogenous opioids which moderate the discomfort action system. While some research studies have recommended that cannabis is no more reliable than codeine in controlling pain, the side effects of cannabis versus narcotic painkiller reveal that cannabis is a much more secure alternative to utilize.
From «Cannabis and Pain: A Clinical Review» (2017 ):
As more clients rely on cannabis for discomfort relief, there is a requirement for additional clinical evidence to examine this increase.
8) Epilepsy/ Seizures
Epilepsy is a group of neurological conditions identified by intractable epileptic seizures, which are specified as episodes of unmanageable electrical activity in the nerve system that can last from simply a couple of seconds to several minutes.
Marijuana has anti-convulsant residential or commercial properties thanks in part to the existence of cannabidiol (CBD), a substance found at higher levels in hemp and some uncommon pressures of cannabis. This makes cannabis an excellent treatment for epilepsy, as it helps to control convulsions related to the condition without offering any sort of psychoactive or envigorating effects.
In truth, in June 2018 Epidiolex became the first-ever CBD-based drug to get FDA approval for Dravet syndrome, which is an unusual type of intractable epilepsy.
From a 2016 report in Innovations in Clinical Neuroscience:
The endocannabinoid system has a role in neuronal balance and ictal control … [and there] is clinical evidence of success in diminishing seizure frequencies with cannabis derivatives.
9) Glaucoma
Glaucoma is an illness that impacts and damages the eye’s optic nerve, as it tends to happen when pressure from intraocular fluid collects behind the retina.
Glaucoma is in fact a leading reason for blindness in people over 60 years old, and forces numerous countless clients each year to undergo optic surgical treatment. Current research has actually revealed that there are cannabinoid receptors within the eye, suggesting that the endocannabinoid system may have dictation over liquid humoural outflow and production.