Short answer
No federal list of qualifying conditions exists. Cannabis is Schedule I under the Controlled Substances Act. Medical cannabis is a state matter. Each state writes its own list of qualifying conditions. A condition that qualifies in one state may not qualify in another.
As of 2024, 38 states and the District of Columbia run medical cannabis programs. The lists overlap. They are not identical.
Conditions on most state lists
Most state lists include these conditions:
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- Cancer
- HIV or AIDS
- Glaucoma
- Epilepsy or seizure disorders
- Multiple sclerosis
- Crohn's disease
- Chronic pain
- Severe nausea
- Cachexia or wasting syndrome
Some states name a diagnosis. Others use a category. Chronic pain may require a set duration, such as pain that lasts 3 months or more.
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Conditions on some state lists
- Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Listed in more than 30 states.
- Anxiety. Listed in a smaller number of states.
- Autism. Listed in a few states.
- Opioid use disorder. Listed in a few states.
- Tourette syndrome.
- ALS (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis).
- Parkinson's disease.
- Inflammatory bowel disease.
- Migraine.
State lists change. Legislatures add conditions and remove conditions. Check the current list for your state.
States with broad physician discretion
A small number of states let a physician certify any condition. California is one. Oklahoma uses a broad list plus physician certification. In these states, the physician decision carries more weight than a fixed list. Other states keep a fixed list.
What state programs require
- A diagnosis from a licensed physician.
- The diagnosis must appear on the state list, unless the state allows physician discretion.
- Proof of state residency.
- An application and a fee. Fees range from about $25 to $200 by state.
- A state-issued medical cannabis card.
Some states accept out-of-state patients. Most do not.
What does not qualify
No state lists general stress or a desire to relax as a qualifying condition. A physician must document a diagnosis. A recommendation without a diagnosis does not meet state rules.
Federal position
Cannabis remains Schedule I. No federal medical cannabis prescription exists. The word prescription is not accurate under federal law. States use recommendation or certification.