What Medical Conditions Qualify for Medical Marijuana?

Due to the lack of scientific evidence to support the improvement of health outcomes derived from the use of medical cannabis, the Medical Quality Assurance Commission denied requests for inclusion in the list of conditions that met the requirements. Patients with terminal or debilitating medical conditions can, under the care of their doctor, benefit from the medical use of cannabis. Mayo Clinic healthcare providers can certify state residents who are eligible for the Minnesota medical cannabis program. Before considering what medical conditions qualify for medical marijuana, it is important to note that each state regulates the medical use of cannabis differently.

Eligible patients must be diagnosed with a debilitating condition, as defined in the Compassionate Use of Medical Cannabis Pilot Program Act, in order to obtain an identification card from the Illinois Medical Cannabis Registry. Humanitarian compassion requires that the decision to use cannabis by patients with terminal or debilitating medical conditions be a personal and individual decision, based on the judgment and discretion of the health professional physician. Cannabis can be used in a variety of forms, such as oral tablets, capsules, tinctures, gels, oils, creams or other topical products, patches, nebulizers and inhalers. Hawaii was the first state to legalize medical cannabis through an act of the state legislature in 2000.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has not approved the use of cannabis as a treatment for any medical condition. Minnesota residents who have a supply of medical cannabis from a cannabis patient center can continue to consume it during their visit to Mayo Clinic or their hospital stay. Medical marijuana is a term for derivatives of the Cannabis sativa plant used to relieve symptoms caused by certain medical conditions. Patients are usually given higher priority and more affordable prices than adult consumers, so it's worth considering obtaining a medical marijuana card, even if the state allows the use of cannabis for adults.