Short answer
There is no national list. Each state writes its own. A condition that qualifies in one state may not qualify in the next. Most state lists include cancer, HIV/AIDS, epilepsy, glaucoma, multiple sclerosis, Crohn's disease, PTSD, and chronic pain.
medical cannabis qualification by state
Conditions on most state lists
- Cancer
- HIV or AIDS
- Glaucoma
- Epilepsy and other seizure disorders
- Multiple sclerosis
- Crohn's disease and inflammatory bowel disease
- Post-traumatic stress disorder
- Chronic pain or severe pain
- Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS)
- Terminal illness
- Cachexia or wasting syndrome
- Severe nausea
- Severe or persistent muscle spasms
Conditions on some state lists
- Autism spectrum disorder
- Tourette syndrome
- Sickle cell anemia
- Migraine
- Arthritis
- Hepatitis C
- Opioid use disorder
- Anxiety, in a small number of states
- Neuropathy
- Lupus
- Parkinson's disease
- Alzheimer's disease
States that leave the call to a doctor
Some states do not publish a closed list. California, Colorado, Oklahoma, and Massachusetts allow cannabis for any condition a physician certifies as serious or debilitating. The physician note carries the weight. The state issues the card.
States with narrow lists
A few states limit use to a short set of conditions. Cancer, seizures, and terminal illness are common entries on those short lists. Low-THC and CBD-only programs sit in this group.
How the process works
- Confirm the state runs a medical program and the diagnosis is on its list.
- See a physician licensed in that state. Some states require the physician to hold a state registration.
- Get written certification. The form and the diagnosis code come from the state.
- Submit the application and fee to the state health agency.
- Receive the registry card. Most cards carry an expiration date and need renewal, often each year.
Some states require proof of residency, a state ID, and a caregiver form if another person buys or transports the product. Age rules vary. Minors need a parent or guardian as caregiver and, in many states, a second physician signature.
What does not qualify on its own
Mild insomnia, general stress, and everyday aches are not on most lists. A few states list insomnia or anxiety. Most do not. Relief of symptoms alone is not the test. The test is the diagnosis on the state list.
Federal status
Cannabis is a Schedule I controlled substance under federal law. That classification stands. In 2024 the DEA proposed moving cannabis to Schedule III. That rule is not final. State medical programs run under state law, not federal law. A state card does not protect a patient under federal law and does not travel across state lines. Check the program rules in the state where you live or plan to buy.