Short answer

No national list exists. Each state writes its own qualifying condition list for a medical cannabis card. About 38 states and the District of Columbia run comprehensive medical programs. Most publish a fixed list of conditions. A few states let a physician certify any condition.

How to Apply for a Medical Marijuana Card: Step by Step

Conditions on most state lists

These conditions appear on the majority of state lists.

Does My Medical Cannabis Card Work in Other States?

Conditions that qualify in a few states

State legislatures add conditions one bill at a time. The result is a patchwork.

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States without a fixed list

California, Colorado, Oklahoma and Massachusetts let a certifying physician treat conditions outside a published list. California law covers any chronic symptom that limits major life activities. Colorado repealed its condition list in 2018. Oklahoma accepts a physician's judgment. Massachusetts law includes a catch-all for other debilitating conditions.

What Doctors Can Issue a Medical Cannabis Card

CBD-only programs

Several states run narrow low-THC programs. Their lists are shorter and often cover seizure disorders or terminal illness. A low-THC card does not carry the same possession limits as a full medical card.

How to get a card

  1. See a physician licensed in your state. The doctor reviews records that show the diagnosis.
  2. Get written certification. Some states require the certification to state a dose or product type.
  3. Submit an application. Most states ask for a photo ID, proof of residency, the certification and a fee.
  4. Pay the fee. State fees run from $0 to about $200. Several states waive fees for veterans or low-income patients.
  5. Wait for the card. Review times run from same-day approval to 30 days.

A diagnosis alone does not qualify a patient in most states. A physician must certify that the patient has a listed condition. A clinic fee is separate from the state fee in most cases.

Renewal

Most states issue a card valid for 1 year. A few issue 2-year or 3-year cards. Renewal requires a new physician certification and a new fee. Expired cards carry no legal protection.

What a card does not cover

A card from one state has no standing in another state. Cannabis remains a Schedule I substance under the federal Controlled Substances Act. No federal agency recognizes a state card. Employers, landlords and schools set their own rules. Federal law at 18 U.S.C. 922(g)(3) bars users of controlled substances from buying or possessing firearms.

Questions to ask a certifying clinic