All through the early decades of the twenty-first century, the usage of medical marijuana has been investigated intensively and acknowledged for its efficacy in treating a variety of conditions that are not adequately treated with conventional medications and treatments. Physicians and patients who have discovered that medicinal marijuana is beneficial at alleviating the symptoms of various ailments have prompted some governments to authorize medical marijuana for a recognized condition if recommended by a doctor.
Additionally, marijuana derivatives and synthetic marijuana—which promises to provide the same medicinal advantages without the drug high—are being created and, in certain circumstances, employed as forms of medical marijuana. Marinol is one of these synthetic cannabis products.
States with medical marijuana
One of the most contentious issues in the United States today is whether marijuana should be legalized. While recreational marijuana use continues to grow in popularity, more states accept and legalize marijuana for medicinal uses. Possession and use of marijuana remain unlawful under federal law, and California was the first state to legalize marijuana for medicinal purposes in 1996. Since then, 37 states and the District of Columbia and the U.S. territory of Guam, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico, and the Northern Mariana Islands have authorized medicinal marijuana.
State medicinal marijuana laws vary in who qualifies, possession limits, and regulations. Additionally, the states that have approved medicinal marijuana are shown here.
(The following information has been collected from lawinfo.com)
Alaska
Year passed: 1998
Possession limitation: 1 oz
Conditions that are eligible for medical marijuana:
- Chronic pain
- Seizures
- Nausea
- Multiple sclerosis
- Cancer
- HIV/AIDS
- Glaucoma
- Cachexia
Alabama
Year passed: 2021
Possession limitation: 70 daily dosages
Conditions that are eligible for medical marijuana:
- Autism spectrum disorder (ASD)
- Cachexia, nausea or vomiting, weight loss, or persistent discomfort associated with cancer
- Depression
- Epilepsy
- Nausea or weight loss associated with HIV/AIDS
- Panic disorder
- Persistent nausea (PTSD)
Arizona
Year passed: 2010
Possession limitation: 2.5 oz
Conditions that are eligible for medical marijuana:
- Cachexia
- Chronic pain
- Severe nausea
- Multiple sclerosis
- Seizures
- Muscle spasms
- Glaucoma
Arkansas
Year passed: 2016
Possession limitation: 2.5 oz
Conditions that are eligible for medical marijuana:
- Breast cancer
- Glaucoma
- HIV or AIDS positive status
- Hepatitis C
- Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS)
- Tourette syndrome
- Ulcerative colitis
- Post-traumatic stress disorder
- Severe arthritis
- Fibromyalgia
- Alzheimer’s illness
Colorado
Year passed: 2001
Possession limitation: 2 oz
Conditions that are eligible for medical marijuana:
- Cachexia
- Severe pain
- Severe nausea
- Seizures
- Muscle spasms
Connecticut
Year passed: 2012
Possession limitation: 2.5 oz
Conditions that are eligible for medical marijuana:
- Cancer
- Glaucoma
- HIV/AIDS
- Parkinson’s disease
- Multiple sclerosis
- Nerve or spine damage
- Epilepsy
- Cachexia
- Wasting syndrome
- Crohn’s disease
- Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
California
Year passed: 1996
Possession limitation: 8 oz
Conditions that are eligible for medical marijuana:
- AIDS
- Anorexia
- Arthritis
- Cachexia
- Cancer
- Chronic pain
- Glaucoma
- Migraine
- Muscle spasms
- Multiple sclerosis
- Seizures
- Severe nausea
Delaware
Year passed: 2011
Possession limitation: 6 oz
Conditions that are eligible for medical marijuana:
- Cancer
- HIV/AIDS
- Hepatitis C
- Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS)
- Post-traumatic stress disorder
- Cachexia
- Severe pain
- Severe nausea
- Seizures
- Muscle spasms
- Glaucoma
Florida
Year passed: 2016
Possession limitation: 4 oz
Conditions that are eligible for medical marijuana:
- Cancer
- Chronic nonmalignant pain
- Epilepsy
- Glaucoma
- HIV
- AIDS
- Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
- Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS)
- Crohn’s disease
- Parkinson’s disease
- Multiple sclerosis (M.S.)
- Terminal illness
Hawaii
Year passed: 2000
Possession limitation: 4 oz
Conditions that are eligible for medical marijuana:
- Cachexia
- Cancer
- Chronic pain
- Crohn’s disease
- Glaucoma
- HIV/AIDS
- Multiple sclerosis
- Nausea
- Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
- Seizures
Louisiana
Year passed: 2014
Possession limitation: 0.493835 oz
Conditions that are eligible for medical marijuana:
- Cancer
- Positive status for HIV/AIDS, cachexia, or wasting syndrome
- Seizure disorders
- Epilepsy
- Spasticity
- Crohn’s disease
- Muscular dystrophy
- Multiple sclerosis
- Glaucoma
- Parkinson’s disease
- Severe muscle spasms
- Intractable pain
- Post-traumatic stress disorder
- Autism spectrum disorder
Illinois
Year passed: 2014
Possession limitation: 2.5 oz
Conditions that are eligible for medical marijuana:
- Cancer
- Glaucoma
- HIV/AIDS
- Hepatitis C
- Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS)
- Crohn’s disease
- Alzheimer’s disease
- Cachexia
- Muscular dystrophy
- Severe fibromyalgia
- Traumatic brain injury
- Multiple sclerosis
- Syringomyelia
- Parkinson’s disease
- Tourette syndrome
- Myoclonus
Maryland
Year passed: 2014
Possession limit: 0.35274 oz
Conditions that are eligible for medical marijuana:
- Cachexia
- Chronic pain
- Nausea
- Seizures
- Severe muscle spasms
Massachusetts
Year passed: 2013
Possession limitation: 10 oz
Conditions that are eligible for medical marijuana:
- Cancer
- Glaucoma
- HIV/AIDS
- Hepatitis C
- Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS)
- Crohn’s disease
- Parkinson’s disease
- Multiple sclerosis
Maine
Year passed: 1999
Possession limitation: 2.5 oz
Conditions that are eligible for medical marijuana:
- Cancer
- Glaucoma
- HIV/AIDS
- Hepatitis C
- Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS)
- Alzheimer’s disease
- Nail-patella syndrome
Michigan
Year passed: 2008
Possession limitation: 2.5 oz
Conditions that are eligible for medical marijuana:
- Cancer
- Glaucoma
- HIV/AIDS
- Hepatitis C
- Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS)
- Crohn’s disease
- Alzheimer’s disease
- Nail-patella syndrome
- Cachexia
- Chronic pain
- Severe nausea
- Seizures
- Muscle spasms
Montana
Year passed: 2004
Possession limitation: 1 oz
Conditions that are eligible for medical marijuana:
- Cancer
- Glaucoma
- HIV/AIDS
- Cachexia
- Severe chronic pain
- Crohn’s disease
- Epilepsy
- Multiple sclerosis
- Peripheral neuropathy
- Muscle spasms
- Nervous system disorder
Minnesota
Year passed: 2014
Possession limitation: 2.5 oz
Conditions that are eligible for medical marijuana:
- Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS)
- Alzheimer’s disease
- Autism
- Cancer-associated with severe/chronic pain, nausea or severe vomiting, or cachexia or severe wasting
- Glaucoma
- HIV/AIDS
- Tourette syndrome
- Seizures
- Severe and persistent muscle spasms
- Inflammatory bowel disease, including Crohn’s disease
- Terminal illness
- Intractable pain
- Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
- Obstructive sleep apnea
- Chronic pain
- Sickle cell disease (effective August 2021)
- Regular motor or vocal tic disorder (effective August 2021)
Missouri
Year passed: 2018
Possession limitation: 4 oz
Conditions that are eligible for medical marijuana:
- Cancer
- Epilepsy
- Glaucoma
- Intractable migraines unresponsive to other treatment
- A chronic medical condition that causes severe, persistent pain or persistent muscle spasms
- Debilitating psychiatric disorders
- HIV/AIDS
- A chronic medical condition that is typically treated with prescription medications that could lead to physical or psychological dependence, based on a physician’s determination
- A terminal illness
- Any other physician-approved chronic, debilitating, or other medical condition
New Mexico
Year passed: 2007
Possession limitation: 8 oz
Conditions that are eligible for medical marijuana:
- Spinal cord damage
- Anorexia
- Multiple sclerosis
- Cachexia
- Crohn’s disease
- Hepatitis C
- Cancer
- HIV/AIDS
- Parkinson’s disease
- Huntington’s disease
- Epilepsy
- Cervical dystonia
- Hospice patients
- Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS)
- Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
- Arthritis
- Painful peripheral neuropathy
- Intractable nausea
- Chronic pain
- Glaucoma
New Jersey
Year passed: 2010
Possession limitation: 3 oz
Conditions that are eligible for medical marijuana:
- Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS)
- Glaucoma
- HIV/AIDS
- Spasticity disorders and seizures
- Cancer
- IBD
- Multiple sclerosis
- Crohn’s disease
- Muscular dystrophy
- Terminal illness
New Hampshire
Year passed: 2013
Possession limitation: 2 oz
Conditions that are eligible for medical marijuana:
- Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS)
- Traumatic brain injury
- Cancer
- Lupus
- Chemotherapy-induced anorexia
- Hepatitis C
- Epilepsy and seizures
- Multiple sclerosis
- Crohn’s disease
- Persistent muscle spasms
- Parkinson’s disease
- Glaucoma
- Spinal cord injury
- Severe pain
- Wasting syndrome
- Nausea
- Elevated intraocular pressure
- Muscular dystrophy
- Chronic pancreatitis
- Cachexia
- Alzheimer’s
Nevada
Year passed: 2001
Possession limitation: 2.5 oz
Conditions that are eligible for medical marijuana:
- AIDS
- Cancer
- Cachexia
- Multiple sclerosis
- Seizures
- Severe nausea
- Severe pain
New York
Year passed: 2014
Possession limitation: 3 oz
Conditions that are eligible for medical marijuana:
- Cancer
- Spinal cord damage
- Neuropathies
- IBD
- Parkinson’s disease
- Huntington’s disease
- Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS)
- Epilepsy
- Multiple sclerosis
- HIV/AIDS
North Dakota
Year passed: 2016
Possession limitation: 3 oz
Conditions that are eligible for medical marijuana:
- Terminal illness
- HIV/AIDS
- Alzheimer’s disease or related dementia
- Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS)
- Anorexia or bulimia
- Anxiety disorder
- Autism spectrum disorder
- Brain injury
- Cancer
- Crohn’s disease
- Decompensated cirrhosis caused by Hepatitis C
- Ehlers-Danlos syndrome
- Endometriosis
- Epilepsy
- Fibromyalgia
- Glaucoma
- Interstitial cystitis
- Migraine neuropathy
- Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
- Rheumatoid arthritis
- Spinal stenosis or chronic back pain, including neuropathy or damage to the nervous tissue of the spinal cord
- Tourette Syndrome
- Cachexia or wasting syndrome
- Severe debilitating pain that has not responded to previously prescribed medication or surgical measures for more than three months or for which other treatment options produced serious side effects
- Intractable nausea
- Seizures
Oklahoma
Year passed: 2018
Possession limitation: 8 oz
Conditions that are eligible for medical marijuana:
- The qualifying circumstances for medical marijuana are left to the treating physician’s discretion, based on the same acknowledged criteria that a reasonable and cautious physician would use when prescribing or authorizing any other prescription.
Ohio
Year passed: 2016
Possession limitation: 2.5 oz
Conditions that are eligible for medical marijuana:
- HIV/AIDS
- Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS)
- Alzheimer’s disease
- Cachexia
- Cancer
- Chronic traumatic encephalopathy
- Crohn’s disease
- Epilepsy or another seizure disorder
- Fibromyalgia
- Glaucoma
- Hepatitis C
- Huntington’s disease
- Inflammatory bowel disease
- Multiple sclerosis
- Pain that is either chronic and severe or intractable
- Parkinson’s disease
- Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
- Sickle cell anemia
- Spasticity
- Spinal cord disease or injury
- Terminal illness
- Tourette syndrome
Oregon
Year passed: 1998
Possession limitation: 24 oz
Conditions that are eligible for medical marijuana:
- Seizures
- HIV/AIDS
- Cachexia
- Cancer
- Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
- Glaucoma
- Persistent muscle spasms
- Alzheimer’s disease
- Chronic pain
- Nausea
- Other conditions subject to approval
Year passed: 2016
Pennsylvania
Possession limitation: 1 oz
Conditions that are eligible for medical marijuana:
- Cancer
- HIV/AIDS
- Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS)
- Parkinson’s disease
- Seizures
- Epilepsy
- Inflammatory bowel disease
- Neuropathies
- Huntington’s disease
- Crohn’s disease
- Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
- Intractable seizures
- Glaucoma
- Sickle cell anemia
- Autism
- Neuropathic pain
- Multiple sclerosis
Rhode Island
Year passed: 2006
Possession limitation: 2.5 oz
Conditions that are eligible for medical marijuana:
- Cancer
- Glaucoma
- HIV/AIDS
- Cachexia
- Persistent muscle spasms
- Seizures
- Alzheimer’s disease
- Chronic pain
- Crohn’s disease
- Hepatitis C
South Dakota
Year passed: 2020
Possession limitation: 3 oz
Conditions that are eligible for medical marijuana:
- HIV/AIDS
- Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS)
- Multiple sclerosis (M.S.)
- Cancer-associated with severe or chronic pain, nausea or severe vomiting, or cachexia or severe wasting
- Crohn’s disease
- Epilepsy and seizures
- Glaucoma
- Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
Utah
Year passed: 2018
Possession limitation: 3.9 oz
Conditions that are eligible for medical marijuana:
- HIV/AIDS
- Alzheimer’s disease
- Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS)
- Cancer
- Cachexia
- Multiple sclerosis (M.S.)
- Crohn’s disease
- Persistent nausea
- Epilepsy and seizures
- Autism
- Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
- Terminal illness
- Hospice care
Virginia
Year passed: 2020
Possession limitation: 4 oz
Conditions that are eligible for medical marijuana:
- A doctor recognizes any diagnostic ailment or disease to help the qualified patient.
Vermont
Year passed: 2004
Possession limitation: 2 oz
Conditions that are eligible for medical marijuana:
- Cancer
- HIV/AIDS
- Cachexia
- Wasting syndrome
- Severe pain and nausea
- Multiple sclerosis
Washington
Year passed: 1998
Possession limitation: 3 oz., 48 oz. Solid infused product, 216 oz. Liquid-infused product, 21 g. concentrates
Conditions that are eligible for medical marijuana:
- Cancer
- Cachexia
- Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
- Traumatic brain injury
- Hepatitis C
- Intractable pain
- Seizures
- Crohn’s disease
- Nausea
- Glaucoma
- Persistent muscle spasms
- HIV/AIDS
- Spasticity
- Terminal or debilitating conditions
Washington D.C.
Year passed: 2010
Possession limitation: 2 oz
Conditions that are eligible for medical marijuana:
- HIV/AIDS
- Glaucoma
- Muscle spasms
- Multiple sclerosis
- Cancer
West Virginia
Year passed: 2017
Possession limitation: 30-day supply
Conditions that are eligible for medical marijuana:
- Cancer
- HIV/AIDS
- Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS)
- Parkinson’s disease
- Multiple sclerosis
- Damage to the nervous tissue of the spinal cord
- Epilepsy
- Neuropathies
- Huntington’s disease
- Crohn’s disease
- Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
- Intractable seizures
- Sickle cell anemia
- Severe chronic or intractable pain
- Terminal illness
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Really interesting post!