Can I Get an Ohio Medical Marijuana Card for Chronic Migraine Headaches?

Many people are aware of migraine headaches but may not fully understand how debilitating they can be. Often accompanied by nausea, headaches, and vomiting, migraines affect an estimated fifteen percent of people globally [1]. For these people, migraines can have a substantial effect on daily life, and any way of reducing the pain or frequency of migraines can greatly improve their quality of life. One way of fighting migraine may now be medical marijuana but getting access to it may be more difficult than you think. 

If you suffer from chronic migraine headaches and have questions about the possibility of obtaining an Ohio medical marijuana card, the team at DocMJ is here to help! Our Patient Care Coordinators can be reached Monday-Friday from 9:00 AM to 5:00 at (877) 899.3626 or by using the Live Chat feature on our website. Start the process of becoming a legal Ohio medical marijuana patient today by completing our easy, online eligibility survey. The survey takes just a few minutes to complete and will let you know instantly if you pre-qualify for a recommendation. 

Migraine Headaches

Migraine headaches are severe headaches with an unknown cause. Migraine attacks can last a very long time, up to days at once, and are concomitant with nausea, vomiting, and sensitivity to light or sounds. The pathophysiology of migraines is also poorly understood, with some debate as to whether the pain can be attributed to neurological dysfunction, a vascular disorder, or some combination of the two. 

For some people, migraine headaches have four distinct stages; prodrome, aura, attack, and post-drome. This does not mean that everyone who experiences migraine headaches go through all or multiple stages, but these four stages have been clearly identified in a substantial number of migraine patients. The first stage, prodrome, consists of symptoms such as frequent yawning, sudden constipation, and polydipsia that begin a day or two before a migraine. Aura, the second stage, can occur before or during a migraine and can include vision loss, numbness in extremities, and aphasia. The attack stage characterizes the migraine itself, and can last multiple days. The postdrome stage occurs after the attack, and describes the feelings of fatigue and confusion after the migraine. 

When diagnosing migraines, physicians may sometimes order further scans or testing to rule out other potential causes of headaches. Due to the uncertainty regarding the cause of migraines, current treatments focus on reducing the frequency of attacks and reducing the severity of them and their side effects. In some cases, botox injections can be used to help prevent more migraine attacks. 

Can Medical Marijuana Help Migraine Headaches?

Because the physiological mechanisms behind migraines are still not known, testing and theorizing about the effects of medical marijuana on migraine patients is very difficult. That said, there are a few studies that have focused on the responses of medical marijuana patients with migraines and the reported frequency of attacks in these patients. 

The first study used results from papers that were previously published, and found that marijuana was an effective treatment for migraines both preemptively and when used during an attack [2]. The paper goes on to list several potential reasons for this, including marijauna’s ability to bind to the 5HT1 receptor, which has been shown to help transmit pain signals. A second retrospective study found that migraine attack frequency was decreased significantly in medical marijuana patients [3]. This study did note some negative effects associated with its use, such as sleep disturbance. It is worth noting, however, that inhaled forms of marijauna were reported to be most effective at treating a patient suffering from a migraine attack at that time. 

Can I Get a Medical Marijuana Card for Migraine Headaches in Ohio?

For the past few years, there was a lot of confusion among migraine patients in Ohio over whether they were eligible for a recommendation. While migraines were not listed specifically in the list of qualifying conditions, chronic pain was, causing some to question if migraines were covered under that umbrella. Luckily, that is no longer the case. In February of this year, chronic migraines were added to the list of qualifying conditions in Ohio [4]. Now, patients with diagnosed chronic migraines can be approved for a medical marijuana recommendation from certified physicians.

If you’re curious about whether or not you may qualify for an Ohio medical marijuana card, complete our online eligibility survey today! The survey takes less than 5 minutes to complete and will let you know instantly if you pre-qualify. If you’d like to speak with a DocMJ team member, you may contact our office Monday through Friday from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM. Our Patient Care Coordinators can also be reached by using the Live Chat feature located at the bottom of our website. On our website you can also find a large selection of educational blogs, an FAQ page with answers to frequently asked questions, and our own line of hemp-derived CBD that’s recommended by physicians!

Resources

[1] Years lived with disability (YLDs) for 1160 sequelae of 289 diseases and injuries 1990–2010: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2010 

[2] The Use of Cannabis for Headache Disorders 

[3] Effects of Medical Marijuana on Migraine Headache Frequency in an Adult Population 

[4] Medical marijuana in Ohio: Arthritis, chronic migraines and complex regional pain syndrome approved 

Dr. Marissa Magsino

With over 25 years of specialty training in Internal Medicine, as well as fellowship training in Functional and Sexual medicine, Dr. Maginso added Plant Medicine (Medical Marijuana) to her niche practice as of 2017. She is licensed in the State of Florida and attended the University of the East (UERM) in Quezon City, Philippines as well as the University of Medicine and Dentistry in Newark, NJ.

She joined DocMJ in 2019 to align with a known group of compassionate physicians that empower their patients to be better versions of themselves. Her favorite hashtag is #powerpassionperformance, using the combination of optimized bioidentical hormones, medical marijuana, plasma therapies, and sexual wellness.

She is an author, speaker and community advocate for Medical Marijuana, Sexual Health, and the empowerment of mature women.