What States Can You Get Medical Marijuana for Mental Health Conditions?

The National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) estimates that 1 in 5 adults living in the United States experience symptoms associated with a mental illness. However, approximately 1 in 25 American adults live with a serious mental disorder that impacts activities of normal life.

Serious mental health problems cost Americans over $193 billion in lost earnings every year and accounted for nearly 1 million absences from work every day in 2023, according to The American Institute for Stress.

Relief from symptoms of a psychiatric disorder today may involve exploring medical cannabis as part of a doctor-supervised treatment plan. State medical marijuana laws vary, however. Some states have an expansive list of mental health-related qualifying conditions, while others have very few.

Is Anxiety An Accepted Qualifying Condition in All States?

There is more knowledge and support for individuals living with a mental health disorder today than ever before. While the societal stigmas about mental health have improved, there are still negative assumptions that can be made about people who struggle with one or more psychological disorders.

Unfortunately, at the time of writing, clinical anxiety is only accepted as a qualifying health condition for medical cannabis in five states: Pennsylvania, Puerto Rico, North Dakota, Oklahoma, and New Jersey. Patients may still qualify under another diagnosed condition or symptom, however.

Many patients ask themselves, “Do I qualify for medical marijuana?” If you do not have one of the specific qualifying health conditions, you may still be eligible. Some states accept any condition that a healthcare provider believes may provide symptom relief or wellness benefits for his or her patient.

States That Recognize Mental Health Conditions for MMJ

With increasing rates of anxiety disorders, depression, and other psychological medical conditions, many states have added specific diagnoses to their list of qualifying conditions for medical cannabis.

If you live in one of the following states and you have been diagnosed with one or more qualifying mental health conditions, you may be eligible to get a medical cannabis card:

1. Alabama

Patients aged 18 and older with an Alabama medical cannabis card can purchase tablets and capsules, tinctures, topical creams and ointments, suppositories, nebulizers, inhaler liquids and oils, and transdermal patches.

The following mental health conditions can make a patient eligible to apply for an Alabama medical card:

• Autism and Spectrum Disorders.
• Depression.
• Panic Disorder.
• Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).
• Tourette Syndrome (TS).

Prohibited cannabis products in Alabama include whole flower (cannabis bud), smokable cannabis, and edible food products, including infused baked goods, candies, and lozenges.

2. Arizona

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is the only mental health diagnosis that can qualify a patient for medical cannabis in Arizona.

3. Arkansas

Two mental health diagnoses can qualify you for an Arkansas medical marijuana card. Patients diagnosed with Tourette’s Syndrome or Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) may be eligible.

4. California

The state of California’s medical cannabis program allows a diagnosis of Tourette Syndrome (TS), Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), Autism, and Chronic Vocal Tic Disorder as qualifying mental health conditions.

5. Colorado

There are only two mental health diagnoses on the list of qualifying conditions in Colorado: Autism (Spectrum Disorder) and PTSD.

6. Connecticut

A diagnosis of Tourette Syndrome (TS) or Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) may make you eligible to apply for a Connecticut medical marijuana card.

7. Delaware

Patients diagnosed with Autism (with self-injurious or aggressive behavior) or Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder may apply and become registered patients in the Delaware medical marijuana program.

8. District of Columbia

In the District of Columbia, there is no requirement to have one diagnosis on a list of qualifying conditions. Patients may qualify with any health condition for the therapeutic use of cannabis if the certifying physician agrees that MMJ may provide symptom relief.

9. Florida

There is one qualifying mental health condition that patients may use to apply for a Florida medical marijuana card, and that is Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). However, Florida medical cannabis laws also allow “medical conditions of the same kind or class as or comparable to the others listed,” which means other mental health conditions may qualify, depending on the patient’s symptoms.

10. Georgia

Patients living with one of three mental health conditions in Georgia may be eligible to participate in the state medical cannabis program. The three accepted mental health diagnoses are Tourette Syndrome (TS), Autism Spectrum Disorder, and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)

11. Hawaii

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is the only mental health-related qualifying health condition for medical cannabis in Hawaii.

12. Illinois

In the state of Illinois, there are four mental health diagnoses that may qualify a patient to participate in the state medical cannabis program. The conditions are Autism, PTSD, Tourette syndrome (TS), and Anorexia Nervosa.

13. Louisiana

Patients living with PTSD or a diagnosis of Agitation of Autism Spectrum Disorder may apply for a Louisiana medical cannabis card.

14. Maine

In Maine, a diagnosis of PTSD is the only listed mental health condition that can qualify a patient for medical cannabis. However, the Maine medical marijuana program also allows any condition to qualify a patient if the certifying healthcare provider agrees that cannabis may provide symptom relief.

15. Maryland

In Maryland, if you have been diagnosed with PTSD or another chronic medical condition that is “severe and for which other treatments have been ineffective,” you may be certified for a Maryland medical card.

16. Massachusetts

In the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, the Family and Medical Leave Act of 1993 recognizes some mental health diagnoses and symptoms as a qualifying condition. However, there are no specific mental health conditions stated for medical cannabis eligibility.

However, a Massachusetts healthcare provider can approve patients who have “other debilitating conditions as determined in writing by a certified physician.”

17. Michigan

Patients residing in Michigan who have PTSD, Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD), or Autism may be certified for medical cannabis.

18. Minnesota

Symptoms of Tourette Syndrome (TS), Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, or Obsessive-compulsive Disorder (OCD) may qualify patients in Minnesota for medical cannabis.

19. Mississippi

A Mississippi medical marijuana card can be available for patients diagnosed with agitation of dementia, PTSD, or Autism.

20. Missouri

In Missouri, the medical cannabis legislation states that patients may be qualified if they have “debilitating psychiatric disorders, including, but not limited to, post-traumatic stress disorder, if diagnosed by a state-licensed psychiatrist.” Patients with Autism are also eligible to apply for a Missouri medical marijuana card.

21. Montana

There is only one mental health condition that may qualify a patient for medical marijuana use in Montana. Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder is one of the qualifying conditions accepted by the Montana medicinal cannabis program.

22. Nevada

The state of Nevada’s medical marijuana program recognizes three mental health diagnoses that can make a patient eligible to apply for a medical card: PTSD (posttraumatic stress disorder), Anxiety, and Autism Spectrum Disorder.

23. New Hampshire

In New Hampshire, no specific mental health symptoms or diagnoses are provided on the list of qualifying conditions. However, some physicians may certify a patient with anxiety or depression under the legal provision that the patient has “one or more injuries or conditions that have resulted in one or more qualifying symptoms.

24. New Jersey

Patients diagnosed with Tourette syndrome (TS), Anxiety, or Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) may be certified for a New Jersey medical marijuana card. Medical cannabis became tax-free for patients in New Jersey on July 1, 2022.

25. New Mexico

New Mexico cannabis healthcare providers can certify patients for one of three mental health conditions: Anxiety Disorder, Autism Spectrum Disorder, and PTSD.

26. New York

Suppose you are a patient living in New York State, and you have been diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder, PTSD, or Substance Use Disorder (SUD). In that case, you are eligible to apply for doctor-supervised medical cannabis.

27. North Dakota

The North Dakota medical cannabis laws allow patients with one of five mental health conditions to apply for a medical card. The accepted qualifying health conditions include:

• Bulimia nervosa
• Anxiety disorder
• Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
• Autism spectrum disorder
• Tourette syndrome

Recreational marijuana use is illegal in North Dakota. However, the maximum quantity permitted for purchase by patients is generous; caregivers and qualifying patients can buy up to 7.5 ounces from a licensed dispensary every 30 days.

28. Ohio

There are only two mental health conditions that may qualify a patient living in Ohio. Patients diagnosed with Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) or Tourette Syndrome (TS) may be approved for an Ohio medical card.

29. Oklahoma

In Oklahoma, patients diagnosed with Anxiety, Depression, PTSD, or Tourette Syndrome (TS) are eligible to become certified for a medical cannabis card. An interesting fact about medical cannabis in Oklahoma is that there are more dispensaries per capita in the Sooner state than in California.

30. Oregon

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is the only mental health-related medical marijuana qualifying condition accepted in Oregon. In May 2023, California, Oregon, and Washington state implemented legally protected “interstate commerce” for cannabis-related businesses.

31. Peurto Rico

The Peurto Rico Department of Health Medicinal Cannabis Program recognizes five different mental health diagnoses as qualifying conditions:

• Anxiety and Panic Disorder
• Autism
• Aspbergers Syndrome
• Depression
• Eating Disorders
• PTSD

Peurto Rico also offers medical card reciprocity for medicinal cannabis patients from Arizona, Arkansas, Hawaii, Maine, Michigan, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Rhode Island, Utah, and the District of Columbia.

32. Pennsylvania

Four mental health diagnoses can make patients eligible for medical cannabis in Pennsylvania. The accepted conditions are Anxiety Disorders, Autism, Tourette Syndrome, and Posttraumatic stress disorder.

33. South Dakota

Only one mental health diagnosis is on the list of qualifying conditions for medical cannabis in South Dakota. Patients with PTSD may be eligible to receive a medical card.

34. Texas

In the Lonestar State, two mental health conditions may qualify you for a Texas medical marijuana card: Autism and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).

35. Utah

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is one mental health condition that can qualify you for a medical cannabis card in Utah. However, a formal written diagnosis is not enough. Patients must also be engaged in treatment and monitored by a licensed health therapist.

Patients diagnosed with Autism in Utah may also be eligible to apply for a medical cannabis card.

36. Vermont

Patients who have been diagnosed with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) may apply for a medical card in Vermont. There are no other mental health diagnoses listed as a qualifying condition in Vermont.

37. Virginia

If you have been diagnosed with Anorexia, Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), or Anxiety Disorder, you may be certified for a Virginia medical cannabis card.

38. Washington

Lawmakers in Washington stated: “Due to a lack of scientific evidence supporting improved health outcomes from the use of medical cannabis for mental health conditions such as Bipolar Disorder, Depression, and Anxiety, the Medical Quality Assurance Commission denied requests to add to the list of qualifying conditions.”

Since 2010, Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) has been the only mental health condition accepted by the Washington medical cannabis program.

39. West Virginia

In West Virginia, the only mental health condition that may qualify you for a medical marijuana card is Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). More research is needed. However, there are studies that suggest cannabis for mental health therapy may help patients achieve better results.

Mental Health Disorders That Can Disqualify Patients for Medical Cannabis

As we’ve shared, state laws about medical cannabis and mental health conditions vary. But one of the things that most states have in common are guidelines about specific psychological disorders that may not be safe therapeutically.

Patients who have been diagnosed with schizophrenia may not be certified by a cannabis healthcare provider. Certain strains of cannabis with higher potency levels may exacerbate feelings of paranoia. At the time of writing, schizophrenia is not an accepted mental health condition for medical cannabis in any state because of potential adverse effects.

Individuals who are diagnosed with bipolar disorder may not be certified. This is dependent on the certifying practitioner, severity of symptoms, family history, and other information provided at the time of the cannabis health evaluation.

Some studies have suggested that patients with bipolar spectrum disorders can experience worsened episodes, psychotic symptoms, increased rapid cycling of mood variants, as well as poorer response to treatment and symptom remission rates.