What Can You Get A Medical Marijuana Card For?

Research suggests that marijuana may be useful in treating a vast variety of symptoms and conditions. Marijuana contains cannabinoids, chemicals similar to the endocannabinoids found naturally in the human body. The endocannabinoid system is thought to have an important role in regulating systems throughout the body, including neural development, immune function, cardiovascular function, and bone density. Cannabinoids are also thought to help regulate appetite and digestion, pain, sleep, memory, stress, and emotion. The cannabinoids in marijuana interact with the endocannabinoid system, which explains why marijuana can affect so many different systems in the body.

It is up to each individual health care practitioner to decide what conditions and symptoms warrant the use of medical marijuana. Treatment plans involving medical marijuana are relatively new, so some practitioners may prefer to authorize it only if more traditional medications have been tested and failed. When a doctor or registered nurse decide that marijuana is the best treatment option, they will provide a document that will enable the patient to register with an approved medical marijuana provider. The document also serves as proof that the patient may purchase and possess (and in some cases, grow) medical marijuana.

There are numerous medical conditions and symptoms for which medical marijuana may be a preferred treatment option. These include the following:

• The nausea and vomiting associated with chemotherapy
• Alzheimer’s disease and dementia
• The loss of appetite associated with HIV/AIDS or cancer
• The pain and muscle spasms associated with multiple sclerosis
• Arthritides and musculoskeletal disorders such as rheumatoid arthritis
• The seizures caused by epilepsy
• The insomnia and/or depression associated with many chronic illnesses
• Movement disorders such as Huntington’s disease or Parkinson’s disease
• The various discomforts (pain, nausea, depression, etc.) associated with palliative care
• Acute or chronic pain with a variety of causes
• The pressure on the eye caused by glaucoma
• Headaches or migraines
• Gastrointestinal system disorders such as irritable bowel syndrome and hepatitis
• Anxiety and depression
• Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
• Symptoms associated with alcohol or opioid withdrawal

Note that Health Canada does not specifically recommend medical marijuana as a treatment for any or all of these conditions. Further studies will be necessary before we can be fully confident that marijuana is an effective treatment option without adverse long-term effects. Much of the information currently available is historical or anecdotal, not clinical.

In the case of marijuana as a treatment for headaches and migraines, for example, many individual patients have reported positive effects from cannabis use. However, there have not been any controlled clinical trials to verify these effects. In fact, some studies suggest that marijuana may have a negative effect on headaches and migraines. Some researchers believe that marijuana only relieves headaches when they were caused by marijuana withdrawal in the first place.

At this time, the question of which medical conditions should be treated with marijuana is still a controversial topic with a variety of possible answers. Consult your health care practitioner for more information, or see the Information for Health Care Professionals: Cannabis document prepared by Health Canada.