What Conditions Qualify for Medical Marijuana Card in Connecticut (2024)

How Many Medical Conditions Qualify for Medical Marijuana Treatment in Connecticut?

Connecticut’s medical cannabis law recognizes 40 debilitating medical conditions for medical marijuana treatment for adults. Minors approved for medical cannabis use in the state must be diagnosed with one or more of 11 debilitating conditions.

Qualifying Conditions for Medical Card in Connecticut 2024

Connecticut has separate lists of qualifying conditions for medical marijuana for adults and minors. For adults in the state, the debilitating medical conditions approved for medical cannabis use are:

• Cancer
• Glaucoma
• HIV+/AIDS
• Parkinson's Disease
• Multiple Sclerosis
• Damage to the Nervous Tissue of the Spinal Cord with Objective Neurological Indication of Intractable Spasticity
• Epilepsy
• Cachexia
• Wasting Syndrome
• Crohn's Disease
• Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
• Sickle Cell Disease
• Post Laminectomy Syndrome with Chronic Radiculopathy
• Severe Psoriasis and Psoriatic Arthritis
• Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis
• Ulcerative Colitis
• Complex Regional Pain Syndrome, Type 1 and Type II
• Cerebral Palsy
• Cystic Fibrosis
• Irreversible Spinal Cord Injury with Objective Neurological Indication of Intractable Spasticity
• Terminal Illness Requiring End-of-Life Care
• Uncontrolled Intractable Seizure Disorder
• Spasticity or Neuropathic Pain Associated with Fibromyalgia
• Severe Rheumatoid Arthritis
• Post Herpetic Neuralgia
• Hydrocephalus with Intractable Headache
• Intractable Headache Syndromes
• Neuropathic Facial Pain
• Muscular Dystrophy
• Osteogenesis Imperfecta
• Chronic Neuropathic Pain Associated with Degenerative Spinal Disorders
• Interstitial Cystitis
• MALS Syndrome (Median Arcuate Ligament Syndrome)
• Vulvodynia and Vulvar Burning
• Intractable Neuropathic Pain that Is Unresponsive to Standard Medical Treatments
• Tourette Syndrome
• Chronic Pain of at least 6 months duration associated with a specified underlying chronic condition refractory to other treatment intervention
• Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome Associated with Chronic Pain
• Chronic Pancreatitis
• Movement disorders associated with Huntington Disease

Minors applying for Connecticut’s medical marijuana card must be diagnosed with one or more of the following debilitating medical conditions:

• Cerebral Palsy
• Cystic Fibrosis
• Irreversible Spinal Cord Injury with Objective Neurological Indication of Intractable Spasticity
• Severe Epilepsy
• Terminal Illness Requiring End-of-Life Care
• Uncontrolled Intractable Seizure Disorder
• Muscular Dystrophy
• Osteogenesis Imperfecta
• Intractable Neuropathic Pain that Is Unresponsive to Standard Medical Treatments
• Tourette Syndrome for patients who have failed standard medical treatment
• Chronic Pancreatitis for patients whose pain is recalcitrant to standard medical management

Does Connecticut Add New Qualifying Conditions to its Medical Marijuana Program?

Yes. Connecticut has repeatedly expanded its list of qualifying debilitating conditions since the inception of its medical marijuana program. As of 2024, these lists have grown from 22 conditions (for adults) to 40 and six conditions (for minors) to 11. The Connecticut State Department of Consumer Protection publishes the complete list of debilitating conditions for the state’s medical marijuana program on its website. This list includes the year each condition was added.

The Connecticut Medical Marijuana Program accepts petitions for the addition of new qualifying conditions by email or regular mail. Members of the public can submit such petitions with evidence to support the inclusion of suggested additions. The state’s Board of Physicians sits twice a year to review these petitions and make recommendations to the Commissioner of Consumer Protection for the addition of new qualifying conditions.

Does Connecticut Allow Physicians to Recommend Medical Cannabis for Non-Qualifying Conditions?

No. Connecticut does not allow medical providers to recommend medical cannabis for conditions not included in its lists of qualifying medical conditions.

Do You Need a Doctor’s Recommendation for Medical Marijuana in Connecticut?

Yes. Connecticut requires a physician’s certification before registering a patient in its medical marijuana program. The certification must confirm the diagnosis of a qualifying condition and state that the physician believes the benefits of the palliative use of medical cannabis outweighs its potential risks. Connecticut accepts medical certifications issued by state-licensed, board-certified physicians, physician assistants, and advanced practice registered nurses.

For a minor seeking legal access to medical marijuana, Connecticut requires two medical certifications. One of these must be from the patient’s primary care provider and the other one from a board-certified physician practicing in the field of medicine involved in the treatment of the debilitating condition.

Who Qualifies for a Medical Marijuana Card in Connecticut?

In addition to a diagnosis of a qualifying condition and a physician certification, Connecticut requires those applying for its medical marijuana certificate to also be residents of the state. Inmates confined in correctional institutions or facilities under the supervision of the Connecticut Department of Corrections are ineligible for a medical marijuana certificate.