The Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services (DHSS) has established specific guidelines to ensure that those in need can access medical marijuana safely and legally. Here is a comprehensive guide to qualifying medical conditions:
Cancer: Patients diagnosed with cancer are eligible for a medical marijuana card.
Epilepsy: Individuals suffering from epilepsy can qualify for a medical marijuana card.
Glaucoma: Patients with glaucoma, a condition that can lead to vision loss, are eligible.
Intractable Migraines: Those who experience severe migraines unresponsive to other treatments can apply.
Chronic Pain or Muscle Spasms: This category includes chronic medical conditions causing severe, persistent pain or muscle spasms. It encompasses conditions such as multiple sclerosis, seizures, Parkinson's disease, and Tourette's syndrome.
Debilitating Psychiatric Disorders: Patients diagnosed with debilitating psychiatric disorders, including post-traumatic stress disorder, by a state-licensed psychiatrist are eligible.
HIV/AIDS: Individuals with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) or acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) can apply.
Medications Leading to Dependence: If you have a chronic medical condition normally treated with prescription medications that could lead to physical or psychological dependence, and a physician determines that medical marijuana is a safer alternative, you qualify.
Terminal Illness: Patients with a terminal illness are eligible for a medical marijuana card.
Other Chronic or Debilitating Conditions: In
the professional judgment of a physician,
any other chronic, debilitating, or medical
condition may qualify. This includes but is
not limited to:
- Hepatitis C
- Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS)
- Inflammatory bowel disease
- Crohn's disease
- Huntington's disease
- Autism
- Neuropathies
- Sickle cell anemia
- Agitation of Alzheimer's disease
- Cachexia
- Wasting syndrome
Please note that physician certifications for medical marijuana must be no more than thirty days old when applying for a patient identification card. The Missouri DHSS began accepting patient identification card applications on July 4, 2019, and this guide is current as of that date.