Apply for Your Minnesota Medical Marijuana Card
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Minnesota Medical Marijuana Card Qualifying Conditions
Since 2015, when the state passed the Minnesota Medical Marijuana Law, residents of Minnesota have been able to buy medical marijuana from state dispensaries to treat specific medical conditions authorized by the Office of Medical Cannabis. The law gives qualifying patients the ability to manage symptoms from such incapacitating conditions as chronic pain, cancer, and post-traumatic stress disorder. The Minnesota Department of Health used the law to establish Minnesota’s Medical Marijuana Program (MMMP).
A written certification from a qualified health care professional stating that medical marijuana would be helpful for your condition is the first step in the MMMP eligibility process.
Five of the top ailments experienced by patients requesting access to Minnesota’s medical cannabis program are listed below.
Terminal Illness
When a patient has been diagnosed with a terminal illness, medical cannabis is frequently used to help with symptom relief. Many patients find that by reducing pain, reducing nausea or vomiting, and enhancing appetite, medical cannabis can help them live better.
Patients with terminal illnesses may benefit from cannabis’ anti-inflammatory properties. Medical marijuana may in some instances be the only medication that helps treat symptoms of a terminal illness.
Patients in Minnesota must first obtain a written certification from a qualified doctor in order to be eligible for a medical marijuana card. The patient must have a qualifying condition, and the doctor must vouch that medical marijuana would be a successful treatment for it.
Chronic or Intractable Pain
One of the most frequent causes for people to apply for medical marijuana cards in Minnesota is chronic pain. Cannabis is frequently a more efficient and secure treatment for patients with chronic pain than pharmaceutical painkillers. Medical cannabis can be used in a variety of ways to treat chronic pain, including topical applications, smoking, and edible forms that can be consumed. Some patients discover that a mix of treatments suits them the best.
Chronic pain as well as other conditions like anxiety, depression, and insomnia can all be successfully treated with medical cannabis, according to research. It is a completely natural substitute for prescription drugs, which frequently have negative side effects. Cannabis is becoming a well-liked option for treating chronic pain because it is also non-addictive.
Cancer
Pain, nausea, and vomiting are common side effects for cancer patients receiving treatment. Many people use medical marijuana to alleviate some of these side effects. By increasing patients’ appetites after rounds of radiation and chemotherapy, cannabis is also effective in treating therapy-induced cachexia, or severe wasting.
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
A traumatic event can lead to the psychiatric disorder known as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Flashbacks, intrusive thoughts, nightmares, and avoiding anything that might bring up the traumatic event are just a few examples of symptoms.
There is evidence to suggest that PTSD may benefit from cannabinoids. THC and CBD, the two main cannabis cannabinoids, are both recognized for their analgesic and anti-inflammatory properties. They might also ease tension and encourage relaxation. There is anecdotal evidence from people with PTSD that cannabis helps them to cope with their symptoms, and animal studies have demonstrated that cannabinoids can reduce the symptoms of PTSD.
Speak with your doctor about whether medical cannabis products could be a good option for you if you believe they could help you manage your PTSD symptoms.
Medical marijuana can be used in a variety of ways to treat obstructive sleep apnea in sufferers. Before bed, some people find that cannabis allows them to sleep more soundly, uninterrupted by airway obstruction. Others discover that using cannabis to smoke or vape throughout the day facilitates the opening of their airways and enhances breathing. Cannabis can also be used to treat depression and anxiety, two additional obstructive sleep apnea symptoms.
Full List of Minnesota Medical Marijuana Qualifying Conditions
In order to receive medical cannabis in Minnesota, a patient must be a resident of the state legally and must have a diagnosis for at least one of the qualifying conditions listed below:
- Alzheimer’s disease
- Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS)
- Cancer (if illness or its treatment produces one or more of the following: severe or chronic pain; nausea or severe vomiting; or cachexia or severe wasting)
- Chronic motor or vocal tic disorder
- Chronic pain
- Glaucoma
- HIV/AIDS
- Inflammatory bowel disease, including Crohn’s disease
- Intractable pain
- Obstructive sleep apnea
- Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
- Seizures, including those characteristic of epilepsy
- Severe and persistent muscle spasms, including those characteristic of multiple sclerosis (MS)
- Sickle cell disease
- Terminal illness, with a probable life expectancy of less than one year (if illness or its treatment produces one or more of the following: severe or chronic pain; nausea or severe vomiting; or cachexia or severe wasting)
Don’t Have a Qualifying Condition on This List?
You might still be able to apply for a medical marijuana card if you live in Minnesota and believe that your medical condition belongs on the list of qualifying medical conditions maintained by the Department of Health.
Prospective patients with cancer, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and chronic pain are likely to be approved under Minnesota state law, but you may also be eligible for medical cannabis use if you have other conditions.
You can still get in touch with the Sanctuary to find out more about medical marijuana, get in touch with a nearby healthcare professional or medical marijuana doctor, and find out how to register as a patient for medical cannabis in the state of Minnesota even if your medical condition is not on the state’s list of qualifying conditions.
