Can You Get a Medical Card for Concussions and Traumatic Brain Injury?

Medical cannabis offers potential relief for various chronic conditions, including traumatic brain injury (TBI). States with medical cannabis programs list specific debilitating conditions as eligible for medical cannabis use. While qualifying conditions vary for each state, many include TBI on that list. 

As more states recognize the therapeutic benefits of medical cannabis, many may wonder: Can you get a medical card for concussions or more severe forms of TBI? Which states recognize TBI as a qualifying condition for medical cannabis, and what are alternatives in states with more restrictive laws?

What are Qualifying Conditions?

Qualifying conditions are medical diagnoses that state laws recognize for medical cannabis treatment.¹

Each medical cannabis state has its list, which can include conditions like chronic pain, epilepsy, and TBI. If you’re exploring weed as an option for concussions and other forms of TBI, having one of these conditions is necessary to obtain and use cannabis legally in these states. 

These lists reflect the current understanding of medical cannabis and are subject to change as new research comes to light.

How Can I Find My State's Qualifying Conditions?

To verify if concussions or other TBI symptoms qualify for a medical cannabis card in your state, visit NuggMD's laws and regulations page. This resource provides detailed, up-to-date information on the medical cannabis qualifications for each state. 

Organizations like the Marijuana Policy Project, NORML, and Americans for Safe Access offer comprehensive guides on state-specific cannabis laws, including the recognized qualifying conditions for medical cannabis. 

For the most current information, check your state's official cannabis program or regulatory agency website.

Which States Have Traumatic Brain Injury as a Qualifying Condition?

Currently, Illinois, New Hampshire, Ohio, Utah, and Washington recognize TBI as a condition that qualifies for medical cannabis use. Patients in these states who suffer from TBI-related symptoms can apply for a medical cannabis card, provided they meet other state-specific requirements.

For an in-depth guide on medical marijuana registries by state, including how to apply and what conditions qualify, visit NuggMD’s comprehensive guide.

If My State Doesn't Have Them as Qualifying Conditions, Can You Get a Medical Card for Concussions and TBI Anyway?

If your state doesn’t list TBI as a qualifying condition, there may still be options to obtain a medical cannabis card. 

Some states focus on symptoms rather than specific conditions. For example, if you experience chronic pain, spasticity, or other symptoms associated with TBI, you might still qualify under those categories. This approach is common in states like Pennsylvania, which recognizes damage to the nervous tissue of the central nervous system with symptoms including intractable spasticity and other associated neuropathies as qualifying conditions.

Additionally, some states have broader qualifying criteria. In California, any chronic or persistent medical symptom that limits major life activities or causes serious harm if untreated may qualify. These symptoms are defined in the Americans with Disabilities Act. Similarly, Maryland considers severe chronic conditions where other treatments have been ineffective.

States like Virginia, New York, and Oklahoma allow physicians to recommend cannabis for any condition they believe could benefit from it. Washington, D.C., allows cannabis for any debilitating condition as recommended by a licensed doctor or self-certified by a patient.

In states with more restrictive lists, such as Alabama, Michigan, Mississippi, and North Dakota, conditions like spinal cord injuries are specifically recognized, which could include some TBI-related symptoms.

Some states provide an appeal or petition process if your condition or symptoms don’t fit into these categories. For example, in Arizona, patients can request to add a medical condition to the list of qualifying conditions. Always check with your state's medical cannabis program for specific details and options.

Do Any Symptoms of Traumatic Brain Injury Count as Qualifying Conditions?

Many symptoms of TBI, such as severe pain, persistent muscle spasms, concussions, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), are recognized as qualifying conditions for medical cannabis in most states. Although TBI itself may not be a listed condition, these associated symptoms frequently meet the criteria for medical cannabis use.

Severe pain, a common symptom of TBI, qualifies for medical cannabis in nearly all states with a medical program. However, the specifics can vary. Some states allow medical providers the discretion to recommend cannabis for any condition deemed appropriate, which could include severe pain from TBI. Other states have specific criteria defining what kind of severe or chronic pain qualifies. Types of qualifying chronic pain might range from pain that must persist for months to pain that has not responded adequately to other treatments.

PTSD, often associated with TBI, is widely recognized in all medical cannabis states except Alaska. In Alaska, while PTSD is not a listed qualifying condition, the state allows legal adult-use cannabis, which individuals with PTSD can access.

Research state-specific laws and guidelines for in-depth information on how your state handles these symptoms, which can often be found through state health department websites or trusted medical cannabis advocacy groups.

References

1. Boehnke KF, Gangopadhyay S, Clauw DJ, Haffajee RL. Qualifying Conditions Of Medical Cannabis License Holders In The United States. Health Affairs. 2019;38(2):295-302. doi:https://doi.org/10.1377/hlthaff.2018.05266
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The information in this article and any included images or charts are for educational purposes only. This information is neither a substitute for, nor does it replace, professional legal advice or medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. If you have any concerns or questions about laws, regulations, or your health, you should always consult with an attorney, physician or other licensed professional.