Maryland Medical Cannabis Qualifying Conditions

The Statutory List

Maryland’s qualifying conditions are defined in the Health-General Article and administered by the Maryland Cannabis Administration (MCA). The named conditions:

• Severe or chronic pain
• Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
• Seizure disorders, including epilepsy
• Glaucoma
• Cachexia / wasting syndrome
• Severe nausea
• Severe or persistent muscle spasms
• Anorexia
• Any chronic or debilitating disease or medical condition — with severe symptoms or for which other medical treatments have been ineffective (the catch-all)

The Catch-All Provision

Maryland’s catch-all provision is the central reason its program has so few "non-qualifying" patients. The provision gives a certifying provider broad discretion to recommend cannabis for any condition that:

• Is chronic or debilitating, AND
• Produces severe symptoms or has not responded adequately to other medical treatments

In practice, this means conditions like anxiety, insomnia, migraines, depression, IBD, IBS, fibromyalgia, autoimmune disease, neuropathy and many others can qualify when a Maryland-registered provider determines cannabis is an appropriate treatment. Maryland’s list is closer to Pennsylvania’s or Connecticut’s flexible models than to Arkansas’s or Georgia’s narrow enumerated lists.

The Maryland Cannabis Administration regulates medical cannabis providers and patients under Md. Code, Health-General § 13-3301 et seq.

Maryland Cannabis Administration

Brief Clinical Context by Condition

Severe or Chronic Pain

The most-cited condition nationally and in Maryland. The statute does not specify a minimum pain duration or severity threshold — the certifying provider exercises clinical judgment.

PTSD

Listed by name. Maryland providers commonly certify combat veterans (Aberdeen Proving Ground, Andrews AFB, NSA Bethesda, Joint Base Andrews proximate population), first responders, and trauma survivors. VA-validated diagnoses are accepted.

Seizure Disorders

Includes epilepsy and other seizure conditions. CBD-dominant products are most common; the FDA-approved Epidiolex is also separately prescribable.

Severe Muscle Spasms

Multiple sclerosis is a frequent underlying diagnosis. The category also covers spinal cord injury, cerebral palsy, dystonia, and other neuromuscular conditions.

Glaucoma

Listed for historical reasons; most ophthalmologists today prefer FDA-approved glaucoma drops, but Maryland retains the indication.

Cachexia and Severe Nausea

Frequently certified for cancer patients (chemotherapy-induced nausea, treatment-related appetite loss), HIV/AIDS patients, and advanced GI or chronic kidney disease patients.

Anxiety Under the Catch-All

Generalized anxiety disorder, panic disorder, and social anxiety can qualify under the catch-all when a provider determines other treatments have been inadequate or the symptoms are severe. Documentation of prior treatment attempts strengthens the case.

Autoimmune Disease (Catch-All)

Lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis, psoriasis, and other autoimmune conditions can qualify when the provider documents inadequate response to standard treatment.

Other Frequently Certified Under the Catch-All

• Fibromyalgia
• Migraine and severe headache disorders
• Chronic insomnia
• Treatment-resistant depression
• Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)
• Diabetic and chemotherapy-induced neuropathy
• Autism spectrum disorder with associated severe symptoms

How Patients Document Their Condition

• Named conditions: Standard treating-physician records of the diagnosis. The Maryland-registered certifying provider verifies the diagnosis, not establishes it.
• Catch-all certifications: Record of the underlying chronic disease plus documentation that "other medical treatments have been ineffective" or that the patient’s symptoms are severe. Treatment history is the key.
• PTSD: Mental-health clinician notes, VA records, or treating-physician notes documenting diagnosis and current symptoms.

For Research-Backed Information

For evidence-based summaries on how cannabis may affect specific conditions, see TryCannabis.org’s conditions guide. Always consult your treating physician.

Next Steps

• If your condition is named or fits the catch-all, see how to apply for a Maryland medical card.
• Compare medical vs. recreational on cost & renewal.
• Visiting from out of state? See reciprocity.