Who Is a Good Candidate for Medical Cannabis?

Medical cannabis, or medical marijuana, has proven to be a safe, effective option to reduce symptoms of chronic pain and numerous other health conditions. If conventional medical treatments fail to provide adequate relief or if side effects of conventional medical treatments are severe, medical cannabis may help alleviate symptoms. A prescription from a healthcare provider is required for the use of medical cannabis. It is important to note that medical cannabis can help relieve symptoms; however, it is not used to treat or cure diseases.

Who is a good candidate for medical cannabis?

Depending on the rules and regulations of cannabis in the state or country in which an individual resides, a person with any of the following health conditions or symptoms may be a good candidate for medical cannabis:

• Alzheimer's disease
• Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS)
• Anxiety
• Anorexia or other eating disorders
• Appetite loss
• HIV or AIDS
• Arthritis
• Cancer
• Crohn's disease
• Chronic, severe pain
• Endometriosis
• Epilepsy and seizures
• Fibromyalgia
• Glaucoma
• Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)
• Migraine
• Multiple sclerosis
• Muscle spasms
• Parkinson’s disease
• Rheumatoid arthritis
• Severe nausea
• Sleep disorders
• Tourette syndrome
• Wasting syndrome (cachexia)
• Other medical symptoms that limit the ability to participate in daily life

Who is not a good candidate for medical cannabis?

A person that meets any of the following criteria or has any of the following health conditions is generally not a good candidate for medical cannabis:

• Under the age of 18
• Women who are pregnant, planning to become pregnant, or breastfeeding
• Personal or strong family history of psychosis or schizophrenia
• Hypersensitivity to any cannabinoid or smoke
• Severe heart disease
• Asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
• Severe liver disease, including chronic hepatitis C
• Severe kidney disease
• History of substance abuse

The benefits and risks of medical cannabis should be carefully weighed if an individual meets any of the following criteria or has any of the following health conditions:

• Under the age of 25
• Existing mood disorder
• Smokes tobacco
• Cardiac disease or stroke or high risk factors for either condition
• Heavy use of alcohol
• Use of high doses of opioids or benzodiazepines
• Current or past cannabis use disorder
• Female of childbearing age who does not use a form of birth control

Additional source used to create this article: McMaster University.