Michigan Medical Marijuana Qualifying Conditions Explained (2026)

Who decides which conditions qualify for a Michigan medical marijuana card?

The Michigan Medical Marihuana Act (MMMA) of 2008, plus subsequent additions approved by the Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs (LARA), defines the list of qualifying conditions. The list can grow over time through petitions and public hearings — autism, OCD, PTSD, and arthritis are examples of conditions added after the original 2008 list.

In addition to the named conditions, Michigan recognizes a catch-all category: chronic or debilitating conditions causing severe, chronic pain, severe nausea, severe and persistent muscle spasms, or seizures. This catch-all language is broad and provides flexibility for patients whose specific diagnosis isn't on the named list.

The complete 2026 list of qualifying conditions

A Michigan resident may qualify for a medical marijuana card with any of the following:

Chronic pain — the most-certified qualifying condition. Includes long-term musculoskeletal pain, neuropathic pain, post-surgical pain, fibromyalgia, and other persistent pain conditions.

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) — including service-related PTSD in veterans and PTSD from non-military trauma.

Cancer — including pain, nausea, and appetite-related symptoms from cancer or its treatment.

Glaucoma — particularly when conventional treatment has been incomplete or causes side effects.

HIV / AIDS — including wasting syndrome, neuropathic pain, and appetite issues.

Hepatitis C — including treatment-related side effects.

Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS).

Crohn's disease — including inflammatory pain, appetite loss, and severe nausea.

Ulcerative colitis — added later as a stand-alone qualifying condition.

Agitation of Alzheimer's disease — including symptoms of behavioral disturbance.

Nail patella syndrome.

Cachexia / wasting syndrome — significant unintentional weight loss.

Severe nausea — including chemotherapy-induced, gastroparesis, and other persistent nausea.

Severe and persistent muscle spasms — including those caused by multiple sclerosis (MS), spinal cord injury, and other neurologic conditions.

Seizures — including those caused by epilepsy.

Autism.

Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD).

Tourette syndrome.

Rheumatoid arthritis.

Arthritis — including osteoarthritis and post-traumatic arthritis.

Spinal cord injury — including paraplegia, quadriplegia, and chronic neuropathic pain.

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) — broader category that encompasses Crohn's and ulcerative colitis.

Plus the catch-all: any other chronic or debilitating medical condition or its treatment that produces severe and chronic pain, severe nausea, severe and persistent muscle spasms, or seizures.

What counts as "chronic pain" for a Michigan medical marijuana card?

Chronic pain is the most-certified qualifying condition in Michigan, by a wide margin. The MMMA does not require a specific named diagnosis — it requires that the pain be chronic (typically defined as lasting longer than 3–6 months), persistent, and severe enough to interfere with daily function.

Common chronic pain qualifying scenarios we see include: lower back pain (degenerative disc disease, herniated disc, sciatica), neck pain, fibromyalgia, neuropathic pain (diabetic neuropathy, post-shingles neuralgia, post-surgical neuropathy), arthritis-related joint pain, migraines (frequent, severe, persistent), pelvic pain, and post-traumatic pain.

You do not need a recent MRI or specialist diagnosis to qualify. Dr. Vance can evaluate your condition based on your own description of the pain, its duration, what treatments you've already tried, and how it affects your daily life.

What counts as PTSD for a Michigan medical marijuana card?

PTSD became a Michigan qualifying condition in 2014 after a successful petition. Both service-related PTSD in veterans and PTSD from non-military trauma (assault, accidents, abuse, witnessing violence) qualify.

You do not need a VA diagnosis specifically — a description of your symptoms and trauma history is sufficient for Dr. Vance to evaluate eligibility. The MMMA does not require a particular diagnostic instrument; it requires PTSD as the qualifying condition.

Veterans should know: VA Directive 1315 explicitly confirms that participating in a state-legal medical cannabis program does not affect VA benefits. You can keep your VA care and obtain a Michigan medical marijuana card simultaneously.

What counts as severe and persistent muscle spasms?

This qualifying condition covers muscle spasms caused by any of several underlying conditions — multiple sclerosis (MS) is the most common, but spinal cord injury, cerebral palsy, post-stroke spasticity, and other neurologic conditions can also qualify.

The standard is "severe and persistent" — occasional cramping does not qualify, but ongoing spasticity that interferes with sleep, mobility, or daily function does.

Does anxiety qualify on its own?

Anxiety as a standalone diagnosis is not on the MMMA qualifying condition list. However, anxiety frequently appears in conjunction with conditions that do qualify — PTSD, chronic pain, OCD, severe and persistent muscle spasms in MS patients, and certain other conditions.

Many of our patients with significant anxiety symptoms qualify under a related condition. Dr. Vance evaluates each patient's case individually during the consultation to determine the most appropriate qualifying-condition basis.

Does ADHD qualify?

ADHD as a standalone condition is not currently on the Michigan qualifying condition list. The state has not added ADHD through the petition process to date.

Patients with ADHD plus a co-occurring qualifying condition (PTSD, chronic pain, anxiety-related symptoms tied to another qualifying diagnosis) may still qualify on the basis of the co-occurring condition.

What documentation do I need to qualify?

You do not need a stack of medical records to certify. Helpful documents include any of: recent diagnostic reports (imaging, lab results, specialist notes), a current medication list, names of prior treating providers, and a description of treatments you've already tried.

Patients with no prior records can still qualify if their condition is clear and well-described during the consultation. Dr. Vance will work with whatever information you provide.

How does Dr. Josh Vance, DO evaluate qualifying conditions?

During your 10–15 minute phone consultation, Dr. Vance reviews your medical history, the qualifying condition you believe applies, the treatments you've already tried, your goals for cannabis therapy, and any contraindications. If a qualifying condition applies, he issues the physician certification immediately.

Dr. Vance has been certifying Michigan patients since 2014 and is familiar with every qualifying condition under the MMMA. Michigan License #5101016861.

Related resources

For detailed information on each qualifying condition, see our full conditions index. For practical next steps, see our complete step-by-step certification guide and our 2026 cost breakdown.