West Virginia passed its medical marijuana program in 2017, and since then there have been a lot of changes to how it works.
These changes have led to a broader and more comprehensive program, similar to states who have had legalized medical marijuana programs such as California and Colorado.
And with dispensaries coming to the Mountain state soon, patients are applying for medical marijuana cards in West Virginia faster than ever.
In this article, we’ll cover all the conditions that qualify for a medical marijuana card in West Virginia!
Qualifying Conditions for a Medical Marijuana Card in West Virginia
Chronic or intractable pain qualifies for a medical marijuana card in West Virginia.
Intractable or chronic pain is one of the most common ailments medical marijuana is used for, working to reduce or prevent generalized pain.
Medical marijuana can be used as an alternative pain management therapy for patients with chronic pain who have not found relief through traditional methods.
PTSD is approved as a qualifying condition for medical marijuana in West Virginia.
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) affects around 3.5% of people in the United States and can lead to depression, anxiety, or even suicidal behaviors.
Medical marijuana has been shown to help many symptoms associated with PTSD such as anger, sleep disturbances, nightmares and flashbacks, and may help to improve social avoidance and withdrawal.
Medical marijuana may also be able to help those who have experienced trauma either as a child or an adult, such as the case with military veterans returning from war zones or sexual assault victims.
Medical marijuana can be very helpful in dealing with the nausea and weight loss that is often associated with cancer treatment. It can also help to ease anxiety and depression in some patients.
Medical marijuana is also used to provide better quality of sleep, and in the case of certain types of cancers, medical marijuana has even shown the potential to play a role in treating the cancer itself.
HIV/AIDS is an immune system virus that causes patients to have a vulnerable immune system, where common illnesses and infections can become life-threatening.
Medical cannabis can help reduce nausea, vomiting, and chronic pain, and can also help with appetite loss seen in people living with HIV/AIDS.
Medical marijuana is often used to counter the side effects from AIDS medications, and may have the potential to improve mood, quality of life, and quality of sleep.
ALS is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder that affects motor function. ALS causes rigid muscles and can include symptoms such as difficulty with speech or swallowing, muscle cramps or twitching, and weakness in the hands, feet, or legs.
Patients with ALS use medical marijuana for its anti-inflammatory properties, muscle relaxation, anti-salivary effects, as well as improved sleep and quality of life.
Crohn’s Disease is an inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).
IBDs can result in symptoms such as chronic diarrhea, severe stomach pain, fatigue, and weight loss.
Medical marijuana is used to treat stomach pains, inflammation, and reduce the need for pharmaceutical medications, as well as improve mood, reduce chronic pain, and increase appetite.
Neuropathy is a medical condition that affects the nerves in the body. It can cause numbness, tingling, burning and chronic pain.
The goal of treatment is often to reduce pain and improve quality of life by reducing discomfort, and medical marijuana is used to decrease pain, increase quality of life, and promote elevated mood.
Multiple sclerosis is an autoimmune disease that affects the brain and spinal cord. It can cause a range of symptoms, from numbness to vision problems, to trouble walking or controlling bladder.
Medical marijuana is used to reduce muscle stiffness, pain, and inflammation, and improve mood, appetite, and energy.
Parkinson's disease is a medical condition that affects the central nervous system, causing shaking and rigidity. Parkinson's disease is one of the most common chronic neurodegenerative diseases worldwide.
Parkinson’s disease causes stiff movement and involuntary tremors, progressively damaging and killing brain cells.
Medical marijuana is used to reduce tremors, boost mood, and improve quality of life.
Epilepsy affects over 3 million Americans and 65 million people worldwide. Epilepsy and seizure disorders are approved for medical marijuana in West Virginia.
Unprovoked and often uncontrollable episodes of brain activity can manifest in many ways, a person may stare blankly into space for a few seconds, convulse violently, or lose awareness momentarily.
Medical marijuana is used to reduce or prevent seizures or convulsions, reduce anxiety, and improve quality of life and sleep.
Medical marijuana has shown strong efficacy in treating certain seizure disorders, in some case reducing episodes from hundreds a month to less than a handful.
Sickle cell anemia is part of a group of disorders called sickle cell diseases.
Sickle cell anemia is a genetic blood disorder in which the red blood cells that carry oxygen throughout your body become crescent or “sickle” shaped.
These deformed cells can block small blood vessels and cause severe medical problems, leading to many complications throughout the body. Medical marijuana is used as an anti-inflammatory, pain reliever, and an important alternative to opioids and heavy painkillers that can have devastating effects on the body.
Spasticity is a condition in which muscles stiffen or tighten, preventing normal fluid movement. The muscles remain contracted, and resist being stretched, thus affecting movement, speech, and gait.
Medical marijuana is used to reduce inflammation, muscle and joint pain, lessen stiff muscles, and improve anxiety and depressions.
Huntington's disease is a medical condition in which nerve cells in the brain waste away. It leads to symptoms such as uncontrolled movements, mood changes, and difficulty with thinking and problem solving.
Medical Marijuana is used to reduce anxiety, reduce convulsions, and improve mood and sleep.
West Virginia also approves any condition that is diagnosed as terminal or life-ending, wherein life expectancy is one year or less.
Terminal illnesses do not have any cures, and medical marijuana is used to treat any number of complications or problems that might arise from terminal disorders, such as improved mood, reduced anxiety & depression, and improved sleep.
Get Your Medical Marijuana Card in West Virginia
Take the steps to reserve your appointment today and become a medical marijuana patient in West Virginia.
Being a West Virginia medical marijuana patient allows you the freedom to take your medication the right way for you.
We’re dedicated to helping patients every step of the way, feel free to give us a call at 877-303-8424 and we can answer your questions about getting a medical medical marijuana card in West Virginia.
Doctors Who Care. Relief You Can Trust.
West Virginia Marijuana Card’s mission is to help everyone achieve wellness safely and conveniently through increased access to medical marijuana. Our focus on education, inclusion, and acceptance will reduce stigma for our patients by providing equal access to timely information and compassionate care.
If you have any questions, call us at 877-303-8424, or simply book a medical marijuana evaluation to start getting relief you can trust today!
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