Medical Marijuana

Medical marijuana specifically refers to marijuana that is prescribed by a doctor for a specific injury, disease, syndrome or ailment. Medical marijuana does not differ from regular cannabis (although varieties can be cultivated for specific thc or cbd concentrations by cross-breeding cannabis-indica and cannabis-sativa plants) and is a term used to differentiate it from recreational marijuana.

Medical marijuana is still tightly regulated, and many states require specific criteria be filled before a license can be obtained. Currently, within the United States, the following states and localities allow medical marijuana programs (listed below with year that programs began):

  • Alaska (1998)
  • Arizona (2010)
  • California (1996)
  • Colorado (2000)
  • District of Columbia (2010)
  • Delaware (2011)
  • Hawaii (2000)
  • Illinois (2013)
  • Maine (1999)
  • Massachusetts (2012)
  • Michigan (2008)
  • Montana (2004)
  • Nevada (2000)
  • New Hampshire (2013)
  • New Jersey (2010)
  • New Mexico (2007)
  • Oregon (1998)
  • Rhode Island (2006)
  • Vermont (2004)
  • Washington (1998)

Medical marijuana is typically distributed to patients through a marijuana dispensary.