Qualifying Conditions Medical Marijuana
According to the final regulations issued by the Department of Health of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, a “Qualifying Patient means a Massachusetts resident 18 years of age or older who has been diagnosed by a Massachusetts licensed certifying physician as having a debilitating medical condition, or a Massachusetts resident under 18 years of age who has been diagnosed by two Massachusetts licensed certifying physicians, at least one of whom is a board-certified pediatrician or board-certified pediatric sub-specialist, as having a debilitating medical condition that is also a life-limiting illness, subject to 105 CMR 725.010(J).”
Further in the regulations, a Debilitating Medical Condition means
- cancer
- glaucoma
- positive status for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)
- acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS)
- hepatitis C
- amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS)
- Crohn’s disease
- Parkinson’s disease
- and multiple sclerosis (MS), when such diseases are debilitating, and
- other debilitating conditions as determined in writing by a qualifying patient’s certifying physician.
Debilitating means causing weakness, cachexia, wasting syndrome, intractable pain, or nausea, or impairing strength or ability, and progressing to such an extent that one or more of a patient’s major life activities is substantially limited.
Based upon a medical appointment, a review of a patients medical records, and in the judgement of our qualified attending physicians, a MA licensed physician may determine that a debilitating condition or debilitating symptoms may justify a Letter of Recommendation. Depending upon a patient’s condition, the following are a few, but not all, of such conditions:
- Chronic Pain of at least 6 months duration
- Chronic muscle spasm
- Cachexia (wasting syndrome)
- Agitation of Alzheimer’s disease
- PTSD
- Painful peripheral neuropathy
- Terminal illness (hospice care)
- Radiculopathy
- Degenerative Arthritis
- Endometriosis
- Severe depressive illness
A medical evaluation by our attending physicians will determine if a patient qualifies.