Last verified: March 2026
The 26 Qualifying Conditions
Ohio's medical marijuana program recognizes 26 specific conditions. Unlike states with broad catch-all provisions, Ohio requires patients to have a diagnosed condition from this defined list:
| Condition | Notes |
|---|---|
| AIDS | Wasting, nausea, appetite stimulation |
| Alzheimer's Disease | Agitation, sleep disruption, appetite |
| ALS (Lou Gehrig's Disease) | Muscle spasticity, pain management |
| Cachexia (Wasting Syndrome) | Severe weight loss, appetite stimulation |
| Cancer | Any type; nausea, pain, appetite from treatment |
| CTE (Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy) | Headaches, cognitive symptoms, mood disorders |
| Chronic Pain | Broad umbrella — see below |
| Severe Pain | Significant pain interfering with daily function |
| Intractable Pain | Pain unresponsive to conventional treatment |
| Crohn's Disease | Inflammation, abdominal pain, appetite |
| Epilepsy / Seizure Disorders | Seizure frequency reduction |
| Fibromyalgia | Widespread musculoskeletal pain |
| Glaucoma | Intraocular pressure reduction |
| Hepatitis C | Nausea from treatment, pain, appetite |
| HIV Positive | Pain, nausea, appetite stimulation |
| Huntington's Disease | Movement disorders, cognitive decline |
| Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) | Crohn's and ulcerative colitis spectrum |
| Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) | Abdominal pain, GI distress |
| Multiple Sclerosis | Spasticity, chronic pain, fatigue |
| Parkinson's Disease | Tremors, sleep disruption, pain |
| PTSD | Combat-related and civilian trauma |
| Sickle Cell Anemia | Chronic pain crises |
| Spasticity / Spastic Conditions | Muscle spasm disorders |
| Spinal Cord Disease or Injury | Neuropathic pain, spasticity |
| Terminal Illness | Comfort care, palliative use |
| Tourette Syndrome | Tic reduction, anxiety management |
| Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) | Headaches, cognitive symptoms, sleep disruption |
| Ulcerative Colitis | Inflammation, pain, GI distress |
The Chronic Pain Umbrella
Ohio's three pain categories — chronic, severe, and intractable — function as a broad umbrella that captures many conditions not explicitly named on the list. In practice, CTR physicians commonly certify patients with:
- Chronic migraines — recurring, debilitating headache disorders
- Arthritis — both rheumatoid and osteoarthritis
- Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS) — chronic neuropathic pain
- Back and spinal pain — degenerative disc disease, sciatica
- Neuropathy — peripheral and diabetic nerve pain
The chronic pain umbrella is by far the most commonly used pathway into Ohio's medical program. If your primary complaint is pain-related, there is a good chance a CTR physician will certify you under one of the three pain categories.
What Does NOT Qualify (Standalone)
Unlike some states with catch-all provisions, Ohio does not allow standalone certifications for:
- Anxiety — not a qualifying condition on its own
- Depression — not a qualifying condition on its own
- Insomnia — not a qualifying condition on its own
However, patients with anxiety, depression, or insomnia who also have a qualifying condition (such as PTSD or chronic pain) can be certified for the qualifying condition. Many physicians note that these symptoms are often co-occurring with conditions already on the list.
Petitioning for New Conditions
Ohio allows patients, physicians, and advocates to petition the State Board of Pharmacy to add new qualifying conditions. The petition window is November 1 through December 31 each year. Petitions must include:
- The specific condition being proposed
- Supporting clinical evidence or research
- Explanation of why cannabis therapy would be appropriate
The Board reviews all petitions and issues decisions the following year. Successful petitions have expanded the list from its original 21 conditions to the current 26, with additions including CTE, IBS, and spinal cord injury among others.
If your condition isn't one of the 26 named qualifiers, check whether it falls under the chronic, severe, or intractable pain categories — these serve as Ohio's broadest pathway. Conditions like migraines, arthritis, and neuropathy commonly qualify under the pain umbrella.
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