The full list, in the Board's own words
Ohio has 26 qualifying conditions for medical marijuana. The DCC page that publishes the State Medical Board's list names them exactly as below. The grouping is ours, added so the list is easier to scan. The wording is the Board's, and the wording is what a physician works from.
| Group (ours) | Conditions on Ohio's list |
|---|---|
| Pain and muscle | Pain that is either chronic and severe or intractable; Fibromyalgia; Spasticity |
| Brain and nerves | Alzheimer's disease; Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS); Chronic traumatic encephalopathy; Epilepsy or another seizure disorder; Huntington's disease; Multiple sclerosis; Parkinson's disease; Spinal cord disease or injury; Tourette's syndrome; Traumatic brain injury |
| Digestive | Crohn's disease; Inflammatory bowel disease; Irritable bowel syndrome; Ulcerative colitis |
| Infectious disease | AIDS (acquired immune deficiency syndrome); Positive status for HIV; Hepatitis C |
| Cancer and wasting | Cancer; Cachexia |
| Mental health | Post-traumatic stress disorder |
| Other | Glaucoma; Sickle cell anemia; Terminal illness |
Short names, for quick reference:
How the wording plays out
A few entries are broader or narrower than people expect. Pain has to be "either chronic and severe or intractable," so an occasional backache is a different conversation from pain that has resisted treatment. Read our guide to chronic pain and Ohio's card for how that phrase comes up in a visit.
Bowel conditions are covered four separate ways: Crohn's disease, inflammatory bowel disease, irritable bowel syndrome and ulcerative colitis. Our IBS, IBD and Crohn's guide sorts out which is which. Head injuries have two entries, traumatic brain injury and chronic traumatic encephalopathy, covered in the TBI and CTE guide. Multiple sclerosis and spasticity are listed separately too; see MS and spasticity in Ohio.
Post-traumatic stress disorder is the only mental health diagnosis on the list. Our PTSD guide covers what the physician will want to see.
Terminal illness is its own entry, separate from cancer. On August 31, 2026, the DCC counted 1,581 registered patients with a terminal diagnosis.
Common conditions that are not listed
Anxiety, depression and insomnia are not qualifying conditions in Ohio. Neither are autism spectrum disorder or obsessive-compulsive disorder. If you have one of these alongside a listed condition, the listed one is what a physician would evaluate. Our honest take on anxiety and Ohio's list explains where that leaves you.
Adults 21 and over can buy adult-use cannabis without any diagnosis. That is a separate system with its own taxes and rules, not a substitute for medical advice about a condition the list does not cover.
Adding a condition: the petition window
The State Medical Board accepts petitions to add a qualifying condition once a year, from November 1 to December 31. The next window runs November 1 to December 31, 2026.
- The Board's petitions page has the current form and instructions; read them before you start.
- A condition the Board has already rejected needs new scientific information before it will be reconsidered.
- Recent filings listed on the Board's site include Trichotillomania (petition 0193), Female Orgasmic Disorder (0191) and Refractory Autism Spectrum Disorder (0192). The page did not show outcomes when we checked on October 19, 2026.
The step-by-step petition guide covers how to prepare one.
Need the recommendation part done?
In Ohio the physician starts your Registry file, so the visit comes first. Online evaluations are available for Ohio residents, and code DRWDY85872 takes 5% off. Registration itself is free.
Start my Ohio evaluation →If your condition is on the list
Gather the records that document your diagnosis, then book with a physician who holds a Certificate to Recommend. The Ohio application checklist lists the ID and residency documents the physician will need to set up your Registry account.
Questions people ask
Who decides if my condition qualifies?
Your recommending physician, who must hold a Certificate to Recommend from the State Medical Board of Ohio. The Board sets the list; the physician applies it to you.
Can a physician recommend for a condition that is not on the list?
The recommendation has to be for a qualifying condition. If yours is not listed, the route is a petition to the State Medical Board during the yearly November 1 to December 31 window.
Has the Board approved the latest petitions?
The Board's petitions page lists recent filings, including Trichotillomania, Female Orgasmic Disorder and Refractory Autism Spectrum Disorder, but did not show outcomes when we checked. Watch the Board's site for decisions.
Next on your checklist
Sources
Last updated:
This page summarizes Ohio rules in plain language and is not medical or legal advice; the Division of Cannabis Control, the State Medical Board of Ohio and your recommending physician have the final word.