Medical Marijuana Information for Healthcare Providers

The state's Medical Marijuana Act permits Rhode Island residents with debilitating medical conditions to use marijuana if a physician certifies in writing that the marijuana may alleviate their symptoms and that the potential benefits of using medical marijuana would likely outweigh the health risks to the patient. This means that patients and caregivers who are registered with the Department of Health's Medical Marijuana Program may possess a limited amount of marijuana without violating state law. (more)

What You Should Do

• Be a licensed physician in Rhode Island, Massachuestts, or Connecticut, a licensed Rhode Island Physician Assistant, or a licensed Rhode Island Registered Nurse Practitioner.
• Have a practitioner-patient relationship with the qualifying patient and complete a full assessment of the patient's medical history.
• Provide written certifications for qualifying patients using the Practitioner Form included in the new patient application.

Approved Qualifying Debilitating Medical Conditions

• Cancer or the treatment of this condition
• Glaucoma or the treatment of this condition
• Positive status for Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) or the treatment of this condition
• Acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) or the treatment of this condition
• Hepatitis C or the treatment of this condition
• A chronic or debilitating disease or medical condition or its treatment that produces one or more of the following:
  • Cachexia or wasting syndrome
  • Severe, debilitating, chronic pain
  • Severe nausea
  • Seizures, including but not limited to those characteristic of epilepsy
  • Severe and persistent muscle spasms, including but not limited to those characteristic of multiple sclerosis or Crohn's disease
  • Agitation related to Alzheimer's Disease