What Conditions Qualify for Medical Card in Georgia (2026)

Last Updated: June 26, 2026

How Many Medical Conditions Qualify for Medical Marijuana Treatment in Georgia?

There are 19 qualifying medical conditions recognized under the Georgia medical marijuana program and approved for medical cannabis treatment.

Qualifying Conditions for Medical Card in Georgia 2026

Georgia only approves its medical cannabis Registry Card for patients diagnosed with one or more of the following qualifying medical conditions:

• Terminal cancer, except skin cancer unless it becomes metastatic
• Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis
• Seizure disorders caused by epilepsy or trauma-related head injuries
• Multiple sclerosis
• Inflammatory bowel disease
• Mitochondrial disease
• Parkinson’s disease
• Sickle cell disease
• Tourette’s syndrome
• Autism spectrum disorder for a patient aged 18 years or older or severe autism for a minor
• Epidermolysis bullosa
• Alzheimer’s disease
• HIV, when diagnosed as Stage III
• Severe peripheral neuropathy
• Intractable pain
• Post-traumatic stress disorder caused by trauma for a patient who is at least 18 years of age

When SB220 became law on July 1, 2026, it added lupus to this list. This law also removed the requirement that certain qualifying conditions must be severe or terminal.

Does Georgia Add New Qualifying Conditions to its Medical Marijuana Program?

Yes. When Georgia legalized medical cannabis as a form of medical marijuana in 2015, it only specified eight qualifying conditions. In May 2017, it expanded this list by adding six qualifying conditions (AIDS, Alzheimer's disease, autism, epidermolysis bullosa, peripheral neuropathy and Tourette's syndrome) through Senate Bill 16. The list was further expanded in 2018 with passage of House Bill 65 which added PTSD and intractable pain.

Georgia makes no provisions for members of the public petitioning for the addition of new qualifying conditions. The state has only expanded the list through legislative acts.

Does Georgia Allow Physicians to Recommend Medical Cannabis for Non-Qualifying Conditions?

No. Eligible physicians can only recommend medical cannabis for listed qualifying medical conditions in Georgia.

Do You Need a Doctor’s Recommendation for Medical Marijuana in Georgia?

Yes. Georgia requires the physician treating a patient for a qualifying condition to submit their application for a Medical Cannabis Registry Card. The physician must complete and sign a waiver form as well as a certification form and submit these to the Georgia Department of Public Health by entering the information provided in the state’s medical cannabis Registry. Only a physician with an active MD (Doctor of Medicine) or DO (Doctor of Osteopathy) license, and in good standing with the state’s Composite Medical Board, can issue a medical certification for medical cannabis in Georgia.

Who Qualifies for a Medical Marijuana Card in Georgia?

In addition to having a qualifying medical condition, anyone applying for a Georgia medical cannabis Registry Card must be 18 years or older. Eligible minors cannot apply for Georgia’s Medical Cannabis Registry Card themselves. Their parents or legal guardians are required to apply for this card on their behalf.