Insomnia can affect anyone at some point in their life. Be it due to stress, anxiety, or simple things such as jet lag, short-term insomnia affects as many as 50% of adults.
But what happens when insomnia becomes commonplace? Experts estimate that about 10% of the US population has chronic insomnia, which can lead to severe interferences with your day-to-day life.
Recent studies have shown that marijuana is one of the few promising prospects for treating insomnia — especially since its legalization for medical use in most states. While research is still in its early stages, many professionals advocate for its positive effects as a relaxer and anxiolytic.
If you’re interested in getting a medical card for insomnia and live in Pennsylvania, you might have asked, “Can you get a medical card for insomnia in Pennsylvania?”
Qualifying Conditions for Medical Marijuana in Pennsylvania
Getting a medical card in Pennsylvania is, luckily, a pretty simple process.
First, you must register with the Medical Marijuana Registry, which will ask for personal information such as your ID card, current address, and contact information.
Then, you’ll have to visit an approved physician who can certify you have one of the following qualifying conditions:
- Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis
- Anxiety
- Autism
- Cancer
- Chronic hepatitis C
- Crohn’s disease
- Damage to the spinal cord’s nervous tissue with an objective neurological indication of uncompromising spasticity
- Dyskinetic and spastic movement disorders
- Epilepsy
- Glaucoma
- HIV/AIDS
- Huntington’s disease
- Inflammatory bowel disease
- Intractable seizures
- Multiple sclerosis
- Neuropathies
- Neurodegenerative diseases
- Opioid use disorder
- Parkinson’s disease
- Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
- Severe, chronic, or intractable pain
- Sickle cell anemia
- Terminal illness
- Tourette syndrome
Once you’re certified, you’ll have to go back to the Medical Marijuana Registry. After completing your application and paying a $50 fee, you’ll be able to receive your medical card and start purchasing legal medicinal cannabis.
[fl_builder_insert_layout id=13138]
So Can You Get a Medical Card for Insomnia in PA?
Unfortunately, insomnia does not qualify as a condition treatable with marijuana.
However, there may be still hope in some specific cases.
You might be able to get a card for insomnia if your sleeplessness stems from one of the medical conditions listed above. For example, people with severe anxiety often go through periods of insomnia as a symptom of their condition.
In those specific cases, your approved physician may see it fit to prescribe medical marijuana — but keep in mind this will only happen to treat the underlying condition.
If you think this may be your case, or you have any doubts, make sure you check with a doctor. A professional will be able to answer all your questions and can provide you with alternative treatments if marijuana isn’t an option.
The Effects of Cannabis on Insomnia
If there’s one thing that the taboo surrounding marijuana got right it’s that it can make you feel sedated and sleepy. And, fortunately, thanks to the new shifting regulations, research can now support this belief.
For example, this 2019 review states that cannabis may be of help in managing sleep. The authors also claim that more research is needed to fully confirm this, but that doesn’t make marijuana any less of a promising treatment.
A similar report arrived at the same conclusion while also referring to the difficulty of studying marijuana due to its legal status on a federal level.
A more focused study found that almost 95% of participants experienced a short-term positive effect on their insomnia. Oddly enough, the authors found that CBD-focused products were the most effective, with indica and hybrid strains coming in at a close second.
Schedule an Appointment with a Medical Marijuana Doctor in Pennsylvania Today!
Although insomnia isn’t considered a qualifying medical condition in Pennsylvania when it comes to PA medical cards, there may still be hope in some cases. If your sleeplessness stems from anxiety or another qualifying condition, you might be able to get certified by an approved physician.
To find out whether you qualify for a medical card in Pennsylvania, or if you’re having any doubts, contact Green Health Docs. We’ve made it our mission to help people discover the power of medical cannabis, so you can rest assured we’ll do everything we can to get you the help you need when it comes to getting a medical card.
This article has been reviewed by Dr. Anand Dugar, an anesthesiologist, pain medicine physician and the founder of Green Health Docs. Graduating from medical school in 2004 and residency in 2008, Dr. Dugar has been a licensed physician for almost 20 years and has been leading the push for medical cannabis nationwide.