Migraine is one of the most common health conditions in the world, with more than one billion people across the globe suffering from the disease. Migraine headaches are often characterized by severe, throbbing pain and can be triggered by sensitivity to light, sound, or noise. They may also produce adverse effects like nausea, blurred vision, confusion, and fatigue.
With the growing legalization of medical marijuana, more patients are choosing to treat their migraine symptoms with cannabis instead of traditional medications and therapies. The drug may significantly improve patients’ symptoms while reducing the need for anti-migraine medication.
A medical marijuana card, or an MMJ, allows patients with certain conditions to legally obtain, possess, and consume medical marijuana according to their state law. But can you get a medical card for migraines in PA? Keep reading to learn more.
Qualifying Conditions for Medical Marijuana in Pennsylvania
Medical marijuana was legalized in Pennsylvania in 2016 and became available for patients at dispensaries across the commonwealth in 2018. However, there are certain requirements patients must meet to be eligible for a PA medical card. This includes being diagnosed with one of the 24 qualifying medical conditions listed under state law:
- Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS)
- Anxiety disorders
- Autism
- Cancer, including remission therapy
- Chronic Hepatitis C
- Crohn’s disease
- Damage to the nervous tissue of the central nervous system (brain-spinal cord) with an objective neurological indication of intractable spasticity and other associated neuropathies
- Dyskinetic and spastic movement disorders
- Epilepsy
- Glaucoma
- HIV / AIDS
- Huntington’s disease
- Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD)
- Intractable seizures
- Multiple sclerosis (MS)
- Neurodegenerative diseases
- Neuropathies
- Opioid use disorder for which conventional medical interventions are ineffective
- Parkinson’s disease
- Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
- Severe chronic or intractable pain of neuropathic origin or severe chronic or intractable pain
- Sickle cell anemia
- Terminal illness
- Tourette syndrome
To obtain a medical card in PA, you’ll start by creating a profile in the Medical Marijuana Registry. Then, a licensed marijuana doctor will need to evaluate your current symptoms and review your relevant medical documentation—medical records, prescriptions, office visit summaries, or an official letter stating your diagnosis—to certify that you suffer from a qualifying condition.
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So Can You Get a Medical Card for Migraines in PA?
Yes, it’s possible.
Migraine isn’t listed explicitly as a qualifying condition under state law. However, chronic pain is featured on the list. “Chronic pain” is defined as persistent pain that doesn’t improve in the usual recovery period, or is associated with a chronic health condition. It often interferes with daily tasks, like working, eating, and participating in physical activity—affecting patients’ overall quality of life.
A licensed doctor may recommend marijuana as a viable treatment if your migraine symptoms qualify as chronic pain or appear to be severe and debilitating. If your condition is approved, you will be certified immediately.
The Effects of Cannabis on Migraines:
Medical cannabis is an effective treatment for migraine headaches and related symptoms. A recent study found that medical cannabis is 51% more effective in reducing migraines than non-cannabis products. In another study, more than 85% of patients had fewer migraine headaches after using medical cannabis.
The drug may also help relieve associated migraine symptoms, providing the following benefits:
- Reduced headache pain
- Reduced migraine-related nausea and vomiting
- Decreased use of prescription drugs, primarily Opioids
- Improved anxiety, sleep, and mood
The active ingredients in medical cannabis—cannabidiol (CBD) and tetrahydrocannabinol (THC)—are known as cannabinoids. When consuming weed, these cannabinoids bind with cannabinoid receptors in the body (CB1 and CB2), which are responsible for pain sensation and regulation—helping to alleviate migraine pain.
Medical cannabis also produces therapeutic effects, potentially improving other migraine-related symptoms like anxiety and poor sleep. CBD has anti-anxiety and anti-psychoactive properties, which help to decrease anxiety. Also, low-THC and high-CBD doses can help improve sleep in certain conditions, increasing sleep time and helping patients fall asleep faster.
When using medical cannabis, it’s important to consult with your licensed marijuana doctor to determine the right dosage for your migraine treatment and produce the desired effects.
Schedule an Appointment with a Medical Marijuana Doctor in Pennsylvania Today!
Migraine is one of the most prevalent neurological diseases in the world. And if you’re a Pennsylvania resident suffering from migraine headaches, you can likely obtain a medical card to purchase and consume medical marijuana for treatment.
Our team at Green Health Docs is available to help you get certified and obtain your PA medical card. Our licensed medical marijuana doctors can conduct a telemedicine evaluation to submit your certification.
To get started, simply register with the state and obtain your patient ID number. Then, book an appointment with one of our qualified doctors and complete an evaluation. Within a few weeks, you’ll receive your card and gain access to medical marijuana to start treating your migraines naturally.
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.