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Lupus (Systemic Lupus Erythematosus) and cannabis in Alaska

The state currently does not list this condition as qualifying, and the program does not provide open-ended physician discretion to add conditions. Verify with the state regulator, because programs change.

Not on the qualifying list
✗ No
LEGAL
Up to 1 oz usable canna…
POSSESSION
$25/yr
STATE FEE
14–45 d
TIMELINE
Not on the qualifying list. The state currently does not list this condition as qualifying, and the program does not provide open-ended physician discretion to add conditions. Verify with the state regulator, because programs change.

Alaska statute and program

The Alaska Medical Marijuana Registry is the operating authority for Alaska patient certification. The authoritative legal text is: Alaska Statutes Title 17 Chapter 38: Regulation of Marijuana. The program portal is at Alaska Medical Marijuana Registry.

What the evidence says about cannabis and Lupus (Systemic Lupus Erythematosus)

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), commonly called lupus, is a chronic autoimmune disease in which the immune system produces autoantibodies that attack the body's own tissues. Inflammation can affect joints, skin, kidneys, blood, lungs, heart, and the nervous system. Lupus is a relapsing-remitting disease — patients experience flares and periods of relative quiescence.

For the full evidence base, including the NASEM tier, randomized trial summaries, and symptom-domain breakdown, read the mmjnow Lupus (Systemic Lupus Erythematosus) page.

How to qualify in Alaska

The Alaska Medical Marijuana Registry requires the following registration steps for a Lupus (Systemic Lupus Erythematosus) patient (or any qualifying diagnosis):

  1. Get a Written Physician Statement from an Alaska-licensed physician. Under AS 17.37 (Alaska Medical Use of Marijuana Act, Ballot Measure 8 of 1998), any Alaska-licensed physician (MD or DO) may complete the Written Physician Statement attesting that the patient has been diagnosed with a debilitating medical condition (cancer, glaucoma, HIV/AIDS, MS, severe and chronic pain, severe nausea, seizures, severe and persistent muscle spasms, or cachexia) and that the patient may benefit from medical use of marijuana.
  2. Apply by mail to the Alaska Medical Marijuana Registry. The patient mails the completed Application for Registry Identification Card, the Written Physician Statement, a copy of an Alaska driver license or state ID, and the registration fee to the Alaska Department of Health, Division of Public Health, Bureau of Vital Statistics. Alaska does not currently offer an online application option.
  3. Pay the $25 state registration fee. The annual Alaska medical marijuana registry identification card fee is $25 ($20 for renewal). Designated caregiver registration is an additional $25 and requires a state criminal background check; caregivers must be Alaska residents and must not have a prior felony conviction.
  4. Receive the card and possess up to 1 ounce. Alaska medical marijuana registry cards are typically issued within 30 days of complete application. Registered patients may possess up to 1 ounce of usable cannabis and cultivate up to 6 plants (with no more than 3 mature) for personal medical use. Alaska does not operate a state-licensed medical dispensary system separate from adult-use retail. Adult-use retail is legal statewide for adults 21+. Alaska does not honor out-of-state medical cards.
State registration fee
$25
Physician visit (typical)
$150–$300
Certification to card
14–45 days
Out-of-state patients
Not eligible
Minors
Eligible with caregiver

For full Alaska registration steps, fees, and reciprocity rules, see the Alaska cannabis-laws page.

ICD-10 code

A certifying physician documenting Lupus (Systemic Lupus Erythematosus) for the Alaska medical cannabis program will typically record ICD-10 M32.9 or SNOMED-CT 55464009 in the patient's record. The state registry does not itself collect ICD-10 codes in most programs, but the physician's chart is the audit trail if the certification is later reviewed.

Frequently asked questions

Does Alaska list Lupus (Systemic Lupus Erythematosus) as a qualifying condition for medical cannabis?

No. Alaska's qualifying-condition list does not currently include Lupus (Systemic Lupus Erythematosus), and the state's program does not give physicians open-ended discretion to add conditions outside the list. Patients with Lupus (Systemic Lupus Erythematosus) in Alaska have limited in-state pathways under the medical program as written. Options to verify and pursue include: petitioning the state regulator to add the condition (where the statute permits public petitions); consulting a physician about whether a co-occurring listed condition could support certification; or reviewing whether the state's program is undergoing legislative expansion. Alaska program rules change, so verify the current list with the regulator before drawing a final conclusion.

How do I get a Alaska medical marijuana card for Lupus (Systemic Lupus Erythematosus)?

Because Alaska does not currently list Lupus (Systemic Lupus Erythematosus) as a qualifying condition, a card for Lupus (Systemic Lupus Erythematosus) alone may not be obtainable in-state under the program rules as written. Step one is finding a physician licensed in Alaska who is registered with Alaska Medical Marijuana Registry and willing to evaluate Lupus (Systemic Lupus Erythematosus) cases. Step two is collecting your records (diagnosis documentation, treatment history, and the ICD-10 code your physician will use) and bringing them to the certification visit. Step three is the physician's certification through the state registry, followed by the patient registration application, state fee, and waiting period before the card is issued. Alaska does not honor out-of-state cards, so the certification process has to originate inside the state. Verify the patient minimum age with the state program before applying. The authoritative source for the current process is the Alaska Medical Marijuana Registry site at https://health.alaska.gov/dph/VitalStats/Pages/marijuana.aspx; the state updates fees, forms, and physician registration rules periodically.

What does the evidence say about cannabis for Lupus (Systemic Lupus Erythematosus)?

For Lupus (Systemic Lupus Erythematosus), evidence is described as limited (a small number of supportive studies, often underpowered or focused on narrow symptom domains). The mmjnow condition page for Lupus (Systemic Lupus Erythematosus) lays out the current evidence base, including the citations underlying that evidence tier — typically the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine consensus reports, federal agency guidance, and peer-reviewed reviews. Evidence quality is independent of state law: a state can list a condition for which evidence is limited, and a state can decline to list a condition for which evidence is strong. Patients deciding whether to pursue medical cannabis for Lupus (Systemic Lupus Erythematosus) should review the underlying evidence (linked on the condition page) and discuss expected benefit, dosing, and risk with a clinician familiar with both Lupus (Systemic Lupus Erythematosus) and cannabinoid pharmacology. Cannabis is not a substitute for evidence-based first-line treatments for Lupus (Systemic Lupus Erythematosus); the evidence position above describes whether trial data supports its use, not whether it should replace standard care.

Sources

  1. Alaska Statutes Title 17 Chapter 38: Regulation of Marijuanaaccessed May 16, 2026
  2. Alaska Marijuana Control Board (Alcohol and Marijuana Control Office)accessed May 16, 2026
  3. Alaska Department of Health: Medical Marijuana Registryaccessed May 16, 2026
  4. Wikipedia: Cannabis in Alaskaaccessed May 16, 2026
  5. NIH National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases: Lupusaccessed May 18, 2026
  6. NASEM: The Health Effects of Cannabis and Cannabinoids (2017)accessed May 18, 2026

    “Substantial evidence that cannabis or cannabinoids are effective for chronic pain in adults.”

  7. Lupus Foundation of America: Marijuana and Lupusaccessed May 18, 2026
  8. American College of Rheumatology: 2023 Guideline for SLE Management (executive summary)accessed May 18, 2026
  9. MedlinePlus: Systemic lupus erythematosusaccessed May 18, 2026