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Autism Spectrum Disorder and cannabis in Colorado

The state explicitly lists this condition under its medical cannabis program. A certifying physician can pursue state registration for a patient with this diagnosis under the program rules.

Listed qualifying condition
✓ Yes
LEGAL
2 oz usable + 6 plants …
POSSESSION
$25/yr
STATE FEE
5–14 d
TIMELINE
Listed qualifying condition. The state explicitly lists this condition under its medical cannabis program. A certifying physician can pursue state registration for a patient with this diagnosis under the program rules.

Colorado statute and program

The Colorado Medical Marijuana Registry is the operating authority for Colorado patient certification. The authoritative legal text is: Colorado Department of Public Health & Environment: Medical Marijuana Registry. The program portal is at Colorado Medical Marijuana Registry.

What the evidence says about cannabis and Autism Spectrum Disorder

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental condition characterized by differences in social communication, restricted or repetitive behaviors and interests, and sensory processing. Symptom severity ranges widely, from individuals requiring substantial daily support to those who live independently with minimal accommodation.

For the full evidence base, including the NASEM tier, randomized trial summaries, and symptom-domain breakdown, read the mmjnow Autism Spectrum Disorder page.

How to qualify in Colorado

The Colorado Medical Marijuana Registry requires the following registration steps for a Autism Spectrum Disorder patient (or any qualifying diagnosis):

  1. Get a physician certification from a Colorado-licensed practitioner. Under Colo. Const. Art. XVIII §14 (Amendment 20 of 2000), any Colorado-licensed physician (MD or DO), advanced practice registered nurse with prescriptive authority, or physician assistant may certify a patient for one of the enumerated debilitating medical conditions: cancer, glaucoma, HIV/AIDS, MS, cachexia, severe pain, severe nausea, seizures, severe and persistent muscle spasms, PTSD, autism spectrum disorder, or any condition for which a physician could prescribe an opioid (added 2019, HB 19-1028).
  2. Apply through the CDPHE Medical Marijuana Registry portal. The patient creates an account in the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) Medical Marijuana Registry online portal, uploads the physician certification, a Colorado driver license or state ID, and a passport-style photograph. Patients aged 18 to 20 must have two physician certifications (a safeguard added in 2016).
  3. Pay the $25 state registration fee. The Colorado medical marijuana registry card fee is $25 per year (reduced from $90 in 2017). Indigent patients (defined as receiving state-provided medical assistance or SSDI) pay no fee under §25-1.5-106. Caregivers register separately at no additional state fee but undergo a background check.
  4. Receive the card and purchase from a Colorado dispensary. Colorado medical marijuana registry cards (the "red card") are typically issued within 5 to 7 business days of complete application. With the card, patients may purchase up to 2 ounces every 24 hours (cap removable on physician recommendation) and cultivate up to 6 plants for personal medical use. Adult-use retail is legal statewide for adults 21+; medical patients retain reduced taxation (no special tax versus the 15% adult-use excise tax), access to higher-potency concentrates, and the 2-ounce daily purchase limit versus the 1-ounce adult-use limit.
State registration fee
$25
Physician visit (typical)
$100–$200
Certification to card
5–14 days
Out-of-state patients
Not eligible
Minors
Eligible with caregiver

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

ICD-10 code

A certifying physician documenting Autism Spectrum Disorder for the Colorado medical cannabis program will typically record ICD-10 F84.0 or SNOMED-CT 408856003 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 Colorado list Autism Spectrum Disorder as a qualifying condition for medical cannabis?

Yes. Colorado explicitly lists Autism Spectrum Disorder as a qualifying condition under Colorado Medical Marijuana Registry. A patient with a documented Autism Spectrum Disorder diagnosis can pursue state-program certification with a physician registered in the state. The qualifying-condition list is published by the state at https://cdphe.colorado.gov/medicalmarijuana and may change as regulators add, remove, or refine entries. Inclusion on the list does not guarantee certification — a physician still has to evaluate the patient and decide that medical cannabis is appropriate for that specific case under Colorado rules.

How do I get a Colorado medical marijuana card for Autism Spectrum Disorder?

Step one is finding a physician licensed in Colorado who is registered with Colorado Medical Marijuana Registry and willing to evaluate Autism Spectrum Disorder 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. Colorado does not honor out-of-state cards, so the certification process has to originate inside the state. The state minimum patient age is 18; minors generally require a parent or legal guardian to act as caregiver. The authoritative source for the current process is the Colorado Medical Marijuana Registry site at https://cdphe.colorado.gov/medicalmarijuana; the state updates fees, forms, and physician registration rules periodically.

What does the evidence say about cannabis for Autism Spectrum Disorder?

For Autism Spectrum Disorder, evidence is described as insufficient (no high-quality controlled data is available either for or against). The mmjnow condition page for Autism Spectrum Disorder 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 Autism Spectrum Disorder should review the underlying evidence (linked on the condition page) and discuss expected benefit, dosing, and risk with a clinician familiar with both Autism Spectrum Disorder and cannabinoid pharmacology. Cannabis is not a substitute for evidence-based first-line treatments for Autism Spectrum Disorder; the evidence position above describes whether trial data supports its use, not whether it should replace standard care.

Sources

  1. Colorado Department of Public Health & Environment: Medical Marijuana Registryaccessed May 14, 2026
  2. Colorado Marijuana Enforcement Division (MED): Adult-Use Rulesaccessed May 14, 2026
  3. CDC: Autism Spectrum Disorderaccessed May 15, 2026
  4. NIH NCCIH: Cannabis (Marijuana) and Cannabinoidsaccessed May 15, 2026