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Muscular Dystrophy and cannabis in Delaware

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 3 oz over any 14-…
POSSESSION
$125/yr
STATE FEE
30–45 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.

Delaware statute and program

The Delaware Medical Marijuana Program is the operating authority for Delaware patient certification. The authoritative legal text is: Delaware Code Title 16 Chapter 49A: Delaware Medical Marijuana Act. The program portal is at Delaware Medical Marijuana Program.

What the evidence says about cannabis and Muscular Dystrophy

Muscular dystrophy refers to a group of more than 30 inherited genetic disorders characterized by progressive muscle weakness and degeneration caused by mutations in genes encoding proteins that maintain muscle-fiber integrity. The major clinical subtypes include:

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

How to qualify in Delaware

The Delaware Medical Marijuana Program requires the following registration steps for a Muscular Dystrophy patient (or any qualifying diagnosis):

  1. Get certified by a Delaware-licensed physician or APRN. A Delaware-licensed physician, advanced practice registered nurse, or physician assistant must complete a Physician Certification Form documenting the qualifying condition. The practitioner must have a bona-fide patient relationship and Delaware controlled-substance registration. Telemedicine certification is permitted under Delaware Division of Public Health (DPH) rules.
  2. Submit the patient application to the Office of Medical Marijuana. The patient submits the completed Physician Certification Form, the patient application, a copy of a Delaware driver license or state ID, and a passport-style photo to the Office of Medical Marijuana within Delaware Health and Social Services. Applications may be submitted by mail or through the DPH electronic submission portal.
  3. Pay the $125 state registration fee. The annual fee is $125 for adult patients ($25 for patients on Medicaid or SSDI). Caregivers are added for an additional fee and must pass a state and federal background check. Payment is made by check or money order to "Office of Medical Marijuana."
  4. Receive your Delaware Medical Marijuana ID card. Cards are mailed within roughly 30–45 days of complete application receipt. Delaware does honor out-of-state medical cards from participating states for purchase at Delaware compassion centers (reciprocity provision under Title 16 Chapter 49A). Renewal is annual and requires fresh physician recertification.
State registration fee
$125
Physician visit (typical)
$150–$250
Certification to card
30–45 days
Out-of-state patients
Eligible
Minors
Eligible with caregiver

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

ICD-10 code

A certifying physician documenting Muscular Dystrophy for the Delaware medical cannabis program will typically record ICD-10 G71.0 or SNOMED-CT 76670001 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 Delaware list Muscular Dystrophy as a qualifying condition for medical cannabis?

No. Delaware's qualifying-condition list does not currently include Muscular Dystrophy, and the state's program does not give physicians open-ended discretion to add conditions outside the list. Patients with Muscular Dystrophy in Delaware 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. Delaware program rules change, so verify the current list with the regulator before drawing a final conclusion.

How do I get a Delaware medical marijuana card for Muscular Dystrophy?

Because Delaware does not currently list Muscular Dystrophy as a qualifying condition, a card for Muscular Dystrophy alone may not be obtainable in-state under the program rules as written. Step one is finding a physician licensed in Delaware who is registered with Delaware Medical Marijuana Program and willing to evaluate Muscular Dystrophy 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. Delaware honors out-of-state medical cards under its reciprocity rules — uncommon, and worth verifying before relying on it. Verify the patient minimum age with the state program before applying. The authoritative source for the current process is the Delaware Medical Marijuana Program site at https://dhss.delaware.gov/dhss/dph/hsp/medmarhome.html; the state updates fees, forms, and physician registration rules periodically.

What does the evidence say about cannabis for Muscular Dystrophy?

For Muscular Dystrophy, evidence is described as limited (a small number of supportive studies, often underpowered or focused on narrow symptom domains). The mmjnow condition page for Muscular Dystrophy 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 Muscular Dystrophy should review the underlying evidence (linked on the condition page) and discuss expected benefit, dosing, and risk with a clinician familiar with both Muscular Dystrophy and cannabinoid pharmacology. Cannabis is not a substitute for evidence-based first-line treatments for Muscular Dystrophy; the evidence position above describes whether trial data supports its use, not whether it should replace standard care.

Sources

  1. Delaware Code Title 16 Chapter 49A: Delaware Medical Marijuana Actaccessed May 16, 2026
  2. Delaware Code Title 4 Chapter 13: Delaware Marijuana Control Actaccessed May 16, 2026
  3. Delaware Office of the Marijuana Commissioneraccessed May 16, 2026
  4. Delaware Division of Public Health: Medical Marijuana Programaccessed May 16, 2026
  5. Wikipedia: Cannabis in Delawareaccessed May 16, 2026
  6. NIH National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke: Muscular Dystrophyaccessed May 18, 2026
  7. NASEM: The Health Effects of Cannabis and Cannabinoids (2017)accessed May 18, 2026

    “Substantial evidence that oral cannabinoids are effective antiemetics in the treatment of chemotherapy-induced nausea.”

  8. Muscular Dystrophy Association: About Neuromuscular Diseasesaccessed May 18, 2026
  9. MedlinePlus: Muscular dystrophyaccessed May 18, 2026
  10. FDA: Epidiolex (cannabidiol) prescribing informationaccessed May 18, 2026