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Lupus (Systemic Lupus Erythematosus) and cannabis in Indiana

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
CBD products with ≤0.3%…
POSSESSION
$0/yr
STATE FEE
14–60 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.

Indiana statute and program

The Indiana CBD Authorization (Industrial Hemp / Low-THC) is the operating authority for Indiana patient certification. The authoritative legal text is: Indiana Code 35-48-4-11: Possession of Marijuana.

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 Indiana

The Indiana CBD Authorization (Industrial Hemp / Low-THC) requires the following registration steps for a Lupus (Systemic Lupus Erythematosus) patient (or any qualifying diagnosis):

  1. Confirm a qualifying intractable epilepsy diagnosis. Indiana operates a narrow low-THC CBD authorization under IC 35-48-3-7.2 (the "Industrial Hemp / Low-THC CBD Act" enacted 2017). The authorization covers only treatment-resistant epilepsy. A patient or the patient’s caregiver registers with the Indiana State Department of Health after a physician confirms the diagnosis of intractable epilepsy.
  2. Register with the Indiana State Department of Health. The Indiana State Department of Health (ISDH) maintains a Therapeutic Hemp Extract registry. Patients submit a registration form and a copy of the physician’s diagnostic statement. There is no online portal; registration is handled by mail to ISDH.
  3. No state registration fee. Indiana does not charge a state registration fee under IC 35-48-3-7.2. The patient bears only the costs of the physician evaluation and the cost of CBD product obtained through legal channels.
  4. Possess low-THC CBD (≤0.3% THC) obtained through legal channels. Registered patients may possess CBD products containing not more than 0.3% THC by weight (the federal hemp threshold) for treatment of intractable epilepsy. Indiana does not authorize an in-state medical cannabis dispensary network, in-state cultivation, or higher-THC products. Indiana does not honor out-of-state medical cards. Adult-use cannabis remains illegal in Indiana.
State registration fee
$0
Physician visit (typical)
$150–$350
Certification to card
14–60 days
Out-of-state patients
Not eligible
Minors
Eligible with caregiver

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

ICD-10 code

A certifying physician documenting Lupus (Systemic Lupus Erythematosus) for the Indiana 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 Indiana list Lupus (Systemic Lupus Erythematosus) as a qualifying condition for medical cannabis?

No. Indiana'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 Indiana 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. Indiana program rules change, so verify the current list with the regulator before drawing a final conclusion.

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

Because Indiana 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 Indiana who is registered with Indiana CBD Authorization (Industrial Hemp / Low-THC) 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. Indiana 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. Confirm the current process with the state regulator before applying, because the rules change.

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. Indiana Code 35-48-4-11: Possession of Marijuanaaccessed May 15, 2026
  2. NORML: Indiana Lawsaccessed May 15, 2026
  3. Wikipedia: Cannabis in Indianaaccessed May 15, 2026
  4. Indiana Code 35-48-4-11: Possession of marijuana (full text)accessed May 17, 2026
  5. Indiana State Department of Agriculture: Industrial Hemp Programaccessed May 17, 2026
  6. Indiana General Assembly bill trackeraccessed May 17, 2026
  7. Marion County (Indianapolis) Prosecutor — small-amount possession discretion policy (2019)accessed May 17, 2026
  8. NIH National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases: Lupusaccessed May 18, 2026
  9. 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.”

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