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Tourette Syndrome and cannabis in Maryland

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
30-day supply as certif…
POSSESSION
$25/yr
STATE FEE
7–21 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.

Maryland statute and program

The Maryland Medical Cannabis Program is the operating authority for Maryland patient certification. The authoritative legal text is: Md. Code, Alcoholic Beverages and Cannabis Article: Title 36.

What the evidence says about cannabis and Tourette Syndrome

Tourette syndrome (TS) is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by multiple motor tics and one or more vocal tics, with onset typically in childhood. Tic severity varies widely; many patients experience meaningful improvement by adulthood, but a significant minority continue to have functionally disabling tics that respond poorly to first-line behavioral and pharmacologic therapies.

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

How to qualify in Maryland

The Maryland Medical Cannabis Program requires the following registration steps for a Tourette Syndrome patient (or any qualifying diagnosis):

  1. Register as a patient with the Maryland Cannabis Administration (MCA). Patients self-register through the MCA online patient portal before seeing a provider. Registration requires a Maryland driver license or state ID, a passport-style photograph, and proof of Maryland residency. Out-of-state patients with a qualifying condition may also register and are issued a 30-day temporary identification card.
  2. Get certified by an MCA-registered provider. A Maryland-licensed physician, dentist, podiatrist, advanced practice registered nurse, nurse midwife, or physician assistant registered with the MCA must issue a written certification documenting a qualifying condition such as chronic pain, severe nausea, seizures, glaucoma, PTSD, or another condition the provider determines may benefit from medical cannabis. Telehealth certifications are accepted.
  3. Pay the $25 patient registration fee. The MCA patient identification card fee is $25 for a three-year registration (reduced from the original $50 under 2024 Maryland Cannabis Administration reforms). Caregiver registration is $50 per caregiver. Renewals require updated provider certification at the end of the three-year period.
  4. Purchase from licensed Maryland dispensaries. With the MCA registration ID, patients may purchase from any licensed Maryland medical-cannabis dispensary up to a 30-day supply (defined by potency-adjusted dosage units rather than weight). Adult-use retail launched July 1, 2023; patients retain medical-only product access, lower taxation, and statutory employment and family-court protections under the Maryland Medical Cannabis Act.
State registration fee
$25
Physician visit (typical)
$125–$250
Certification to card
7–21 days
Out-of-state patients
Eligible
Minors
Eligible with caregiver

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

ICD-10 code

A certifying physician documenting Tourette Syndrome for the Maryland medical cannabis program will typically record ICD-10 F95.2 or SNOMED-CT 5158005 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 Maryland list Tourette Syndrome as a qualifying condition for medical cannabis?

Yes. Maryland explicitly lists Tourette Syndrome as a qualifying condition under Maryland Medical Cannabis Program. A patient with a documented Tourette Syndrome diagnosis can pursue state-program certification with a physician registered in the state. The qualifying-condition list is set by state statute or regulation and may change. 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 Maryland rules.

How do I get a Maryland medical marijuana card for Tourette Syndrome?

Step one is finding a physician licensed in Maryland who is registered with Maryland Medical Cannabis Program and willing to evaluate Tourette Syndrome 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. Maryland 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 Tourette Syndrome?

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

Sources

  1. Maryland Constitution Article XX: Adult-Use Cannabis (Question 4 of 2022)accessed May 15, 2026
  2. Md. Code, Alcoholic Beverages and Cannabis Article: Title 36accessed May 15, 2026
  3. Maryland Cannabis Administrationaccessed May 15, 2026
  4. NASEM: The Health Effects of Cannabis and Cannabinoids (2017)accessed May 15, 2026

    “Limited evidence that THC capsules are effective for the treatment of Tourette syndrome.”

  5. Tourette Association of Americaaccessed May 15, 2026