Endometriosis and cannabis in Massachusetts
The state does not list this condition by name, but its statute or regulator permits a certifying physician to add conditions case-by-case. Patients should expect to bring full diagnostic records to the certification visit.
- ✗ No
- LEGAL
- 10 oz usable (60-day su…
- POSSESSION
- $50/yr
- STATE FEE
- 7–21 d
- TIMELINE
Massachusetts statute and program
The Massachusetts Medical Use of Marijuana Program is the operating authority for Massachusetts patient certification. The authoritative legal text is: M.G.L. Chapter 94G: Regulation of the Use and Distribution of Marijuana Not Medically Prescribed. The program portal is at Massachusetts Medical Use of Marijuana Program.
What the evidence says about cannabis and Endometriosis
Endometriosis is a chronic estrogen-dependent inflammatory disease in which tissue histologically and functionally similar to the endometrium grows outside the uterus. Common implant sites include the pelvic peritoneum, ovaries (where they form endometriomas), uterosacral ligaments, rectovaginal septum, bladder, bowel, and (less commonly) thoracic and extra-pelvic sites. The implants respond to cyclical hormonal stimulation, producing local inflammation, fibrosis, adhesion formation, and pain.
For the full evidence base, including the NASEM tier, randomized trial summaries, and symptom-domain breakdown, read the mmjnow Endometriosis page.
How to qualify in Massachusetts
The Massachusetts Medical Use of Marijuana Program requires the following registration steps for a Endometriosis patient (or any qualifying diagnosis):
- Get certified by a Massachusetts-licensed certifying healthcare provider. A Massachusetts-licensed physician, certified nurse practitioner, or physician assistant registered with the Cannabis Control Commission (CCC) Medical Use of Marijuana Program must establish a bona-fide provider-patient relationship and certify a debilitating condition. CCC regulations allow providers to certify enumerated conditions (cancer, glaucoma, HIV/AIDS, hepatitis C, ALS, Crohn’s, Parkinson’s, MS) plus "other conditions determined by a qualifying provider" — broad practitioner discretion.
- Complete the online patient registration via Virtual Gateway. After certification, the provider creates a Virtual Gateway PIN that the patient uses to complete the online registration through the Massachusetts Cannabis Control Commission MMJ Online System. Patients upload a Massachusetts driver license or state ID and a passport-style photo.
- Pay the $50 state fee (or qualify for fee waiver). The annual program registration fee is $50, waived for veterans, low-income patients (verified through MassHealth, SNAP, SSI, SSDI, or Veterans Affairs benefits documentation), and hospice patients. Temporary patient registration cards are emailed within several business days of approval; physical cards arrive within roughly two to three weeks.
- Purchase from a Massachusetts medical marijuana treatment center. With the temporary or physical card, patients may purchase up to a 60-day supply (default 10 ounces) from any of the licensed Massachusetts Medical Marijuana Treatment Centers. Adult-use retail exists statewide for adults 21+, but the medical registration provides access to medical-only products, no excise tax, higher possession limits, and family-court and workplace protections under M.G.L. c. 94I.
- State registration fee
- $50
- Physician visit (typical)
- $150–$300
- Certification to card
- 7–21 days
- Out-of-state patients
- Not eligible
- Minors
- Eligible with caregiver
For full Massachusetts registration steps, fees, and reciprocity rules, see the Massachusetts cannabis-laws page.
ICD-10 code
A certifying physician documenting Endometriosis for the Massachusetts medical cannabis program will typically record ICD-10 N80.9 or SNOMED-CT 129103003 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 Massachusetts list Endometriosis as a qualifying condition for medical cannabis?
Not by name, but Massachusetts permits physician discretion. Under Massachusetts Medical Use of Marijuana Program, a certifying physician can add a condition like Endometriosis on a case-by-case basis when the physician judges that the patient would benefit from medical cannabis. This is different from a state where the qualifying-condition list is fixed in statute. Whether a particular physician will certify Endometriosis depends on the physician's training, the strength of the patient's documentation, and the practitioner's reading of the available evidence — evidence is described as limited (a small number of supportive studies, often underpowered or focused on narrow symptom domains). Patients should expect to bring full diagnostic records to the certification visit.
How do I get a Massachusetts medical marijuana card for Endometriosis?
Step one is finding a physician licensed in Massachusetts who is registered with Massachusetts Medical Use of Marijuana Program and willing to evaluate Endometriosis 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. Massachusetts 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 Massachusetts Medical Use of Marijuana Program site at https://masscannabiscontrol.com/medical-use/; the state updates fees, forms, and physician registration rules periodically.
What does the evidence say about cannabis for Endometriosis?
For Endometriosis, evidence is described as limited (a small number of supportive studies, often underpowered or focused on narrow symptom domains). The mmjnow condition page for Endometriosis 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 Endometriosis should review the underlying evidence (linked on the condition page) and discuss expected benefit, dosing, and risk with a clinician familiar with both Endometriosis and cannabinoid pharmacology. Cannabis is not a substitute for evidence-based first-line treatments for Endometriosis; the evidence position above describes whether trial data supports its use, not whether it should replace standard care.
Sources
- M.G.L. Chapter 94G: Regulation of the Use and Distribution of Marijuana Not Medically Prescribedaccessed May 16, 2026
- M.G.L. Chapter 94I: Medical Use of Marijuanaaccessed May 16, 2026
- Massachusetts Cannabis Control Commissionaccessed May 16, 2026
- Question 4 of 2016: Regulation and Taxation of Marijuana Act (Ballotpedia)accessed May 16, 2026
- NORML: Massachusetts Laws & Penaltiesaccessed May 16, 2026
- NIH National Institute of Child Health and Human Development: Endometriosisaccessed May 18, 2026
- 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.”
- Endometriosis Foundation of America: About Endometriosisaccessed May 18, 2026
- American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists: Endometriosis FAQaccessed May 18, 2026
- MedlinePlus: Endometriosisaccessed May 18, 2026