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Lupus (Systemic Lupus Erythematosus) and cannabis in Nevada

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 2.5 oz over 14-da…
POSSESSION
$50/yr
STATE FEE
5–21 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.

Nevada statute and program

The Nevada Medical Marijuana Program is the operating authority for Nevada patient certification. The authoritative legal text is: Nev. Rev. Stat. Chapter 678A-678D: Cannabis.

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 Nevada

The Nevada Medical Marijuana Program requires the following registration steps for a Lupus (Systemic Lupus Erythematosus) patient (or any qualifying diagnosis):

  1. Get a written certification from a Nevada-licensed physician. Under NRS Ch. 678C (the Nevada Medical Marijuana Act, voters approved 2000 and modernized 2021), any Nevada-licensed physician (MD or DO), advanced practice registered nurse, or homeopathic physician may certify a patient. Qualifying chronic or debilitating medical conditions include cancer, glaucoma, HIV/AIDS, anxiety, autism spectrum, autoimmune diseases, dependence on prescription opioids, PTSD, severe nausea, severe pain, seizures, severe muscle spasms, and any condition that is chronic or debilitating per the practitioner’s judgment.
  2. Apply through the Nevada Cannabis Compliance Board portal. The patient creates an account in the Nevada Cannabis Compliance Board (CCB) patient registry portal, uploads the physician written certification, a Nevada driver license or state ID, and a passport-style photograph. Out-of-state patients with a valid medical card from a qualifying state may use the Nevada reciprocity provision without separate registration.
  3. Pay the $50 state registration fee. The two-year Nevada medical marijuana patient registry card fee is $50 (reduced from $75 + $25 background check under 2021 reforms). The fee includes the state background check. Caregivers register at $50 with a separate background check, but caregivers are not required for adult patients.
  4. Receive the card and purchase from a Nevada dispensary. Nevada medical marijuana patient registry cards are typically issued within 14 business days. Patients may purchase up to 2.5 ounces every 14 days from licensed dispensaries and may cultivate up to 12 plants if living over 25 miles from the nearest dispensary. Adult-use retail is legal under Question 2 of 2016; medical patients retain a lower medical tax versus the adult-use tax stack. Nevada honors out-of-state medical cards at Nevada dispensaries.
State registration fee
$50
Physician visit (typical)
$150–$300
Certification to card
5–21 days
Out-of-state patients
Eligible
Minors
Eligible with caregiver

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

ICD-10 code

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

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

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

Because Nevada 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 Nevada who is registered with Nevada Medical Marijuana Program 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. Nevada 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. 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. Nev. Rev. Stat. Chapter 678A-678D: Cannabisaccessed May 16, 2026
  2. Cannabis Compliance Board: Nevadaaccessed May 16, 2026
  3. Wikipedia: Cannabis in Nevadaaccessed May 16, 2026
  4. Nev. Rev. Stat. §678D.200: Public consumption prohibitedaccessed May 18, 2026
  5. Cannabis Compliance Board: Consumption Lounge Licensingaccessed May 18, 2026
  6. TSA: What Can I Bring? — Marijuanaaccessed May 18, 2026
  7. Nevada Legislature bill trackeraccessed May 18, 2026
  8. NORML: Nevada Laws & Penaltiesaccessed May 18, 2026
  9. National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine (2017): The Health Effects of Cannabis and Cannabinoidsaccessed May 18, 2026
  10. NIH National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases: Lupusaccessed May 18, 2026
  11. Lupus Foundation of America: Marijuana and Lupusaccessed May 18, 2026
  12. American College of Rheumatology: 2023 Guideline for SLE Management (executive summary)accessed May 18, 2026
  13. MedlinePlus: Systemic lupus erythematosusaccessed May 18, 2026