Lupus (Systemic Lupus Erythematosus) and cannabis in New Hampshire
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.
- ✗ No
- LEGAL
- Up to 2 oz of usable ca…
- POSSESSION
- $50/yr
- STATE FEE
- 7–21 d
- TIMELINE
New Hampshire statute and program
The New Hampshire Therapeutic Cannabis Program is the operating authority for New Hampshire patient certification. The authoritative legal text is: New Hampshire RSA Chapter 126-X: Use of Cannabis for Therapeutic Purposes. The program portal is at New Hampshire Therapeutic Cannabis Program.
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 New Hampshire
The New Hampshire Therapeutic Cannabis Program requires the following registration steps for a Lupus (Systemic Lupus Erythematosus) patient (or any qualifying diagnosis):
- Get certified by a New Hampshire-licensed provider. A New Hampshire-licensed physician, APRN, or physician assistant must complete the Provider Written Certification Form documenting a qualifying medical condition under RSA 126-X (PTSD, cancer, glaucoma, HIV/AIDS, ALS, MS, Parkinson’s, chronic pain, severe nausea, or other enumerated conditions). The provider must have an established provider-patient relationship.
- Submit your application to the NH Therapeutic Cannabis Program. The patient mails or uploads the completed Patient Application Form, the Provider Written Certification, a copy of a New Hampshire driver license or state ID, and a passport-style photograph to the Therapeutic Cannabis Program at the New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services.
- Pay the $50 state registration fee. The annual registry identification card fee is $50, payable by check or money order to "Treasurer, State of New Hampshire." Caregiver registration is an additional $50 per caregiver and requires a criminal background check.
- Receive the card and purchase from an Alternative Treatment Center. Registry identification cards are issued within roughly 5 to 15 business days of complete application receipt. New Hampshire honors out-of-state medical cannabis cards under RSA 126-X for purchase at the four licensed Alternative Treatment Centers (ATCs). Cards expire annually and require fresh provider certification at renewal.
- State registration fee
- $50
- Physician visit (typical)
- $200–$300
- Certification to card
- 7–21 days
- Out-of-state patients
- Eligible
- Minors
- Eligible with caregiver
For full New Hampshire registration steps, fees, and reciprocity rules, see the New Hampshire cannabis-laws page.
ICD-10 code
A certifying physician documenting Lupus (Systemic Lupus Erythematosus) for the New Hampshire 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 New Hampshire list Lupus (Systemic Lupus Erythematosus) as a qualifying condition for medical cannabis?
No. New Hampshire'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 New Hampshire 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. New Hampshire program rules change, so verify the current list with the regulator before drawing a final conclusion.
How do I get a New Hampshire medical marijuana card for Lupus (Systemic Lupus Erythematosus)?
Because New Hampshire 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 New Hampshire who is registered with New Hampshire Therapeutic Cannabis 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. New Hampshire 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 New Hampshire Therapeutic Cannabis Program site at https://www.dhhs.nh.gov/programs-services/health-care/therapeutic-cannabis-program; the state updates fees, forms, and physician registration rules periodically.
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
- New Hampshire RSA Chapter 126-X: Use of Cannabis for Therapeutic Purposesaccessed May 16, 2026
- New Hampshire RSA §318-B:2-c: Decriminalization of Personal-Use Quantitiesaccessed May 16, 2026
- New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services: Therapeutic Cannabis Programaccessed May 16, 2026
- Wikipedia: Cannabis in New Hampshireaccessed May 16, 2026
- NIH National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases: Lupusaccessed 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.”
- Lupus Foundation of America: Marijuana and Lupusaccessed May 18, 2026
- American College of Rheumatology: 2023 Guideline for SLE Management (executive summary)accessed May 18, 2026
- MedlinePlus: Systemic lupus erythematosusaccessed May 18, 2026