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Cachexia (Wasting Syndrome) and cannabis in Oregon

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
24 oz usable + 6 mature…
POSSESSION
$200/yr
STATE FEE
14–45 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.

Oregon statute and program

The Oregon Medical Marijuana Program (OMMP) is the operating authority for Oregon patient certification. The authoritative legal text is: Oregon Revised Statutes Chapter 475C: Cannabis Regulation. The program portal is at Oregon Medical Marijuana Program (OMMP).

What the evidence says about cannabis and Cachexia (Wasting Syndrome)

Cachexia is a complex metabolic syndrome characterized by severe involuntary weight loss, muscle wasting, anorexia (loss of appetite), and weakness in the setting of chronic illness. Most commonly cancer, HIV/AIDS, end-stage organ failure, and severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. It is distinct from simple starvation: nutritional support alone often fails to reverse the underlying metabolic dysregulation.

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

How to qualify in Oregon

The Oregon Medical Marijuana Program (OMMP) requires the following registration steps for a Cachexia (Wasting Syndrome) patient (or any qualifying diagnosis):

  1. Get an attending-physician statement from an Oregon-licensed practitioner. Under ORS 475C.770 et seq. (Oregon Medical Marijuana Act, voters approved Measure 67 of 1998), any Oregon-licensed physician (MD or DO), nurse practitioner, naturopathic physician, or physician assistant may provide an attending-physician statement. Qualifying debilitating medical conditions include cancer, glaucoma, HIV/AIDS, MS, agitation due to Alzheimer’s, cachexia, severe pain, severe nausea, seizures, severe and persistent muscle spasms, and PTSD.
  2. Apply through the Oregon Health Authority Medical Marijuana Program portal. The patient creates an account in the Oregon Health Authority (OHA) Oregon Medical Marijuana Program (OMMP) online portal, uploads the attending-physician statement, an Oregon driver license or state ID, and a passport-style photograph. Caregivers register separately at no additional state fee.
  3. Pay the $200 state registration fee. The annual OMMP patient registration fee is $200 — among the highest in the United States. Reduced fees apply for SNAP recipients ($60), Oregon Health Plan recipients ($50), veterans receiving 100% VA disability ($20), and Supplemental Security Income recipients ($20). The high standard fee reflects the program’s opt-in nature now that adult-use is available statewide.
  4. Receive the card and purchase from an Oregon dispensary. OMMP registry identification cards are typically issued within 30 days of complete application. With the card, patients may purchase up to 24 ounces of usable cannabis at OMMP-licensed dispensaries and cultivate up to 6 mature plus 12 immature plants. Adult-use retail is legal statewide for adults 21+ under Measure 91 (2014); medical patients retain substantially higher possession (24 oz vs. 1 oz adult-use) and cultivation limits, plus exemption from the state 17% retail cannabis tax. Oregon does not honor out-of-state medical cards.
State registration fee
$200
Physician visit (typical)
$150–$300
Certification to card
14–45 days
Out-of-state patients
Not eligible
Minors
Eligible with caregiver

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

ICD-10 code

A certifying physician documenting Cachexia (Wasting Syndrome) for the Oregon medical cannabis program will typically record ICD-10 R64 or SNOMED-CT 238108007 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 Oregon list Cachexia (Wasting Syndrome) as a qualifying condition for medical cannabis?

Yes. Oregon explicitly lists Cachexia (Wasting Syndrome) as a qualifying condition under Oregon Medical Marijuana Program (OMMP). A patient with a documented Cachexia (Wasting Syndrome) diagnosis can pursue state-program certification with a physician registered in the state. The qualifying-condition list is published by the state at https://www.oregon.gov/oha/PH/DISEASESCONDITIONS/CHRONICDISEASE/MEDICALMARIJUANAPROGRAM and may change as regulators add, remove, or refine entries. 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 Oregon rules.

How do I get a Oregon medical marijuana card for Cachexia (Wasting Syndrome)?

Step one is finding a physician licensed in Oregon who is registered with Oregon Medical Marijuana Program (OMMP) and willing to evaluate Cachexia (Wasting 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. Oregon 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 Oregon Medical Marijuana Program (OMMP) site at https://www.oregon.gov/oha/PH/DISEASESCONDITIONS/CHRONICDISEASE/MEDICALMARIJUANAPROGRAM; the state updates fees, forms, and physician registration rules periodically.

What does the evidence say about cannabis for Cachexia (Wasting Syndrome)?

For Cachexia (Wasting Syndrome), evidence is described as moderate (supportive controlled studies exist but the picture is mixed). The mmjnow condition page for Cachexia (Wasting 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 Cachexia (Wasting Syndrome) should review the underlying evidence (linked on the condition page) and discuss expected benefit, dosing, and risk with a clinician familiar with both Cachexia (Wasting Syndrome) and cannabinoid pharmacology. Cannabis is not a substitute for evidence-based first-line treatments for Cachexia (Wasting Syndrome); the evidence position above describes whether trial data supports its use, not whether it should replace standard care.

Sources

  1. Oregon Revised Statutes Chapter 475C: Cannabis Regulationaccessed May 16, 2026
  2. Oregon Liquor and Cannabis Commissionaccessed May 16, 2026
  3. Oregon Health Authority: Medical Marijuana Programaccessed May 16, 2026
  4. Ballot Measure 91 of 2014: Control, Regulation, and Taxation of Marijuana Act (Ballotpedia)accessed May 16, 2026
  5. NORML: Oregon Laws & Penaltiesaccessed May 16, 2026
  6. NASEM: The Health Effects of Cannabis and Cannabinoids (2017)accessed May 15, 2026
  7. FDA: Dronabinol (Marinol) prescribing informationaccessed May 15, 2026