Tourette Syndrome and cannabis in Oregon
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
- 24 oz usable + 6 mature…
- POSSESSION
- $200/yr
- STATE FEE
- 14–45 d
- TIMELINE
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 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 Oregon
The Oregon Medical Marijuana Program (OMMP) requires the following registration steps for a Tourette Syndrome patient (or any qualifying diagnosis):
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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 Tourette Syndrome for the Oregon 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 Oregon list Tourette Syndrome as a qualifying condition for medical cannabis?
No. Oregon's qualifying-condition list does not currently include Tourette Syndrome, and the state's program does not give physicians open-ended discretion to add conditions outside the list. Patients with Tourette Syndrome in Oregon 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. Oregon program rules change, so verify the current list with the regulator before drawing a final conclusion.
How do I get a Oregon medical marijuana card for Tourette Syndrome?
Because Oregon does not currently list Tourette Syndrome as a qualifying condition, a card for Tourette Syndrome alone may not be obtainable in-state under the program rules as written. Step one is finding a physician licensed in Oregon who is registered with Oregon Medical Marijuana Program (OMMP) 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. 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 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
- Oregon Revised Statutes Chapter 475C: Cannabis Regulationaccessed May 16, 2026
- Oregon Liquor and Cannabis Commissionaccessed May 16, 2026
- Oregon Health Authority: Medical Marijuana Programaccessed May 16, 2026
- Ballot Measure 91 of 2014: Control, Regulation, and Taxation of Marijuana Act (Ballotpedia)accessed May 16, 2026
- NORML: Oregon Laws & Penaltiesaccessed May 16, 2026
- 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.”
- Tourette Association of Americaaccessed May 15, 2026