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Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) and cannabis in Vermont

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
2 oz of usable cannabis…
POSSESSION
$50/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.

Vermont statute and program

The Vermont Medical Cannabis Registry is the operating authority for Vermont patient certification. The authoritative legal text is: Vermont Statutes Title 7 Chapter 33: Cannabis Control. The program portal is at Vermont Medical Cannabis Registry.

What the evidence says about cannabis and Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS)

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a progressive neurodegenerative disease that destroys motor neurons in the brain and spinal cord, leading to loss of voluntary muscle control. Symptoms typically include muscle weakness, spasticity, fasciculations, dysphagia, and respiratory compromise. Most patients survive 2–5 years from diagnosis.

For the full evidence base, including the NASEM tier, randomized trial summaries, and symptom-domain breakdown, read the mmjnow Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) page.

How to qualify in Vermont

The Vermont Medical Cannabis Registry requires the following registration steps for a Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) patient (or any qualifying diagnosis):

  1. Get a Healthcare Professional Verification Form from a Vermont practitioner. A Vermont-licensed physician, naturopathic physician, physician assistant, or advanced practice registered nurse must complete the Healthcare Professional Verification Form documenting one of the qualifying conditions under 18 V.S.A. §4474b (cancer, HIV/AIDS, MS, glaucoma, seizures, severe pain or nausea, cachexia, PTSD, Crohn’s, Parkinson’s, ALS, or terminal illness with a life expectancy of 6 months or less).
  2. Apply to the Cannabis Control Board Medical Cannabis Registry. The patient submits the Application for the Medical Cannabis Registry, the completed Healthcare Professional Verification Form, a Vermont driver license or state ID copy, and a passport-style photograph to the Cannabis Control Board (CCB) Medical Cannabis Program. Online submission is available through the CCB portal.
  3. Pay the $50 state registration fee. The annual Vermont Medical Cannabis Registry fee is $50, paid by check or money order to "Vermont Cannabis Control Board" or by credit card through the online portal. A separate caregiver registration and background check is required for each designated caregiver.
  4. Receive the registry card and purchase from a Vermont dispensary. Vermont medical cannabis registry cards are issued within roughly 30 days of complete application receipt. With the card, patients may purchase up to 2 ounces every 30 days from any of the five licensed Vermont medical dispensaries. Adult-use retail also operates statewide for adults 21+; medical patients retain access to higher-potency products and product types reserved for medical use.
State registration fee
$50
Physician visit (typical)
$150–$300
Certification to card
14–45 days
Out-of-state patients
Not eligible
Minors
Eligible with caregiver

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

ICD-10 code

A certifying physician documenting Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) for the Vermont medical cannabis program will typically record ICD-10 G12.21 or SNOMED-CT 86044005 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 Vermont list Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) as a qualifying condition for medical cannabis?

Yes. Vermont explicitly lists Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) as a qualifying condition under Vermont Medical Cannabis Registry. A patient with a documented Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) diagnosis can pursue state-program certification with a physician registered in the state. The qualifying-condition list is published by the state at https://ccb.vermont.gov/medical-cannabis-program 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 Vermont rules.

How do I get a Vermont medical marijuana card for Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS)?

Step one is finding a physician licensed in Vermont who is registered with Vermont Medical Cannabis Registry and willing to evaluate Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) 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. Vermont 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 Vermont Medical Cannabis Registry site at https://ccb.vermont.gov/medical-cannabis-program; the state updates fees, forms, and physician registration rules periodically.

What does the evidence say about cannabis for Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS)?

For Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), evidence is described as limited (a small number of supportive studies, often underpowered or focused on narrow symptom domains). The mmjnow condition page for Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) 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 Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) should review the underlying evidence (linked on the condition page) and discuss expected benefit, dosing, and risk with a clinician familiar with both Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) and cannabinoid pharmacology. Cannabis is not a substitute for evidence-based first-line treatments for Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS); the evidence position above describes whether trial data supports its use, not whether it should replace standard care.

Sources

  1. Vermont Statutes Title 7 Chapter 33: Cannabis Controlaccessed May 16, 2026
  2. Vermont Statutes Title 7 Chapter 35: Therapeutic Use of Cannabisaccessed May 16, 2026
  3. Vermont Cannabis Control Boardaccessed May 16, 2026
  4. Wikipedia: Cannabis in Vermontaccessed May 16, 2026
  5. NASEM: The Health Effects of Cannabis and Cannabinoids (2017)accessed May 15, 2026
  6. ALS Association: Cannabis and ALSaccessed May 15, 2026