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Lupus (Systemic Lupus Erythematosus) and cannabis in Vermont

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
2 oz of usable cannabis…
POSSESSION
$50/yr
STATE FEE
14–45 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.

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 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 Vermont

The Vermont Medical Cannabis Registry requires the following registration steps for a Lupus (Systemic Lupus Erythematosus) 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 Lupus (Systemic Lupus Erythematosus) for the Vermont 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 Vermont list Lupus (Systemic Lupus Erythematosus) as a qualifying condition for medical cannabis?

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

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

Because Vermont 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 Vermont who is registered with Vermont Medical Cannabis Registry 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. 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 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. 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. NIH National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases: Lupusaccessed May 18, 2026
  6. 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.”

  7. Lupus Foundation of America: Marijuana and Lupusaccessed May 18, 2026
  8. American College of Rheumatology: 2023 Guideline for SLE Management (executive summary)accessed May 18, 2026
  9. MedlinePlus: Systemic lupus erythematosusaccessed May 18, 2026