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Epilepsy and cannabis in Wisconsin

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
CBD oil for physician-c…
POSSESSION
$0/yr
STATE FEE
1–30 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.

Wisconsin statute and program

The Wisconsin CBD / Lydia's Law (low-THC seizure authorization) is the operating authority for Wisconsin patient certification. The authoritative legal text is: Wis. Stat. § 961.32: Industrial hemp / CBD (Lydia's Law).

What the evidence says about cannabis and Epilepsy

Epilepsy is a chronic neurological disorder defined by recurrent unprovoked seizures. The condition affects an estimated 3.4 million Americans. Most patients respond to anti-seizure medications, but approximately one-third develop treatment-resistant epilepsy that fails two or more first-line drugs.

For the full evidence base, including the NASEM tier, randomized trial summaries, and symptom-domain breakdown, read the mmjnow Epilepsy page.

How to qualify in Wisconsin

The Wisconsin CBD / Lydia's Law (low-THC seizure authorization) requires the following registration steps for a Epilepsy patient (or any qualifying diagnosis):

  1. Obtain a physician’s written certification under Lydia’s Law. Wisconsin operates a narrow CBD authorization under Wis. Stat. §961.32(2m) (the 2014 "Lydia’s Law"). The authorization covers only treatment-resistant seizure disorders. A Wisconsin-licensed physician must provide a written certification stating that the patient has a seizure disorder and that the patient may benefit from CBD oil. Wisconsin does not authorize any general medical cannabis program.
  2. No state patient registry. Wisconsin does not operate a state patient registry under §961.32(2m). The patient or caregiver simply retains the physician’s written certification as documentation. The certification provides an affirmative defense under §961.41 against possession charges for CBD oil obtained through any legal channel.
  3. No state registration fee. Wisconsin charges no state patient registration fee, because there is no patient registry. The patient bears only the costs of the physician evaluation and the cost of CBD product obtained through legal channels.
  4. Obtain CBD oil from any legal channel. Registered Wisconsin patients possess CBD oil obtained from out-of-state cannabis programs or from federally compliant hemp-derived CBD products (THC ≤0.3% by weight under the 2018 Farm Bill). Wisconsin does not authorize in-state cannabis dispensaries, in-state cultivation, or higher-THC products. Wisconsin does not honor out-of-state medical cards for any broader cannabis use. Adult-use cannabis remains illegal in Wisconsin.
State registration fee
$0
Physician visit (typical)
$150–$350
Certification to card
1–30 days
Out-of-state patients
Not eligible
Minors
Eligible with caregiver

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

ICD-10 code

A certifying physician documenting Epilepsy for the Wisconsin medical cannabis program will typically record ICD-10 G40.909 or SNOMED-CT 84757009 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 Wisconsin list Epilepsy as a qualifying condition for medical cannabis?

Yes. Wisconsin explicitly lists Epilepsy as a qualifying condition under Wisconsin CBD / Lydia's Law (low-THC seizure authorization). A patient with a documented Epilepsy diagnosis can pursue state-program certification with a physician registered in the state. The qualifying-condition list is set by state statute or regulation and may change. 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 Wisconsin rules.

How do I get a Wisconsin medical marijuana card for Epilepsy?

Step one is finding a physician licensed in Wisconsin who is registered with Wisconsin CBD / Lydia's Law (low-THC seizure authorization) and willing to evaluate Epilepsy 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. Wisconsin 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. Confirm the current process with the state regulator before applying, because the rules change.

What does the evidence say about cannabis for Epilepsy?

For Epilepsy, evidence is described as strong (e.g. multiple randomized controlled trials or systematic reviews supporting effect). The mmjnow condition page for Epilepsy 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 Epilepsy should review the underlying evidence (linked on the condition page) and discuss expected benefit, dosing, and risk with a clinician familiar with both Epilepsy and cannabinoid pharmacology. Cannabis is not a substitute for evidence-based first-line treatments for Epilepsy; the evidence position above describes whether trial data supports its use, not whether it should replace standard care.

Sources

  1. Wis. Stat. § 961.32: Industrial hemp / CBD (Lydia's Law)accessed May 15, 2026
  2. NORML: Wisconsin Lawsaccessed May 15, 2026
  3. NASEM: The Health Effects of Cannabis and Cannabinoids (2017)accessed May 15, 2026

    “Conclusive or substantial evidence that oral cannabidiol is effective for the treatment of certain epilepsy syndromes.”

  4. FDA: Epidiolex (cannabidiol) prescribing informationaccessed May 15, 2026
  5. NIH NCCIH: Cannabis (Marijuana) and Cannabinoidsaccessed May 15, 2026