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Sickle Cell Disease and cannabis in Wisconsin

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

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 Sickle Cell Disease

Sickle cell disease (SCD) is a group of inherited red blood cell disorders caused by mutations in the hemoglobin gene. Red cells assume a rigid sickle shape under low-oxygen conditions, leading to chronic hemolytic anemia, episodic vaso-occlusive pain crises, stroke risk, acute chest syndrome, and progressive end-organ damage. SCD disproportionately affects people of African, Mediterranean, and South Asian descent.

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

How to qualify in Wisconsin

The Wisconsin CBD / Lydia's Law (low-THC seizure authorization) requires the following registration steps for a Sickle Cell Disease 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 Sickle Cell Disease for the Wisconsin medical cannabis program will typically record ICD-10 D57.1 or SNOMED-CT 417357006 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 Sickle Cell Disease as a qualifying condition for medical cannabis?

No. Wisconsin's qualifying-condition list does not currently include Sickle Cell Disease, and the state's program does not give physicians open-ended discretion to add conditions outside the list. Patients with Sickle Cell Disease in Wisconsin 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. Wisconsin program rules change, so verify the current list with the regulator before drawing a final conclusion.

How do I get a Wisconsin medical marijuana card for Sickle Cell Disease?

Because Wisconsin does not currently list Sickle Cell Disease as a qualifying condition, a card for Sickle Cell Disease alone may not be obtainable in-state under the program rules as written. 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 Sickle Cell Disease 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 Sickle Cell Disease?

For Sickle Cell Disease, evidence is described as limited (a small number of supportive studies, often underpowered or focused on narrow symptom domains). The mmjnow condition page for Sickle Cell Disease 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 Sickle Cell Disease should review the underlying evidence (linked on the condition page) and discuss expected benefit, dosing, and risk with a clinician familiar with both Sickle Cell Disease and cannabinoid pharmacology. Cannabis is not a substitute for evidence-based first-line treatments for Sickle Cell Disease; 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. NIH National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute: Sickle Cell Diseaseaccessed May 15, 2026
  4. NIH NCCIH: Cannabis (Marijuana) and Cannabinoidsaccessed May 15, 2026