If you have diabetes, this condition can make it tough for you to live a normal life. Diabetes comes with plenty of uncomfortable symptoms, such as slow-healing wounds, blurry vision, and crushing fatigue.
According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), more than 37 million people in the U.S. have diabetes, or 11.3% of the adult population. If you’re one of them, you may be wondering, “Can you get a medical marijuana card for diabetes?”
We’ll answer that question and tell you how to get a medical marijuana card in Mississippi below.
About Medical Marijuana for Diabetes
Medical marijuana isn’t a magic bullet for diabetes, but medical marijuana may help make the symptoms more manageable. Here’s what you need to know about medical marijuana for diabetes in Mississippi.
Is Diabetes a Qualifying Condition for a Medical Marijuana Card?
Diabetes, as a medical condition, doesn’t currently qualify anyone for a medical marijuana card in Mississippi or any other legalized state. However, the symptoms caused by type 1 diabetes and other variants of this chronic condition may be enough to qualify you for medical marijuana usage.
Confused about whether you can get a medical marijuana card for diabetes? Don’t be. Mississippi will not provide you a medical marijuana card for the diabetes condition itself. However, there is a strong likelihood that you can obtain a medical marijuana card if you can prove that your symptoms from diabetes are hurting your quality of life.
Diabetes Symptoms That Medical Marijuana Can Help With
Research on how medical marijuana might be able to help diabetes patients is a limited. However, there are a few promising studies that suggest cannabis may have a positive effect on people with this condition.
For instance, a 2016 study by Diabetes Care of people with type 2 diabetes indicated the following effects when they took THC:
- Improved insulin production
- Significant drops in fasting blood glucose levels
- Increased levels of adiponectin, a protein that controls blood sugar
Medical marijuana may help with diabetes-related pain, too. A 2014 study sponsored by GW Pharma showed that people who used a THC/CBD spray experienced less neuropathic pain than the control group.
Diabetes is known to cause diabetic retinopathy, a condition that leads to retinal cell death and vision loss. Researchers who tested CBD on animals found that using medical marijuana for one to four weeks could provide protection from diabetic retinopathy.
Medical marijuana could also help:
- Improve circulation and keep your blood vessels open
- Prevent inflammation of your nerves
- Ease stomach pain
- Relieve tingling in your hands and feet
- Relieve restless leg syndrome
How To Get a Medical Marijuana Card for Diabetes Symptoms
Even though you can’t get a medical marijuana card for diabetes itself, it’s completely possible to qualify due to the symptoms this condition can cause. Qualifying diabetes-related conditions include:
- Chronic pain
- Glaucoma
- Diabetic neuropathy
People with diabetes often have other conditions that could qualify them for a medical marijuana card. A few of these include:
- Nausea
- Ulcerative colitis
- Cancer
- Parkinson’s disease
- Alzheimer’s disease
To get a medical marijuana card, you’ll need to have a diagnosis of a qualifying condition from a doctor. If you do, your doctor will register you for the Mississippi Medical Cannabis Program.
With the recommendation of your doctor, you’ll sign up on the Medical Cannabis Program portal and complete your application. You’ll have to do this within six months of your diagnosis.
It typically takes about 10 days for a Mississippi medical card approval. After the state approves your application, you should get access to your card within five days.
LeafMed Covers All Your Medical Marijuana Needs
Now that you know the answer to, “Can you get a medical marijuana card for diabetes?” we welcome you to pay us a visit at LeafMed. We sell a great selection of pre-rolls, tinctures, edibles, and vaporizers for diabetic patients. Our team can also tell you how to get a medical marijuana card for anxiety and other conditions.To learn more about our Vicksburg location, call (601) 623-5323. For our Bay St. Louis location, contact us at (228) 382-5323.