medical marijuana

noun

variants or less commonly medical cannabis

: marijuana that is available only by prescription and is used to treat a variety of medical conditions (such as pain, anxiety, nausea, and glaucoma)

In the 14 states that allow medical marijuana, middle-aged baby boomers talk quite freely about filling their prescriptions at the local dispensary (of which there are nearly 1,400 in California alone).

—Eve Conant

also : any of various substances (such as cannabidiol) extracted from marijuana and used similarly

Examples of medical marijuana in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The same states that created medical marijuana programs in order to help sick people with no other options must start following the science here as well. —Kevin A. Sabet, STAT, 1 Apr. 2026

Oceanside legalized medical marijuana in 2018 and since then has gradually expanded its licensing program. —Phil Diehl, San Diego Union-Tribune, 30 Mar. 2026

House lawmakers on Thursday defeated a measure that would give employers more leeway to fire individuals for using medical marijuana. —Barbara Hoebrock, Oklahoma Voice, 13 Mar. 2026

House members in Maryland's General Assembly are weighing legislation that would allow firefighters across the state to use medical marijuana while off-duty. —Bryant Reed, CBS News, 11 Mar. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1976, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for medical marijuana

• ana
• bwana
• dhyana
• donna
• fauna
• gonna
• mana
• sauna
• tswana
• wanna
• asana
• chicana

Medical Definition

medical marijuana

noun

variants also medical cannabis

: marijuana that is available only by prescription and is used to treat a variety of medical conditions (as pain, anxiety, nausea, and glaucoma)

also : any of various substances (as cannabidiol) extracted from marijuana and used similarly