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

Last month, lawmakers significantly expanded the state’s medical cannabis program, making the Lone Star State the 40th state to adopt comprehensive medical marijuana legalization. —A.j. Herrington, Forbes.com, 27 July 2025

There are 140 dispensaries licensed to sell recreational and medical marijuana in Ohio. —Haley Bemiller, The Enquirer, 2 July 2025

In February, a poll from the University of Houston's Hobby School of Public Affairs found that 62 percent of Texan adults support the legalization of recreational marijuana, while 79 percent think medical marijuana with a prescription should be permitted. —Nick Mordowanec, MSNBC Newsweek, 23 May 2025

The company is one of the Texas’ three licensed of medical marijuana dispensaries, in a state that permits using low-THC medical marijuana for select health conditions. —Eleanor Dearman, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 23 May 2025

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