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

Cannabis had much longer in the public, with medical marijuana programs, (but) psychedelics have limited legal precedent. —Andre Mouchard, Oc Register, 18 Aug. 2025

The changes to the medical marijuana program come as some, including Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, called for a ban on consumable THC products, like delta-8 and delta-9 gummies and vapes. —Eleanor Dearman updated August 15, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 15 Aug. 2025

Testing law in 2020 has limits Arizona voters first legalized marijuana with a medical marijuana program in 2010. —Ray Stern, AZCentral.com, 24 July 2025

The Sunday cover story in The Courier Journal shines a light on an investigation into the Office of Medical Cannabis by Kentucky Auditor of Public Accounts Allison Ball following complaints about the application process and lottery drawing for the new medical marijuana program. —Marina Johnson, The Courier-Journal, 14 July 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