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

While in office, Olson tried unsuccessfully to sell GOP leadership on the idea of legalizing medical marijuana. —Matthew Kelly, Kansas City Star, 31 Oct. 2025

The federal statute is enforceable even in the nearly 40 states that allow for medical marijuana use, and 24 that allow for its recreational use, says Eric Ruben, professor at SMU Dedman School of Law and a fellow at the Brennan Center for Justice. —Solcyré Burga, Time, 27 Oct. 2025

Kentucky legalized medical marijuana starting in 2025, with products expected on shelves soon. —Marina Johnson, Louisville Courier Journal, 23 Oct. 2025

Dozens of people testified at the state Capitol in support of a bill to legalize medical marijuana in Wisconsin. —Laura Schulte, jsonline.com, 22 Oct. 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