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

Where do state legalization efforts stand? More than three dozen states have legalized some form of medical marijuana already. —Addy Bink, The Hill, 20 Apr. 2025

Yes, but: Not long afterward, senators passed legislation upping the maximum potency of low-THC oil available through Georgia's medical marijuana program. —Thomas Wheatley, Axios, 7 Mar. 2025

In April, state lawmakers introduced a bill to legalize medical marijuana in North Carolina. —A.j. Herrington, Forbes.com, 5 June 2025

What about medical marijuana laws in Texas? Texas’ medical marijuana program, the Texas Compassionate Use Program, is carved out of the bill. —Eleanor Dearman, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 28 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