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 status by state California was the first state to legalize medical marijuana in 1996. —Kurt Snibbe, Oc Register, 25 July 2025

Additionally, the data showed that hospitalization rates were lower among chronic pain patients who used medical marijuana, although the difference was not sufficient to be considered statistically significant. —A.j. Herrington, Forbes.com, 21 July 2025

After a 2023 bill passed in the Kentucky General Assembly, medical marijuana was considered legal in the Bluegrass State for the very first time Jan. 1, 2025. —Katie Wiseman, The Courier-Journal, 14 July 2025

The Regulatory Division has day to day oversight of 5,200 tobacco permits, 6,500 alcohol permits, more than 50 medical marijuana permits, the state's three casinos, and live thoroughbred racing. —Michael R. Wickline, Arkansas Online, 24 June 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