- Women and people assigned female at birth (AFAB) face unique health challenges related to menstruation and menopause. In addition, they’re at an increased risk of developing conditions like arthritis, glaucoma, IBS, and autoimmune disorders.
- Many of these conditions can qualify patients for medical marijuana cards (depending on the state).
Women and people assigned female at birth (AFAB) can face healthcare challenges that men and people assigned male at birth (AMAB) don’t experience. Obviously, some reproductive conditions (related to menstruation and menopause) come to mind—but these aren’t the only health concerns that primarily affect women and people AFAB.
Arthritis, glaucoma, IBS, and autoimmune disorders are all more common in this population. And many of these conditions could qualify patients for a medical cannabis card (depending on the state laws in question).
That’s the subject of this guide: Breaking down which conditions qualify women and people AFAB for medical cannabis cards and how cannabis can help treat some of these conditions.
What Conditions Qualify Patients for Medical Marijuana Cards?
What conditions qualify for medical marijuana cards? It all depends on your state’s laws.
However, some of the most common conditions across states include:
- “Intractable diseases” like late-stage cancers, HIV, and Alzheimer’s disease
- Chronic or severe pain
- Arthritis
- Mobility issues and physical disabilities
- Digestive problems like irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)
In TeleLeaf’s home state of Louisiana, any licensed physician, nurse practitioner, or medical psychologist can recommend a patient for cannabis treatment (and access to the state’s legal cannabis pharmacies). In addition, these providers can recommend medical marijuana for any condition that could benefit from cannabis treatment.
Some states with similar laws include Colorado, Washington, Rhode Island, and Michigan.
The simplest way to find out which conditions qualify you for a medical cannabis card in your state is to reach out to a licensed medical cannabis healthcare provider. These providers are experts in eligibility requirements, and they can help you determine whether or not cannabis is right for you.
Common Health Issues for Women that Qualify for Medical Cannabis Cards
Women and people AFAB are at a higher risk for some healthcare conditions—many of which qualify them for medical marijuana treatment in some states. Let’s break down some of the most common.
Arthritis
Between the ages of 40 and 49, about 10% of women and people AFAB develop arthritis (compared to about 7% of men and people AMAB). This prevalence continues as age increases, too.
However, arthritis (in its various forms—rheumatoid, psoriatic, and so on) is a common qualifying condition for medical cannabis treatment in multiple states. Why?
So, if you’re a woman or a person AFAB, medical cannabis treatment could offer the combination of pain relief and immune management you’ve been looking for.
PMDD
Premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD) is widely considered a more severe form of premenstrual syndrome (PMS). However, people living with PMDD often encounter unique symptoms, including:
- Anxiety and panic attacks
- Trouble focusing
- Binge eating and other disordered eating patterns
- Headaches
- Depression
- Suicidal ideation
- Fatigue
While PMDD may not make an appearance on many state lists of qualifying conditions for cannabis, many of its symptoms do: mental health challenges in particular.
While anecdotal evidence about cannabis’s effectiveness in treating PMDD is widespread, clinical research has begun to catch up. Many patients (and, increasingly, researchers) have found that cannabis can treat almost all of the symptoms of PMDD. Plus, it poses fewer side effects than conventional PMDD treatments like:
- Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs)
- Hormonal birth control pills
- Over-the-counter pain medications
Glaucoma and Eye Diseases
According to statistics from the National Eye Institute, two out of three cases of blindness or vision problems occur in women and people AFAB. Why?
- Age – In general, women and people AFAB live longer than men and people AMAB. Since many eye conditions (including glaucoma) typically occur later in life, this could account for the prevalence of eye disorders in women and people AFAB.
- Makeup and skincare – Many makeup and skincare products contain ingredients that can irritate the eyes or cause dryness—some potential causes of eye challenges.
- Reproduction – Pregnancy and menopause are periods of great hormonal fluctuation. These hormone adjustments can impact fluid balance in the eyes, and fluid imbalance is a defining feature of glaucoma.
Fortunately, glaucoma is widely represented on states’ lists of qualifying conditions for medical cannabis recommendation. And for good reason: Marijuana has been shown (both in clinical research and among anecdotal reports) to decrease intraocular pressure (IOP). Increased IOP is the main cause of discomfort and long-term vision damage associated with glaucoma.
Patients can learn more in our complete guide to glaucoma and medical cannabis.
Menopause Symptoms
The transition to menopause can present a bevy of medical challenges for women and people AFAB. These include (but aren’t limited to):
- Trouble sleeping
- Mood swings
- Body temperature fluctuations (“hot flashes”)
- Brain fog
- Body composition changes
- Vaginal dryness
- Decreased libido
While menopause alone isn’t prevalent on states’ lists of qualifying conditions, some of its key symptoms can be: insomnia, for instance. Despite this, patients have found that cannabis can help them treat multiple symptoms of menopause, especially:
IBS
Women and people AFAB make up the majority of people living with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). Both the general causes of IBS and the explanation for its prevalence in women are still being studied.
Nonetheless, some states consider it a qualifying condition for medical cannabis treatment, including Ohio and Minnesota. This may be because the clinical evidence in favor of cannabis treatment for IBS is overwhelming. In one study of over 300 patients living with IBS:
- 91% indicated that cannabis use improved their symptoms
- 83.9% reported decreased abdominal pain
- 76.8% noted decreased cramping
- 28.6% reported a decrease in diarrhea
The relationship between cannabis and gut health is the subject of intense study in clinical spaces right now, but anecdotal evidence widely supports the effectiveness of medical marijuana for treating digestive conditions like IBS.
Autoimmune Disorders
Women people AFAB account for a staggering four out of five cases of autoimmune diseases—a figure that seems hard to believe. Until recently, we weren’t sure why this patient population showed such a propensity toward autoimmunity; however, a landmark study from Stanford Medicine revealed one potential cause:
- In people AFAB, every single cell bears a pair of X chromosomes.
- While X and Y chromosomes are widely known to indicate biological sex, they also perform other functions: dictating protein production inside cells, for instance.
- In order to stabilize protein production, one of these X chromosomes is disabled in each cell. However, the disabling process can create unfamiliar cell structures inside the body—structures that your immune system may regard as a threat.
This is truly exciting research, but it doesn’t change the fact that women and people AFAB are at a higher risk for developing autoimmune conditions. Luckily, cannabis has shown immense promise as a treatment for autoimmunity. As we mentioned above, marijuana has immunosuppression properties—just like the pharmaceuticals doctors often prescribe to treat autoimmune diseases.
Get Your Medical Cannabis Card with TeleLeaf
If you’re a person AFAB looking for an alternative to conventional pharmaceuticals or plant-based treatments for common conditions, consider medical cannabis.
TeleLeaf is making it easier than ever to explore your options for cannabis treatment, learn more about this treatment route, and apply for your medical card. We connect patients with licensed, expert healthcare providers—clinicians who want to help you find the healing you deserve.
Schedule an appointment with our providers today to learn more.
Sources:
Colorado Department of Public Health & Environment. How to Apply for a Colorado Medical Marijuana Card.
https://cdphe.colorado.gov/apply-colorado-medical-marijuana-card
Washington State Department of Health. Medical Cannabis Information for Patients and Consumers.
https://doh.wa.gov/you-and-your-family/cannabis/medical-cannabis/patient-information
State of Rhode Island Department of Health. Medical Marijuana Information for Patients & Caregivers.
https://health.ri.gov/healthcare/medicalmarijuana/for/patients/
Michigan Cannabis Regulatory Agency. What Medical Conditions Are Eligible?.
https://www.michigan.gov/cra/faq/program-list/applicant-questions/what-medical-conditions-are-eligible
Hospital for Special Surgery. Why Women Are at Higher Risk for Getting Arthritis.
https://www.hss.edu/article_women-and-arthritis.asp
GoodRx. Using Cannabis for Pain Relief.
https://www.goodrx.com/health-topic/cannabis/treatment-marijuana-for-pain
Mayo Clinic. Rheumatoid Arthritis.
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/rheumatoid-arthritis/symptoms-causes/syc-20353648/
Autoimmune Review. Cannabinoids and Autoimmune Diseases: A Systematic Review.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26876387/
Healthline. About Immunosuppressant Drugs.
https://www.healthline.com/health/immunosuppressant-drugs
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