Rhode Island Medical Cannabis Qualifying Conditions

Last verified: March 2026

Qualifying Conditions

Rhode Island's medical cannabis program requires patients to have a diagnosed qualifying condition from the list established under the Hawkins/Slater Act. Unlike states that have moved to provider-discretion models, Rhode Island maintains a defined list:

Named Conditions

• Cancer
• Glaucoma
• HIV/AIDS
• Hepatitis C
• Autism spectrum disorder

Chronic Conditions Producing Specific Symptoms

Any chronic or debilitating disease or medical condition that produces one or more of the following:

• Cachexia (wasting syndrome)
• Severe, debilitating chronic pain
• Severe nausea
• Seizures (including epilepsy)
• Severe and persistent muscle spasms — including those associated with multiple sclerosis and Crohn's disease
• Alzheimer's disease-related agitation

PTSD (Age Restriction)

• Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) — patients must be 18 or older

In-Person Physician Requirement

Rhode Island requires an in-person physician visit for the initial medical cannabis certification. Telemedicine is not permitted for first-time certifications. This is one of the more restrictive requirements among state medical programs, many of which adopted permanent telemedicine allowances during and after COVID-19.

The in-person requirement means you must physically visit a Rhode Island-licensed physician (MD or DO) who will:

1. Review your medical history and documentation of your qualifying condition
2. Conduct an examination or consultation
3. Determine whether cannabis is appropriate for your condition
4. Issue a written certification if they agree cannabis therapy is warranted

The physician must have an established bona fide physician-patient relationship with you. While this does not necessarily require a long-standing relationship, the physician must have conducted a meaningful clinical evaluation.

Who Can Certify Patients?

Only Rhode Island-licensed MDs and DOs can issue initial medical cannabis certifications. The certifying physician must be licensed to practice in Rhode Island and must conduct the evaluation in person. You do not need to see a specialized "cannabis doctor" — any licensed physician can certify you if they believe your condition qualifies.

What If My Condition Isn't Listed?

Unlike states with provider-discretion models (such as Delaware or Oklahoma), Rhode Island requires your condition to match the statutory list. However, the symptom-based qualifiers are broad enough to cover many conditions not explicitly named:

• Fibromyalgia — qualifies under "severe, debilitating chronic pain"
• Crohn's disease — qualifies under "severe and persistent muscle spasms"
• Epilepsy — qualifies under "seizures"
• Chronic back pain — qualifies under "severe, debilitating chronic pain"
• Neuropathy — qualifies under "severe, debilitating chronic pain"
• Chemotherapy side effects — qualifies under "cancer" and "severe nausea"

If you have a condition that does not fit the current list, you may also consider using the recreational market (21+, no card required) while advocating for expanded qualifying conditions through the legislature.

Minors (Under 18)

Patients under 18 can qualify for Rhode Island's medical cannabis program, but with additional requirements:

• Must have a qualifying condition other than PTSD (PTSD is restricted to 18+)
• Require a parent or legal guardian to serve as their designated caregiver
• The caregiver must register with the Cannabis Control Commission and pass a background check