• Donovan T Maust, Erin E Bonar, Mark A Ilgen, Frederic C Blow, and Helen C Kales.
• Department of Psychiatry, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI; Institute for Healthcare Policy and Innovation, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI; Center for Clinical Management Research, VA Ann Arbor Healthcare System, Ann Arbor, MI. Electronic address: maustd@umich.edu.
• Am J Geriatr Psychiatry. 2016 Nov 1; 24 (11): 1000-1003.

ObjectiveTo determine the extent to which states and localities include dementia as a qualifying condition for medical marijuana and how common this indication is.MethodsThe authors reviewed authorizing legislation and medical marijuana program websites and annual reports for the states and localities where medical marijuana is legal.ResultsOf the 24 states and localities where medical marijuana is legal, dementia is a qualifying condition in 10 (41.7%), primarily for agitation of Alzheimer disease. In the five states where information was available regarding qualifying conditions for certification, dementia was the indication for <0.5% of medical marijuana certifications.ConclusionDementia is somewhat commonly listed as a potential qualifying condition for medical marijuana. Currently, few applicants for medical marijuana list dementia as the reason for seeking certification. However, given increasingly open attitudes toward recreational and medical marijuana use, providers should be aware that dementia is a potential indication for licensing, despite lack of evidence for its efficacy.Copyright © 2016 American Association for Geriatric Psychiatry. All rights reserved.

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