the law
autism friendly states

"People with autism deserve to have safe and legal access to their medicine regardless of their zip code."   ~ MAMMA
​

How does a state become "autism friendly"?

To be considered by MAMMA to be "autism friendly" a state must allow reasonable access to medical cannabis by people with autism.  The main two ways autism gets added to an existing medical program is by petitioning the state's health board or by a legislative action to pass a bill that adds it.  The first state to add autism was Delaware (details below).   States that allow doctors to use their discretion for debilitating conditions are also considered to be autism friendly.  Each state has it's own unique program dependent upon how the law was written.  

These states/territories include autism
​as a qualifying condition:

Colorado

  • Added by the Colorado ​legislature on April 2, 2019, World Autism Day.  ​

Delaware

  • 2018 Update: HB374 added pediatric autism spectrum disorder and pediatric sensory processing disorder.​
  • Read the historic full story here.
  • Here is the petition that Delaware used to begin the process of changing their existing whole plant medical marijuana law.

Georgia 

  • Certain restrictions apply:  Autism is a qualifying condition for adults over 18.   If younger than 18, then it's severe autism only.  THC is capped at 5%
  • Georgia's Legislature added autism as a qualifying condition.  Details of Georgia's low THC law can be found here.

Illinois

  • Autism as a qualifying condition was added by petition in 2018.
  • A summary of their law can be found here.

Iowa

Louisiana

  • Autism was added as a qualifying condition by the Louisiana legislature in 2018.
  • According to HB627, the lowest therapeutic dose of cannabinoids that can be prescribed will be determined by the doctor.

Michigan

  • Autism as a qualifying condition was added by petition in 2018.
  • A summary of their law can be found here.

Minnesota

  • Autism as a qualifying condition was added by petition in 2017.  
  • Minnesota Medical Cannabis Program:  A Guide for Patients

Missouri

  • Autism as a qualifying condition was added by petition in 2019.  
  • MO Department of Health & Senior Services:  Patient Information

New Mexico

  • Autism as a qualifying condition was added by petition in 2019.  ​
  • NM Department of Health:  Medical Cannabis Program

Pennsylvania

  • Autism as a qualifying condition was included in SB3, which created their initial, comprehensive medical cannabis program in 2016.  
  • For more information about how to access medical cannabis for your loved one with autism, please click here.  

The Territory of Puerto Rico

Rhode Island

  • ​Autism as a qualifying condition was added by petition in 2018.

Texas

  • ​Autism as a qualifying condition was added by the Texas legislature in 2019.

Utah

These states allow medical cannabis for
​debilitating conditions (as defined by state law)
at the doctor's discretion:

California

Florida

Oklahoma

Oregon

  • OR Health Authority:  Medical Marijuana Patients
  • For the full bill that approved medical cannabis for "degenerative or pervasive neurological conditions", click here and scroll down to section 4 (6) (a)

Massachusetts

Washington DC