What is glaucoma?

Glaucoma is a group of eye conditions that can cause severe vision loss or even total blindness. With all types of glaucoma, the nerve connecting the eye to the brain is damaged, usually due to high eye pressure. Glaucoma tends to affect aging Americans, many of whom go undiagnosed. Treatment includes eye drops, medications, and surgery.

Does glaucoma qualify me for medical marijuana use?

Under Missouri’s medical marijuana rules, glaucoma is a qualifying medical condition. Any Missourian with a glaucoma diagnosis is eligible to receive their medical marijuana card. This is great news since there is an overwhelming amount of evidence that shows cannabis can help treat glaucoma!

How does medical marijuana help treat glaucoma?

As marijuana has been legalized for medical or recreational use in more U.S. states and Canada, it has become more visible and discussed as a possible treatment for many health conditions. Research in the 1970s and 1980s showed a measurable decrease in intraocular pressure for three or four hours after smoking cannabis or ingesting THC as a pill or injection.

Cannabis can be used to help treat symptoms by…

• Reducing intraocular pressure

• Stopping inflammation

• Managing pain and nausea

Learn more here about getting your medical marijuana card!