MEDICAL MARIJUANA FOR GLAUCOMA?
WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW.

EDUCATIONAL SERIES: HEALTH CONDITIONS

 

Florida law formally recognizes glaucoma as a qualifying condition for medical marijuana.1

 

WHAT IS GLAUCOMA?

  • Glaucoma is a group of eye diseases that can damage an important eye nerve named the optic nerve. Glaucoma may lead to vision loss or blindness without treatment.
  • One cause of glaucoma is high pressure in the eye.2,3
  • Glaucoma can be treated with eye drops, oral prescription medicine, surgery, or a
    combination of treatments to lower pressure in the eye.3

 

CAN MEDICAL MARIJUANA HELP WITH GLAUCOMA?

An illustration of an eye.

  • There is currently not enough evidence to recommend medical marijuana for regular glaucoma treatment.4-6 Some chemicals found in medical marijuana (called cannabinoids, such as THC and CBD) may temporarily lower eye pressure.4
  • There is still very limited information about the short- and long-term side effects of medical marijuana in people with glaucoma.6

 

WHAT SHOULD I ASK MY HEALTHCARE PROVIDER?

1. Discuss any prescription medications you are taking including glaucoma eye drops, blood pressure medicines, antidepressants, pain medications, or drugs for other conditions.
 2. Report sudden vision changes, such as blurry vision, dry eyes, eye pain, and other symptoms to your physician.6

Tell your provider about any other health problems you have. There are many possible interactions between medical marijuana and diseases, or other substances.7

The use of medical marijuana can cause side effects such as eyelid tremor, dizziness, sleepiness, confusion, and a fast heartbeat.4,6 Therefore, regular communication with your healthcare provider and your ophthalmologist can assist in identifying risks and side effects.

 

Please note: This document is for informational purposes only, but is not medical or legal advice and should not be used to make healthcare decisions. Please consult your healthcare provider to find out what treatment options are available for you.

 

Sources

1The 2020 Florida Statutes. Title XXIX, Chapter 381, section 381.986: Medical use of marijuana.

2Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Glaucoma. Updated May 15, 2024. Accessed May 6, 2026. Available from: https://www.cdc.gov/vision-health/about-eye-disorders/glaucoma.html

3Michels TC, Ivan O. Glaucoma: Diagnosis and Management. Am Fam Physician. 2023;107(3):253-262.

4Joshi N, Mariam H, Kamath A. Cannabinoids for the Treatment of Glaucoma: A Review. Med Cannabis Cannabinoids. 2024;7(1):183-192. Published 2024 Sep 16. doi:10.1159/000541461

5Gedde SJ, Bowden EC, Challa P, et al; American Academy of Ophthalmology Preferred Practice Pattern Glaucoma Committee. Primary Open-Angle Glaucoma PPP 2025. American Academy of Ophthalmology. Published February 2026. Accessed May 9, 2026. Available from: https://www.aao.org/preferred-practice-pattern/primary-open-angle-glaucoma-ppp

6Bondok M, Nguyen AXL, Lando L, Wu AY. Adverse Ocular Impact and Emerging Therapeutic Potential of Cannabis and Cannabinoids: A Narrative Review. Clin Ophthalmol. 2024;18:3529-3556. Available from: https://doi.org/10.2147/OPTH.S501494 

7Ho JJY, Goh C, Leong CSA, Ng KY, Bakhtiar A. Evaluation of potential drug-drug interactions with medical cannabis. Clin Transl Sci. 2024;17(5):e13812. doi:10.1111/cts.13812 

 

Updated 2026

 

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