Medical Marijuana & Psoriasis: How Can it Help?

Medical marijuana is studied for many conditions, but FDA has not approved marijuana itself to treat any of them. Some people with psoriasis try CBD for pain or cannabis oil for psoriasis to ease symptoms, though evidence in people is lacking.

Below, we look at the links between marijuana and psoriasis, what is known about CBD for psoriasis, and why your dermatologist’s plan comes first.

What is Psoriasis?

Before looking at marijuana and CBD for psoriasis, here is what the condition is.

Psoriasis is a long-lasting immune disease: an overactive immune system makes skin cells multiply too quickly, forming scaly, inflamed patches. They can cause blotches and red patches, and many people find them hard to live with. They can also be very itchy and painful.

Types of Psoriasis

There are a number of different types of psoriasis, the symptoms may show differently depending on which type you have.

Plaque psoriasis is the most common type, with raised red patches covered by silvery scales. Guttate psoriasis looks like small red dots, often in children or young adults.

Inverse psoriasis causes smooth red patches in skin folds such as the armpits or groin. Pustular psoriasis causes pus-filled bumps, usually on the hands and feet.

We found no clinical trial of cannabis oil for psoriasis of any type.

Can Medical Marijuana Help Psoriasis?

Not that studies in people have shown. Psoriasis has no cure, and treatment aims to calm flares and keep symptoms under control, NIAMS says.

A 2007 lab study found cannabinoids slowed the growth of human skin cells in a dish; we found no study testing this in people with psoriasis.

Whether cannabis oil or CBD for psoriasis eases skin inflammation in people is unknown; inflamed, scaly patches are the hallmark of the disease.

The mental toll and stress of psoriasis is real, and NIH describes only a small amount of evidence that cannabinoids ease anxiety. Psoriasis can weigh on mental health, and support for stress and mood should come from your doctor or a mental health professional.

What Research Shows About Cannabis for Psoriasis

To sum up, we found no trial showing that CBD eases psoriasis pain or inflammation in people, and slower skin cell growth has only been seen in lab dishes.

Evidence for CBD for pain relief is limited too, and more studies are needed before anyone can say cannabis or CBD products help psoriasis.

CBD Oil and Psoriasis: What to Know First

CBD oil is sold as drops, capsules and creams, including beauty products and creams that have CBD, but FDA says CBD products cannot be sold as dietary supplements, and it has approved no CBD product for psoriasis. Ask your dermatologist which proven treatments fit you before adding CBD.

Where is Medical Marijuana Legal in the United States?

In states with medical programs, a clinician’s certification lets patients buy from licensed dispensaries. Medical marijuana’s legality varies from state to state; by June 2022 a peer-reviewed count put medical cannabis laws in 38 states plus DC. States with medical programs include:

• New Hampshire
• New Jersey
• New Mexico
• New York
• North Dakota
• Ohio
• Oklahoma
• Pennsylvania
• Rhode Island
• Utah
• West Virginia

Different states have different rules about the amount of cannabis you can possess and how you get access to medical marijuana. It is worth checking the legalities in the state you reside within before you buy marijuana.

For CBD, the rules differ: hemp CBD may contain up to 0.3% delta-9 THC by dry weight under current federal law, which Congress begins to narrow on November 12, 2026, with the rest of the change delayed until December 11, 2026, and some states allow hemp CBD where marijuana is not legal. If you live in Florida, our medical marijuana doctors in Sarasota are able to walk you through the state’s rules; psoriasis is not on Florida’s list, and a qualified physician would have to judge it of the same kind or class as, or comparable to, one of the listed conditions other than a terminal condition or chronic nonmalignant pain. Elsewhere, check your state regulator.