Marijuana & Life Insurance: How Cannabis Use Affects Your Rates

Marijuana use no longer automatically disqualifies you from life insurance, and at many carriers it won’t even result in tobacco-class rates. The key is carrier selection — guidelines vary widely, and choosing the wrong carrier can cost you significantly.

How Carriers Approach Marijuana Use

Unlike tobacco, marijuana has no single industry-wide classification standard. Each carrier determines its own guidelines for frequency, method of use, and rate classification. The result is a wide spectrum — from carriers who treat any marijuana use as tobacco-class all the way to carriers offering Preferred Non-tobacco rates to regular users.

Frequency Matters Most — The single biggest factor carriers look at is how often you use. Most carriers distinguish between occasional use (1–4 times/month or less), moderate use (weekly), and daily use. Daily use is the most heavily penalized.

Method of Consumption — Some carriers distinguish between smoked marijuana (which affects lungs) and edibles or tinctures. Non-smoking consumption methods are viewed more favorably by carriers concerned with respiratory risk.

Medical vs. Recreational — Many carriers ask whether use is recreational or medicinal. Medical use may prompt a deeper look at the underlying condition being treated, which can affect underwriting more than the marijuana use itself.

State Legality — While legality doesn’t directly change insurance underwriting, some carriers have noted it in their guidelines. Whether it’s legal recreationally, medicinally, or not at all in your state may be a factor at certain carriers.

Carrier Guidelines: Marijuana Use Classification

Here’s how major carriers we represent currently handle marijuana use in underwriting. Guidelines are subject to change — verify with us before applying.

Carrier	Occasional Use (≤4×/mo)	Regular Use (Weekly)	Notes
Prudential	Non-tobacco eligible	Standard NT possible	One of the most marijuana-friendly carriers. Occasional users (up to 4×/month) can qualify for Preferred or Standard Non-tobacco rates. Regular use reviewed individually.
Pacific Life	Non-tobacco eligible	Standard NT possible	Up to 4 times/month use can qualify for Standard Non-tobacco. Smoked use receives greater scrutiny than edibles or vaporizers. Daily use rated as tobacco.
Banner Life / Legal & General	Non-tobacco eligible	tobacco rated	Up to 4×/month can qualify for non-tobacco rates. More frequent use rated as tobacco class. No cigarette combination use allowed.
Protective Life	Non-tobacco eligible	tobacco rated	Occasional users (up to 4×/month) can receive non-tobacco classification. More frequent use treated as tobacco. Positive cotinine test at exam triggers tobacco rates.
North American Company	Non-tobacco eligible	tobacco rated	Occasional use may qualify for non-tobacco. Underwriting review required. Does not accept daily marijuana users at non-tobacco rates.
Transamerica	tobacco rated	tobacco rated	Classifies marijuana use as tobacco use regardless of frequency. Not the right carrier if you use marijuana and want non-tobacco rates.
Lincoln Financial	Non-tobacco eligible	tobacco rated	Up to twice per week may qualify for non-tobacco rates. Daily use is tobacco-rated. Smoked vs. non-smoked consumption may factor in.
Mutual of Omaha	tobacco rated	tobacco rated	Marijuana use of any frequency is classified as tobacco use. May still offer competitive tobacco-class rates for otherwise healthy applicants.

Guidelines current as of 2025–2026 and subject to change. Carrier underwriting decisions are made on a case-by-case basis.

The Cotinine Question

Many life insurance applications include a paramedical exam with urine and/or blood testing. Marijuana metabolites (THC-COOH) are detectable in urine for:

Occasional users (1–2×/week or less): 3–7 days

Moderate users (several times/week): 7–21 days

Daily users: 30–45 days or longer

Note that many carriers that allow non-tobacco rates for marijuana users do not require a negative THC test — they base classification on your disclosure of frequency. Always be accurate on your application. Misrepresentation is a grounds for claim denial during the contestability period.

Always Disclose — Here’s Why

It may be tempting to omit marijuana use from an application, especially if it’s not specifically asked. Don’t. Life insurers have access to medical records, prescription databases, and MIB records. If a claim is filed and marijuana use is discovered during the contestability period (first 2 years), the insurer can investigate and potentially deny the claim for material misrepresentation. The right approach is accurate disclosure combined with the right carrier.

Use Marijuana? Let’s Find You the Right Carrier.

The difference between the wrong and right carrier can mean tobacco vs. non-tobacco rates — a potential savings of 50%+. Tell us about your usage and we’ll find the best fit.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Can marijuana users get life insurance?

Yes. Marijuana use is insurable at most major carriers. The key question is whether the carrier classifies you as a smoker or non-smoker for rating purposes, and how frequently you use marijuana. Many carriers now offer non-smoker rates to occasional marijuana users, while others still classify all marijuana users as tobacco users.

Do marijuana users get smoker rates for life insurance?

It depends on the carrier. Some carriers offer non-smoker rates to occasional marijuana users (typically defined as using 2–4 times per month or less). Other carriers classify any marijuana use as tobacco use and apply smoker rates. An independent broker can identify which carriers are most favorable for your specific usage frequency.

Does life insurance test for marijuana?

Life insurance medical exams test urine and blood for THC metabolites. A positive test will be discovered and reported to underwriters. You should fully disclose marijuana use on your application — misrepresentation can result in a claim denial. Disclosing use accurately and applying to marijuana-friendly carriers typically produces a better outcome than non-disclosure.

Can I get life insurance with a medical marijuana card?

Yes. Having a medical marijuana card is not disqualifying. Underwriters evaluate the underlying medical condition the marijuana is treating as well as the marijuana use itself. The medical condition (chronic pain, anxiety, cancer) may factor into your rate class separately from the marijuana use.

How does CBD use affect life insurance applications?

Pure CBD products that contain no THC should not trigger a positive drug test for THC metabolites. However, some CBD products contain trace amounts of THC that can result in a positive test. Most underwriters do not specifically underwrite CBD use as a risk factor, but a positive THC test from CBD product contamination can complicate your application.

Life Insurance for Marijuana Users: Carrier Guidelines & How to Get Non-Smoker Rates