Under the new regulations, those who fall into one of three categories can apply for an Authorization to Possess marijuana for medical purposes. Holders of this authorization may possess a maximum 30-day treatment supply of marijuana at any given time.
Category 1: This category is for applicants who have terminal illnesses with a prognosis of a life span of less than 12 months.
Category 2: This category is for applicants who suffer from specific symptoms associated with certain serious medical conditions, namely:
* Multiple Sclerosis: severe pain and/or persistent muscle spasms
* Spinal Cord Injury: severe pain and/or persistent muscle spasms
* Spinal Cord Disease: severe pain and/or persistent muscle spasms
* Cancer: severe pain, cachexia, anorexia, weight loss, and/or severe nausea
* AIDS/HIV infection: severe pain, cachexia, anorexia, weight loss, and/or severe nausea
* Severe forms of Arthritis: severe pain
* Epilepsy: seizures
Category 3: This category is for applicants who have symptoms associated with a serious medical condition, other than those described in Categories 1 and 2, where among other things conventional treatments have failed to relieve symptoms of the medical condition or its treatment.