For many serious illnesses, medical marijuana is considered a safer and generally less debilitating alternative to most related pharmaceuticals. You may be eligible to use medical marijuana if you suffer from any of the following symptoms or conditions:
- AIDS, HIV Infection
- Cancer
- Sever Chronic Pain
- Severe Nausea
- Spinal Cord Injury
- Spinal Cord Disease
- Multiple Sclerosis
- Muscle Spasms
- Cachexia
- Arthritis
- Epilepsy
- Glaucoma
- Tourette’s syndrome
- Depression
- Sleep Disorders
See official Health Canada regulations below
If you believe you are eligible to use medical marijuana, you can apply with Health Canada to join the MMAR program. The application process involves several forms for you and your doctor to fill out.
We can guide you through the application process and provide answers to any questions you may have.
If you feel you are eligible and would like more detailed background information on medical marijuana to present to your doctor or health care provider, you can refer them to the Medical Info section of this site or the Information for Health Care Professionals on the Health Canada website.
Official Health Canada Regulations
The official Health Canada Regulations for eligibility “outline two categories of people who can apply to possess marihuana for medical purposes.”
Category 1: This category is comprised of any symptoms treated within the context of providing compassionate end-of-life care; or the symptoms associated with the specified medical conditions listed in the schedule to the Regulations, namely:
- Severe pain and/or persistent muscle spasms from multiple sclerosis;
- Severe pain and/or persistent muscle spasms from a spinal cord injury;
- Severe pain and/or persistent muscle spasms from spinal cord disease;
- Severe pain, cachexia, anorexia, weight loss, and/or severe nausea from cancer;
- Severe pain, cachexia, anorexia, weight loss, and/or severe nausea from HIV/AIDS infection;
- Severe pain from severe forms of arthritis; or
- Seizures from epilepsy.
Category 2: This category is for applicants who have debilitating symptom(s) of medical condition(s), other than those described in Category 1. Under Category 2, persons with debilitating symptoms can apply to obtain an Authorization to Possess dried marihuana for medical purposes, if a specialist confirms the diagnosis and that conventional treatments have failed or judged inappropriate to relieve symptoms of the medical condition. While an assessment of the applicant’s case by a specialist is required, the treating physician, whether or not a specialist, can sign the medical declaration.
