How to Get a Medical Marijuana Card in Pennsylvania in 3 Easy Steps

Photo by Paul Frendach

Is Medical Marijuana Legal in Pennsylvania?

Yes, medical marijuana is legal in Pennsylvania for qualified registered cardholders. There are state requirements for obtaining and using medical marijuana that will be reviewed in this post. Recreational cannabis is still not legal in Pennsylvania and time will tell if that will change in the Keystone state.

Marijuana legislation can be intimidating and state laws can be confusing so this post will breakdown the state laws and also simplify the medical marijuana process for you. After all, medical marijuana is legal in Pennsylvania but recreational cannabis is not. Cannabis is decriminalized in some major cities but there’s also a zero tolerance policy for THC in your system when driving. Understanding the nuances of these laws can keep you safe but also let you know your rights.

If you’re curious about medical marijuana, Green Health Docs is on deck to help simplify the process for you. Before reviewing how to get your medical marijuana card in PA let’s quickly explore the evolution of Pennsylvania’s marijuana laws.

 

The Evolution of PA Weed Laws

Before exploring the current state of Pennsylvania cannabis laws in 2024 let’s quickly review where it all began and where it is headed.

In September 2014, Philadelphia first decriminalized cannabis. Decriminalization is not quite legalization but often a first step and downgrades cannabis possession from a felony or misdemeanor to a civil infraction. In this case, possession of up to 30 grams of cannabis is punishable by a $25 fine for first time offenders.

In December 2015, Pittsburgh followed suit. Harrisburg, State College, York, Erie, Allentown, Bethlehem, Lancaster, Steelton, Delaware County, Carlisle, Doylestown all passed similar laws in the years following medical marijuana legalization. While not legalization, it does help avoid heavy prosecution of cannabis crimes.

On April 17, 2016, Governor Tom Wolf signed Senate Bill 3 which legalized prescribing non-smokable forms of cannabis for medicinal use. The first sales did not begin until February 15, 2018. In that first year, dispensaries sold $57 million of medical marijuana.

House Bill 163 was signed into law on October 24, 2018 and repealed what was commonly called the “Smoke a joint, lose your license” law where possession of cannabis or any other illegal drug was punished with a mandatory six month driver’s license suspension.

Currently, recreational cannabis remains illegal in Pennsylvania. However, cannabis can open up states to an entire new economy and a huge influx of tax funding. In 2023 medical marijuana dispensaries brought in $1.5 billion in sales.

The delay can often be with establishing the proper infrastructure, Governor Josh Shapiro even factored potentially legalizing cannabis into his proposed budget suggesting a 20% tax on recreational cannabis.

There is bipartisan support with a bill being proposed by the Pennsylvania House of Representatives and another bill currently stalled in the Senate. Realistically, it’s a matter of when not if cannabis will be legalized in Pennsylvania.

Some potential delays include voter attitudes and making sure to properly give restitution to people affected by cannabis based crimes. A major push for decriminalization and legalization has been many cannabis laws targeted based on race so when opening up legal recreational sales there’s an effort to give back to the people who were penalized.

Time will tell but Pennsylvania residents do have a voice and can reach out to their local representatives to advocate for recreational legislation. In the meantime, medical marijuana is readily available. Let’s review the requirements and limitations.

Photo by Maik Poblocki

Pennsylvania Medical Marijuana Card Requirements & Limitations:

In Pennsylvania medical marijuana is available to anyone with a qualifying condition who registers for the medical marijuana program. For minors, they must submit a caregiver who will legally obtain and administer the medical marijuana on their behalf.

What Conditions Qualify for Medical Marijuanas in PA?

Medical marijuana is reserved for what have been deemed “serious medical conditions” often called qualifying conditions under the law. In Pennsylvania these include:

• Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis
• Anxiety Disorders
• Autism
• Cancer, Including Remission Therapy
• Chronic Hepatitis C
• Crohn’s Disease
• Damage to the nervous tissue/Central Nervous System (brain-spinal cord) with objective neurological indication of intractable spasticity, and other associated neuropathies
• Dyskinetic and Spastic Movement Disorders
• Epilepsy
• Glaucoma
• HIV/ AIDS
• Huntington’s Disease
• Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBS)
• Intractable Seizures
• Multiple Sclerosis (MS)
• Neurodegenerative Diseases
• Neuropathies
• Opioid Use Disorder
• Parkinson’s Disease
• Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
• Severe Chronic Or Intractable Pain Of Neuropathic Origin, Severe, Chronic, Or Intractable Pain
• Sickle Cell Anemia
• Terminal Illness
• Tourette Syndrome

How to Apply for a Medical Marijuana Card in Pennsylvania

Green Health Docs makes it easy to get started by finding you a qualifying doctor and helping you through the process.

1. Register Online with the Pennsylvania Medical Marijuana Program

Once you do you will instantly get a patient ID number.

2. Find a Doctor with Green Health Docs

Fill out this form or call/text 240-356-1000 and you can schedule a telehealth appointment even within 15 minutes.

3. See an Approved Practitioner

During your telemedicine or in-person visit a doctor will see if you qualify for medical marijuana. If approved, your patient ID number will be activated the same day.

4. Request Your Medical Marijuana ID Card.

Login to your Pennsylvania Department of Health online portal to request and pay for your ID card. It usually takes 7-10 days to arrive in the mail.

Once these three steps are complete you can visit a dispensary and legally purchase medical marijuana in Pennsylvania. It can take 7-11 business days from the date you’re approved by a provider.

Photo by Trev W. Adams

Pennsylvania Medical Marijuana Card FAQs

This section will cover any lingering questions you may have about getting your medical card in PA.

Can You Grow Medical Weed In PA?

Currently, it’s not legal for medical marijuana cardholders to grow their own cannabis. In some states, medical patients can own and maintain their own cannabis plants and this could potentially be added to any legislation passing recreational cannabis. Occasionally after recreational legalization, there are more rights afforded to medical card holders.

Does PA Accept Out-Of-State Medical Cards?

Currently, Pennsylvania does not accept out-of-state medical marijuana cards or offer reciprocity. There is one exception in the case of minors where they can potentially be administered cannabis that was purchased legally outside of state.

Can I Use My PA Medical Card In Another State?

You can use your Pennsylvania medical marijuana card in any state that offers reciprocity. These laws can vary and change. In states with legalized recreational cannabis you clearly won’t need your card but you’ll have to check if you are able to use your medical marijuana card to skirt some of the heavy taxes.

Some states that offer reciprocity to Pennsylvania card holders include:

• Arizona
• Hawaii
• Louisiana
• Nevada
• New Jersey
• New Mexico
• Washington DC
• Oklahoma
• Puerto Rico

How Old Do You Have To Be To Get A Medical Marijuanas Card In PA?

You have to be 18 years old to get your own medical marijuana card in Pennsylvania. However, minors can legally access medical marijuana if their parent or guardian registers as a caregiver.

Can You Smoke Medical Marijuana In PA?

Currently, it is not legal to smoke medical marijuana in Pennsylvania. All of the forms of cannabis legally available are meant to be administered without smoking including cannabis flower which is available to vaporize.

This is important to keep in mind because if you are caught smoking cannabis, while in some areas it’s decriminalized, you’re not within your right to be smoking it at all.

Final Thoughts

Pennsylvania has had medical marijuana available since 2018 so by now the process of getting your medical marijuana card in PA can be quick and easy. Green Health Docs makes this process even simpler. Time will tell if Pennsylvania lawmakers and voters legalize recreational cannabis which could potentially shift some of the regulations governing medical marijuana and open up the state to a big boon to the economy.

 

This article has been reviewed by Dr. Anand Dugar, an anesthesiologist, pain medicine physician and the founder of Green Health Docs. Graduating from medical school in 2004 and residency in 2008, Dr. Dugar has been a licensed physician for almost 20 years and has been leading the push for medical cannabis nationwide.