The Complete Guide to Cannabis in Philadelphia

Before you can enjoy the benefits of medical cannabis in Philadelphia, it’s important to know the local rules and regulations so you can do it legally.

Recreational cannabis is still illegal in Philadelphia, but we’ll fill you in on all the essential details so you can understand the local laws, get your medical cannabis card, and purchase and consume cannabis easily and responsibly.

Key Takeaways

Legal age: You must be at least 18 years old to purchase and consume medical cannabis. Minors with a serious medical condition and parental or legal guardian consent may also get medical marijuana through a registered caregiver who is 21+.
Purchase Limits: Legally, you can possess a 90-day supply of medical topicals, edibles, oils, tinctures, or dry cannabis flower for vaporization.
Consumption Rules: Public consumption of recreational or medical cannabis is prohibited by law. Plan to use medical cannabis only in the privacy of your home, but check your landlord’s policies first if you’re renting.
Approved Dispensaries: Patients must buy medical marijuana products from a licensed dispensary.

If and when you’re ready to become a registered medical cannabis patient in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, here’s everything you need to know to streamline the process and ensure you’re following the local laws.

Everything to know

cannabis laws by state

What are the cannabis laws in Pennsylvania?

Medical cannabis is legal in Pennsylvania. The Pennsylvania Medical Marijuana Program was created with the passing of the Pennsylvania Medical Marijuana Act (Act 16) on April 17, 2016, and allows Pennsylvania residents ages 18+ with approved serious medical conditions to possess and use a limited amount of cannabis.

Minors with qualifying medical conditions and consent from a parent or legal guardian can also get medical cannabis through a registered caregiver. Recreational cannabis is still illegal in Pennsylvania.

Under the Medical Marijuana Act, medical cannabis patients can legally possess a 90-day supply of topicals, edibles, oils, tinctures, or dry cannabis flower for vaporization.

Smoking cannabis flower, however, is illegal in Pennsylvania. That means you can’t light dry cannabis flower with a flame and smoke it.

Instead, you must consume it via a vaporizer. Consuming CBD and other minor cannabinoids made from hemp-derived CBD, including delta-8 THC and HHC, is legal in Pennsylvania.

To consume medical cannabis in Pennsylvania, patients must register with the Pennsylvania Medical Marijuana Program Registry and obtain a certification from an approved Pennsylvania cannabis doctor. All medical marijuana products must also be purchased from an authorized state-licensed dispensary.

It’s a federal crime to transport cannabis products across state lines, so Pennsylvania residents cannot take any medical cannabis products they’ve legally purchased to other states or bring any cannabis products back into the state. Similarly, medical marijuana cardholders from other states cannot legally buy medical cannabis products in Pennsylvania.

Currently, cultivating cannabis is illegal in Pennsylvania. Any home growing of cannabis plants is a felony punishable by up to five years in prison and a $15,000 fine.

Cannabis laws in Philadelphia

In the city of Philadelphia, you can legally use, possess, or purchase medical cannabis with a doctor’s certificate and a valid medical marijuana card.

Recreational cannabis is illegal in Philadelphia, but, like several other local jurisdictions, the city has decriminalized cannabis.

That means if you’re caught with small amounts of marijuana (about one ounce or less), you won’t be arrested or have a criminal record, but you’ll be issued a civil violation notice (CVN) and required to pay a fine.

On the contrary, if you consume, possess, sell, or distribute cannabis products outside of Philadelphia in areas where recreational cannabis has not been decriminalized, you can still get arrested and face harsh penalties like jail time.

In Philadelphia, it’s also illegal to consume any cannabis products in public spaces. Many rental properties have no-smoking policies, which may affect where patients can legally consume their medical cannabis products.

Qualifying conditions

To apply for a medical cannabis card in Philadelphia, you must have one or more of these qualifying conditions:

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), aka Lou Gehrig’s disease
Anxiety disorders
Autism
Cancer
Chronic Hepatitis C
Crohn’s disease
Damage to the nervous tissue of the central nervous system (brain-spinal cord)
Dyskinetic and spastic movement disorders
Epilepsy
Glaucoma
HIV/AIDS
Huntington’s disease
Inflammatory bowel disease
Intractable seizures
Multiple sclerosis
Neurodegenerative diseases
Neuropathies
Opioid use disorder
Parkinson’s disease
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
Severe chronic or intractable neuropathic pain
Chronic pain
Sickle cell anemia
Terminal illness
Tourette syndrome

How to Get a Medical Cannabis Card in Philadelphia

closeup hand holding MMJ card

Any Pennsylvania resident who has been diagnosed with one of the approved medical conditions above may be able to participate in the medical cannabis program.

To get a valid medical cannabis card, patients must register with the Medical Marijuana Registry and get a certification from an approved doctor.

The certification confirms they have a health condition and that medical cannabis may be beneficial for treatment.

After that, patients can legally buy, possess, and use medical cannabis products purchased from a licensed dispensary.

Here’s the step-by-step process to get a medical cannabis card in Philadelphia:

Register with the Pennsylvania Medical Marijuana Program. Individuals must register online through the Pennsylvania Department of Health and have a valid email address and Pennsylvania driver’s license or state-issued ID. Any resident aged 18+ may register for themselves, while a minor under 18 will need a caregiver to register on their behalf. Caregivers must be at least 21 years old. Patient numbers are assigned immediately upon registration.

See an approved doctor. Individuals suffering from one of the qualifying medical conditions listed above can get a certification from a doctor to legally participate in Pennsylvania’s Medical Marijuana Program. Leafwell makes it easy to connect to an approved Philadelphia cannabis doctor and complete a virtual assessment to determine if a patient qualifies for certification.

Pay for the medical card. If approved, the doctor will submit the certification to the state of Pennsylvania, and the medical marijuana patient can pay the annual state registration fee online through the Pennsylvania Department of Health, where they initially registered for the program. A Pennsylvania medical card costs $50, although individuals who participate in certain government programs may qualify for a free medical marijuana ID card. The patient’s card should arrive in 1-2 weeks after payment.

Purchase medical cannabis products. With a valid medical marijuana ID card and state-issued ID or Pennsylvania driver’s license, patients can visit any medical Philadelphia dispensary or other licensed dispensaries in Pennsylvania to purchase their medical cannabis products.

Where to Consume Cannabis in Philadelphia

person smoking joint on green background

Public use of medical cannabis is strictly prohibited in Philadelphia, including in places like parks, restaurants, on city streets, and public transportation.

Medical cannabis consumption is also not permitted while driving. Driving under the influence of cannabis in Pennsylvania or Philadelphia is illegal. It can have significant legal consequences, like fines of up to $5,000 and up to six months of imprisonment, similar to driving under the influence of alcohol.

Pennsylvania employers are not required to accommodate medical cannabis use, so patients will need to refer to their employers’ drug policies. School policies also vary when it comes to the administration of medical marijuana on school property.

The best place to consume medical cannabis in Philadelphia is at a private residence. However, some landlords have policies against cannabis use on their rental properties, so if you rent, it’s best to check your lease before consuming any medical cannabis products there.

Local Brands/Producers

Here are a few of our favorite Philadelphia and Pennsylvania-based cannabis brands and producers:

Products Only Available in Philadelphia and Pennsylvania

cannabis topical cream

Medical cannabis patients can find many products available nationwide in Pennsylvania. However, some THC-containing cannabis products are only available in Philadelphia and Pennsylvania due to local and state laws. Here are some of our favorite local brands: