Legal status
- Medical Program
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Application process
Once you have registered with Leafwell and been approved by one of our medical marijuana doctors online, apply to the state medical marijuana program. Receive your MMJ card and start shopping for your medical cannabis from a licensed dispensary.
Only medical cannabis is legal in Pennsylvania. Adult use of cannabis is illegal, and Philadelphia has decriminalized cannabis, but it is still illegal.
2016
“An Act establishing a medical marijuana program; providing for the patient and caregiver certification and medical marijuana organization registration; imposing duties on the Department of Health; providing for a tax on medical marijuana organization gross receipts; establishing the Medical Marijuana Program Fund; establishing the Medical Marijuana Advisory Board; establishing a medical marijuana research program; imposing duties on the Department of Corrections, the Department of Education and the Department of Human Services; and providing for academic clinical research centers and penalties and enforcement.”
Recreational, adult-use marijuana is currently illegal in Pennsylvania, although there is some appetite for legalization. Several cities, such as Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, State College, York, and Harrisburg, have decriminalized cannabis possession – generally up to 30 grams, although some cities may have slightly lower personal possession limits. Fines ranging from $25 to $100 are also instituted.
The Pennsylvania law lists the following medical conditions as qualifiers for a medical cannabis card:
With Leafwell, you can get your Pennsylvania Medical Marijuana Card in 4 simple steps:
You must be 18 or older to get an MMJ card in Pennsylvania. Those under 18 years old must have a caregiver, and Caregivers must be 21 or over. You cannot be a caregiver if you have been convicted of a criminal offense relating to the sale or possession of drugs, narcotics, or controlled substances within the last five years. Caregivers may provide care for up to five patients.
The Pennsylvania Medical Marijuana Act allows parents to come to school to administer medical cannabis to their children if necessary. The school shall provide a secure and private location for the parent/legal guardian/caregiver to administer the medical marijuana to the student.
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Yes, telemedicine is legal in Pennsylvania, and you can get certified for cannabis online.
It is illegal to grow cannabis in Pennsylvania, even with a valid medical marijuana certificate and card.
Pennsylvania does not have medical marijuana reciprocity and does not recognize medical marijuana cards from out-of-state.
A Pennsylvania medical marijuana card is valid in some states with medical marijuana reciprocity.
The following states accept or recognize out-of-state medical marijuana cards:
However, this does not always mean you can purchase cannabis at a medical marijuana dispensary (non-medical adult use is acceptable) – just that the state’s medical marijuana laws protect you to some extent. It is wise to call the dispensary ahead if you are a medical cannabis patient from another state and intend to purchase medical marijuana.
The qualifying condition usually has to match between states, so if your qualifying condition is accepted in one state and not your visiting state, your recommendation is not necessarily valid. You are also accountable to the visiting state’s medical marijuana laws, not the state that issued your card.
The following states accept out-of-state applications, allowing visiting patient application to use medical cannabis for the duration of their stay:
Pennsylvania’s law does not require employers to “make any accommodation of the use of medical marijuana on the property or premises of any place of employment.” Employers can discipline you for using medical marijuana in the workplace or for being “under the influence” of cannabis.
Medical cannabis in Pennsylvania must be tested for cannabinoid content, terpenes, pesticides, residual solvents, heavy metals, moisture content & water activity, and microbiological testing (bacteria, fungi, mold, mildew).
In all states with a medical marijuana program, the only way to purchase medicinal cannabis products is via a legally-licensed dispensary or pharmacy or another legally designated space to buy cannabis. Only those with a legal license to sell cannabis can do so.
All states with a medical marijuana program have some restrictions on where a person can legally use cannabis. Near schools, nurseries, parks, or other places where children are expected to be, using cannabis is illegal. Use of cannabis on or in federal land or buildings, hospitals, or other such healthcare space is also illegal. Private members’ clubs and landowners may also prohibit cannabis use on their property or restrict it at their discretion.
The safest place to use medical cannabis is in the safety of your own home. It is wise to use common sense, generally keep consumption out of public view, and utilize discreet consumption methods wherever possible.