How to Get a Medical Marijuana Card in Pennsylvania in 2023
This article was originally published on Leafwell.
Medical marijuana was legalized in Pennsylvania in 2016 when Governor Tom Wolf signed Senate Bill 3. The act established a list of qualifying medical conditions and outlined a process for Pennsylvanian patient certifications.
Fast-forward two years, the first state-licensed dispensaries began selling marijuana products throughout the commonwealth in February 2018.
If you’re a Pennsylvania resident and are interested in getting your medical marijuana card, you’ve come to the right place. This article will explain everything you need to know about the state’s medical marijuana registry, which medical conditions qualify patients for medical marijuana certification, and how to navigate the new card application process.
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Benefits of Having a Medical Card in Pennsylvania
Applying for a Pennsylvania medical marijuana card is the only way state residents can purchase and consume cannabis legally. Recreational sales and home cultivation of cannabis remain illegal under Pennsylvania law.
Patients with a valid PA medical card may purchase up to a 30-day supply (amounts to be determined upon doctor consultation) of medical marijuana products.
Eligibility Requirements
Adults aged 18 and up diagnosed with at least one qualifying condition may be eligible to apply for a Pennsylvania medical marijuana card. First, they must register for a consultation with a state-licensed healthcare provider and get approved. With Leafwell, patients can complete this consultation online via telemedicine.
See below for a complete list of qualifying conditions and step-by-step instructions for the Pennsylvania medical marijuana card application process.
Can Minors Get a Medical Card in Pennsylvania?
According to the Pennsylvania Department of Health, patients under 18 may qualify for the state’s medical marijuana registry, but a caregiver must complete the application process on the minor patient’s behalf.
All minor patients must have a caregiver to be eligible for medical marijuana certification. If you are a caregiver for a minor but not the patient’s parent, legal guardian, or spouse, you should be designated as a third-party caregiver.
Qualifying Conditions
According to the Pennsylvania Department of Health, the following medical conditions may qualify new patients for the state’s medical marijuana registry:
Cancer, including remission therapy
Damage to the nervous tissue of the central nervous system (brain-spinal cord) with an objective neurological indication of intractable spasticity and other associated neuropathies
Dyskinetic and spastic movement disorders
Neurodegenerative diseases
Opioid use disorder for which conventional therapeutic interventions are contraindicated or ineffective or for which adjunctive therapy is indicated in combination with primary therapeutic interventions
Severe chronic or intractable pain of neuropathic origin or severe chronic or intractable pain
Terminal illness
How to Apply
Register on the Pennsylvania Medical Marijuana Program website.
You will be assigned a patient ID number during the registration process. You’ll need that number to make an appointment with Leafwell.
Register online with Leafwell and speak to one of our state-approved physicians.
Attend your telemedicine appointment. Speak to your certifying physician about your qualifying medical conditions, medical records, and why medical cannabis may be a good option. Ask questions and discuss any concerns you may have. Then our medical marijuana doctor will submit your patient certification directly to the state website.
Finish your application on the Pennsylvania state website.
Return to the state website and complete your application. Pennsylvania charges a $50 application fee, but patients who participate in Medicaid, PACE/PACENET, CHIP, SNAP, or WIC may be eligible for a fee reduction.
Receive your Pennsylvania medical marijuana card in the mail.
Once approved, it typically takes around seven days from the date you paid for your ID card to print it and 14 days for it to be delivered in the mail. Your card will be mailed to the address in your patient profile. You will need physical copies of your Pennsylvania medical marijuana card and state ID to purchase medical cannabis from dispensaries.
What You’ll Need
Pennsylvania residents interested in obtaining their PA medical card will need to prepare the following:
Basic patient information
Legal name
Current address
Contact information
State-issued identification
Pennsylvania driver’s license
ID card issued by the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation
Money for state fees
$50 payable to the state, but patients who participate in Medicaid, PACE/PACENET, CHIP, SNAP, or WIC may be eligible for a fee reduction
Costs
Online consultations with one of Leafwell’s Pennsylvania physicians are $149 for new patients and $99 for renewals.
The state also charges a $50 fee for medical marijuana ID cards. According to the Pennsylvania Department of Health, patients who participate in assistance programs such as Medicaid, PACE/PACENET, CHIP, SNAP, or WIC may qualify to have that $50 fee reduced to $0.
Medical Marijuana Reciprocity
Pennsylvania does not offer medical marijuana reciprocity to cardholders from other states with medical programs.
That said, other states accept or recognize out-of-state medical marijuana cards:
Arkansas *
Colorado ^
Hawaii *
Illinois ^
Maryland ^ (as of July 2023)
Michigan (qualifying state must also have reciprocity with Michigan)
Missouri ^
New Mexico * (recreational cannabis is legal in NM)
New York ^
Oklahoma *
Oregon ^
Pennsylvania (minors only)
Utah (max. 45 days, after which the patient must apply for a Utah MMJ card)
Vermont ^
Virginia ^
States marked with * require visitors to complete a visiting patient application for their stay.
States marked with ^ have adult use programs but do not accept out-of-state cards.
Applying as a Caregiver
According to the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, a caregiver can pick up medical marijuana at a dispensary on a patient’s behalf. Each patient can designate up to two caregivers, and all minor patients must have a caregiver.
Caregivers must submit a separate application for their medical marijuana caregiver card. To qualify as a medical marijuana caregiver in Pennsylvania, caregivers must:
Be at least 21
Be Pennsylvania residents
Have a valid Pennsylvania driver’s license or a state-issued ID card (with current address)
Complete a criminal history background check
Not have been convicted of a criminal offense related to the sale or possession of drugs, narcotics, or a controlled substance in the last five years
Register and obtain an ID card that will allow them to pick up medical marijuana at a Pennsylvania dispensary
Note: It can take up to six weeks after your fingerprint appointment to receive an answer regarding your caregiver application status. Medical marijuana caregiver cards cost $50 and must be renewed annually with the state.
Where to Buy Medical Marijuana
The Pennsylvania Department of Health maintains a list of licensed Pennsylvania dispensaries on its website. Patients with valid MMJ cards can purchase medical marijuana products from any dispensary in the commonwealth.
Cultivation
Cannabis cultivation is not permitted under Pennsylvania law, including for medical marijuana patients with valid medical marijuana ID cards.
Pennsylvania Medical Marijuana Laws to Know
Below, you’ll find a few need-to-know medical marijuana laws enforced in Pennsylvania. Check out our Pennsylvania law page for more in-depth coverage of the state’s laws.
Medical cannabis patients may purchase and possess up to a 30-day supply of medical marijuana products with a valid medical card.
It is illegal to purchase or consume cannabis for recreational use in Pennsylvania.
Cannabis cultivation is illegal in Pennsylvania, including for medical marijuana patients.
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