How Can you Obtain Pennsylvania Medical Marijuana?

Updated on February 10, 2021

As one of the only current States to legally provide medical marijuana, Pennsylvania’s medical marijuana program offers many patients access to medical marijuana. For patients with specific medical conditions, this is a life-altering protocol. This article guides you through the process of getting medical marijuana providing facts and relevant information about places, people, times, dates, processes, and procedures. To learn more about pa medical marijuana, continue reading our guide below;

Medical Marijuana in Pennsylvania

On April 6, 2016, medical marijuana was legalized in Pennsylvania by Governor Tom Wolf. Nearly two years later, on February 15, 2018, patients with severe medical conditions were provided with the medical-relief they required as dispensaries across the commonwealth had medical marijuana made available to them.

How To Get Medical Marijuana In PA

There are four basic steps required to get medical marijuana through Pennsylvania’s program:

  1. Register yourself for the program via the Medical Marijuana Registry.
  2. Ask a physician to certify that you suffer from one of the medical conditions that qualify for medical marijuana.
  3. Apply for a medical marijuana ID card.
  4. You can now receive medical marijuana from an approved dispensary in Pennsylvania.

To register for the medical marijuana program, you must have a Pennsylvania driver’s license or an ID card issued by the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation. 

Approved physicians will submit their certifications directly to the system and access the Medical Marijuana Registry upon their enlistment. Medical marijuana ID cards application cost $50. Reductions are available for eligible patients who participate in assistance programs like Medicaid, PACE/PACENET, CHIP, SNAP, and WIC.

What Medical Conditions Qualify For Medical Marijuana in PA

Pennsylvania’s medical marijuana program supports patients suffering from one of the following medical conditions :

  • Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.
  • Anxiety disorders.
  • Autism.
  • Cancer, including remission therapy.
  • Crohn’s disease.
  • Damage to the nervous tissue of the central nervous system 
  • Epilepsy.
  • Glaucoma.
  • HIV / AIDS.
  • Huntington’s disease.
  • Inflammatory bowel disease.
  • Intractable seizures.
  • Multiple sclerosis.
  • Neurodegenerative diseases.
  • Neuropathies.
  • Parkinson’s disease.
  • Post-traumatic stress disorder.
  • Severe chronic or intractable pain of neuropathic origin or severe chronic or intractable pain.
  • Sickle cell anemia.
  • Terminal illness.
  • Tourette syndrome.

Renewing A Medical Marijuana Registration

Before your annual payment is due, you will receive an email with directions on renewal as a prompt. The expiration date on the current ID card will give you a rough idea of when to check for this email, as it will be sent around a week before this date. If the payment is not received by that date, The ID card will automatically be deactivated. The card is immediately reactivated once you log in and pay the annual fee.

Caregivers Registration For Medical Marijuana 

All caregivers must complete a background check before being approved and must register for the medical marijuana program. You are required to have a registered caregiver if you are under 18 years old. Caregivers can be friends, spouses, or parents and can be designated to assist you in obtaining medical marijuana when you complete your application.

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