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Pennsylvania’s full rollout of its medical cannabis program should begin in 2017, about eight months after it was approved by the state lawmakers and signed by the governor. About 50 licenses are supposed to have been issued to medical marijuana dispensaries so qualified patients can start purchasing their recommended dosages locally. Physicians can take the first steps to participating in the Pennsylvania Medical Marijuana Program by completing the Practitioner Registry. Governor Wolf announced in November 2017 that the state is committed to having medical marijuana available to patients in 2018.
In November 2017, the Pennsylvania Department of Health approved five practitioners from Delaware County to begin prescribing medical marijuana to patients after dispensaries go live. In total, 100 physicians across the state and 18 physicians across Delaware, Chester, and Montgomery counties will be able to recommend medical marijuana to patients with qualifying conditions.
As of May 17, 2018, Governor Wolf added the following conditions as part of a temporary regulation for universities to research the effectiveness of medical marijuana:
Under Pennsylvania law, a condition must be approved in order for research to be conducted.
Pennsylvania Program Details
Pennsylvania Department of Health
Phone: 1-877-PA-HEALTH
Website: www.health.gov/medicalmarijuana
Note from State, on sources for medical marijuana
“The department may not initially issue permits to more than 50 dispensaries. Each dispensary may provide medical marijuana at no more than three separate locations,” Senate Bill 3 [April 12, 2016]
* Please note: Complete program details are pending the establishment, of the state program. The Pennsylvania Patient Registry application fee is $50.
* The Pennsylvania Patient Registry is mandatory — it is still unknown whether the state will accept out-of-state registry ID cards.
On April 12, 2016, Senate Bill 3 was approved by the Senate 42-7, and by the House 149-46 on April 13, 2016; and was signed into law by Pennsylvania Governor Tom Wolf (D) on April 17, 2016. Senate Bill 3 effectively removes all state-level criminal penalties on the use, possession and cultivation of marijuana by patients who possess a signed recommendation from their physician stating that marijuana “may mitigate” his/her debilitating medical symptoms.
The Pennsylvania Department of Health has been instructed on how to establish and implement the state’s Medical Marijuana Program — implementation is expected to take between 18-24 months.
Qualified patients with physician’s recommendations, must register with the state DOH — once registered, the patient will receive a Pennsylvania medical marijuana identification card. Patients issued with registry I.D. cards may purchase medical marijuana from an authorized state-licensed medical marijuana dispensary.
Currently, the following conditions qualify patients for medical marijuana recommendations in the state of Pennsylvania:
As per Pennsylvania’s medical marijuana law, “medical marijuana may only be dispensed to a patient or caregiver in the following forms: (i) pill; (ii) oil; (iii) topical forms, including gel, creams or ointments; (iv) a form medically appropriate for administration by vaporization or nebulization, excluding dry leaf or plant form… (v) tincture; or (vi) liquid. Unless otherwise provided in regulations adopted by the department under section 1202, medical marijuana may not be dispensed to a patient or a caregiver in dry leaf or plant form.”
* Please note: Smoking is NOT an approved method of delivery, as per SB 3.
The State of Pennsylvania has a legalized medical marijuana program, which allows patients to receive a medical marijuana recommendation from a certified physician, and apply for a state-issued Pennsylvania Medical Marijuana Card, permitting the patient to purchase marijuana for medicinal use, as per Pennsylvania state guidelines.
Since the Pennsylvania medical marijuana program is still changing their laws and new Pennsylvania medical marijuana laws are being enacted on a regular basis, please be sure to visit our site frequently to get the most updated laws as it pertains to the Pennsylvania medical marijuana program. Please click a corresponding link to find out more about Pennsylvania’s Medical Marijuana Program. We have compiled the following Pennsylvania medical marijuana index of information to serve as a medical library to our users for legal reference of Pennsylvania’s laws, guidelines and program details regarding medical cannabis use in Pennsylvania.
Please note: In order to become a legal medical marijuana patient you must first have a qualifying condition as outlined by the department of health services and/or department of justice. For a comprehensive list of Pennsylvania’s qualifying medical marijuana conditions, please visit our qualifying conditions section located on the top of our menu under “legal states”.
Find out Who Qualifies for Marijuana in Pennsylvania in our definitive guide to Pennsylvania’s qualification guidelines. Read up on medical conditions that are covered under Pennsylvania’s medical marijuana program, age restrictions, criminal conviction restrictions, and more. Our detailed guide has all the important information that will help you to know how to get a proper diagnosis and certification from a licensed doctor. You will also get details on regulations for caregivers who want to purchase medicine for their children.
View our detailed compilation of Pennsylvania’s Full Medical Marijuana Laws. This carefully arranged resource will help you understand the laws that control sale, prescription, possession, cultivation, distribution and use of marijuana in Pennsylvania. This will enable you to comply with established rules and avoid being penalized for wrong use or possession of your medication.
Discover all the vital facts about applying for and receiving the Pennsylvania Medical Marijuana Card that shows you’re qualified to buy, possess and use approved quantities of medical marijuana. Follow our guide that leads you from one stage of the process to another. This card will protect you from harassment, arrest or prosecution by law enforcement officers.
Our list of Medical Marijuana Facts will help you separate the facts from the myths in PA’s state program. Find out the truth from the leading source in marijuana education.
You need to obtain a diagnosis and written statement about your medical condition from a physician licensed in Pennsylvania in order to use medical marijuana. That’s why we’ve created a system to help you search for a doctor that has an office near your residence:
At MarijuanaDoctors.com, we’re committed to helping you locate the best dispensaries close to your home. We maintain an ever-growing list of approved, reputable medical marijuana dispensaries in Pennsylvania.
The dispensaries we recommend are managed by competent pharmacists and employees who know the best strains of cannabis that can be used to treat each qualified condition. Use the details we provide to contact the dispensary and book an appointment or place an order and get it delivered later.
Finally, a helpful & informative website! MarijuanaDoctors.com answered all of my medical marijuana questions and helped me schedule an appointment with an accredited doctor in my area.~Susan - Denver, CO
