Blair County Cannabis – Is It Legal & Where To Buy 2025

Is Cannabis Cultivation Legal in Blair County?

Yes, it is legal in Blair County per Act 16 of 2016 of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Also known as the Medical Marijuana Act, this act authorizes the Department of Health (DOH) to issue permits to medical marijuana organizations. Growers/Processors and Dispensaries with permits are allowed to grow, process, or dispense medical marijuana, respectively. However, no Growers/Processors operated in the county as of July 2023, as the DOH may only grant a permit to 25 Growers/Processors.

At a minimum, Growers/Processors permit applicants must provide the DOH with the following:

• Capacity to implement adequate security and control measures to prevent theft, abuse, and illegal activities
• Compliance with municipality zoning requirements
• Diversity plan
• An initial non-refundable fee worth $10,000
• A permit fee worth $200,000, which is refundable for unsuccessful applications
• Proof of capital worth $2 million, $500,000 of which must be deposited in a financial institution

Successful applicants must complete a two-hour training course provided by the DOH. Under Section 702 of Act 16 of 2016, medical marijuana may only be grown, stored, harvested, or processed in an indoor, enclosed facility. The facility must be secured with electronic locking systems and continuous video surveillance to prevent unauthorized access. Seeds or immature medical marijuana plants may be obtained by Growers/Processors outside the Commonwealth within 30 days of operation or an additional 30-day window as approved by the DOH. All obtained seeds or immature medical marijuana plants must be recorded in the electronic tracking system within 24 hours of receipt. Pesticides may be used if the Department of Agriculture approves it and if it complies with the Pennsylvania Pesticide Control Act of 1973.

The adult use of marijuana remained illegal in the county as of July 2023. Additionally, it is unlawful for Blair County residents to cultivate medical marijuana in their residences.

Is Cannabis Manufacturing Legal in Blair County?

Yes, although the county does not have a Growers/Processors permittee as of July 2023. Following the Commonwealth’s Act 16 of 2016, Growers/Processors may process and manufacture medical marijuana plants into pills, oils, topicals, vapes, tinctures, and liquids. Pharmaceutical-grade excipients must be used at all times unless approved by the DOH. Any other substances that will be used to alter the dosage level, appearance, smell, taste, and weight of medical marijuana products must also be approved by the DOH.

Chapter 1151 of the Pennsylvania Bulletin requires Growers/Processors to have a plan of operation, including the process for receiving, growing, processing, packaging, labeling, tracking, transporting, storing, disposing, and recalling medical marijuana.

Medical marijuana plants to be processed must be free of seeds, stems, foreign matter, and unacceptable levels of molds, rot, or bacterial diseases. These must be manufactured safely and in a sanitary manner:

• Use a food-grade stainless steel bench or table.
• Maintain proper sanitation.
• Practice appropriate rodent, bird, and pest exclusion techniques.

Growers/Processors must also meet packaging and labeling requirements set by the DOH. A child-resistant, tamper-proof, opaque, and resealable packaging with a unique identifier must be utilized to store medical marijuana products. Labels should be readable, weather-resistant, and tamper-resistant. It must include details such as the (1) permit details of the Grower/Processor, (2) form, quantity, and weight of medical marijuana per package, (3) single dose THC and CBD content of the medical marijuana in milligrams, (4) packaging and expiration date, (5) directions for storage, (6) warning labels, and (7) details of the dispensary.

Is Cannabis Retail Legal in Blair County?

Yes. As of July 2023, Blair County medical marijuana patients may obtain medical marijuana products from dispensaries in Altoona and Duncansville. Extracts, flowers, tinctures, topicals, vapes, and ingestible are available for retail. Edibles are illegal as of July 2023 but may change once Senate Bill No. 538 is enacted.

Dispensaries must operate 1,000 feet from schools, and their location must be separate from the site of a Grower/Processor facility. A physician, pharmacist, physician assistant, or certified registered nurse practitioner must be available in person or in synchronous interaction during a dispensary's business hours. Their responsibilities include verifying patient certifications and consulting patients or caregivers before dispensing medical marijuana products.

Dispensaries may only dispense medical marijuana products to holders of a valid medical marijuana ID card. This should be validated through the electronic tracking system before dispensing. Only when a patient or caregiver has used up all but a 7-day supply of medical marijuana units may the dispensary dispense an additional 90 days' worth of medical marijuana product, or 192 medical marijuana units, to the patient or caregiver. Only the recommended form or dosage of medical marijuana may be purchased, as stated in the patient’s certification.

Is Cannabis Delivery Legal in Blair County?

Chapter 1161a of the Pennsylvania Code prohibits dispensaries from delivering medical marijuana products to the residence of a patient or caregiver. On June 30, 2021, curbside delivery was allowed after Act 16 of 2016 was amended by Act 44 of 2021.

Through curbside delivery, dispensary employees could leave the facility to collect the patient’s or caregiver’s valid medical marijuana ID from their vehicle parked outside the dispensary. The transaction will be processed inside the dispensary, and purchased medical marijuana products will be delivered to the vehicle. The DOH must approve curbside delivery protocols.

How to Get Medical Marijuana Card in Blair County

To qualify for the Pennsylvania Medical Marijuana Program and obtain a medical marijuana ID card, Blair County residents must first register through the Medical Marijuana Registry. Applicants must have a Pennsylvania driver’s license or another ID issued by the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation.

Afterward, applicants must be certified by a DOH-approved practitioner to suffer from a qualifying medical condition. These include amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, anxiety disorders, autism, cancer and remission therapy, chronic hepatitis C, Crohn’s disease, damaged central nervous tissue, dyskinetic movement disorders, epilepsy, glaucoma, HIV/AIDS, Huntington’s disease, intractable seizures, inflammatory bowel disease, multiple sclerosis, neuropathies, neurodegenerative diseases, opioid use disorder, Parkinson’s disease, post-traumatic stress disorder, severe chronic pain, sickle cell anemia, terminal illness, and Tourette syndrome. After evaluating the applicant, practitioners will directly submit their certifications and recommendations to the system.

Applicants must pay for their medical marijuana ID cards which cost $50. Successful applicants may receive ID cards 14 days after printing by mail. For inquiries, the DOH may be contacted daily, except on state holidays, at 888-733-5595 from 7:00 AM to 9:00 PM.

How Has Cannabis Legalization Impacted the Economy of Blair County?

Blair County allowed the medical use of marijuana after the Commonwealth legalized its use in 2016. About two years later, medical marijuana products became available for medical marijuana ID cardholders to purchase from licensed dispensaries.

Growers/Processors are mandated by Act 16 of 2016 to pay a 5% tax on the gross sales of medical marijuana to dispensaries quarterly. All collections are deposited into the Medical Marijuana Program Fund and then allocated accordingly:

• 55% for the operations of the DOH
• 30% for research funds related to medical marijuana use
• 10% for drug abuse prevention and counseling and treatment services by the Department of Drug and Alcohol Programs
• 5% for the local police departments

Medical marijuana patients and caregivers do not pay a sales tax on the retail sale of medical marijuana. In 2020, the Office of Medical Marijuana reported around 12,606,458 medical marijuana products sold in Pennsylvania since 2018. In 2022, it was reported that Pennsylvania registered 1,812 certifying physicians, 37,221 caregivers, and 712,421 patients.

The Effects of Cannabis Legalization on Crime Rates in Blair County

Data for crime rates related to medical marijuana in Blair County may be limited. However, based on the available reports of the Pennsylvania State Police on the FBI Crime Data Explorer, the county has recorded varied crime rates related to marijuana possession and sales.

Arrests for marijuana possession offenses in the county were 16 in 2015, 5 in 2016, 14 in 2017, and 31 in 2018. On the other hand, arrests for marijuana sales offenses were 15 in 2015, 7 in 2016, 22 in 2017, and 3 in 2018.