No. Adult-use marijuana dispensaries are illegal in Philadelphia as the city abides by the state law prohibiting adult-use cannabis and recreational cannabis dispensaries.
Yes. Medical marijuana is legal in Philadelphia in accordance with the Pennsylvania Medical Marijuana Act (Act 16). The Medical Marijuana Act permits the establishment of medical marijuana dispensaries in all jurisdictions in the state. Philadelphia has not enacted any ordinance to prohibit the establishment of medical marijuana dispensaries in the city.
No. You cannot purchase recreational weed online as recreational cannabis is illegal in the city. However, you can buy medical marijuana online legally in the city.
In Philadelphia, there are no approved adult-use dispensaries. Therefore, you cannot yet legally buy weed in the city. However, you may visit approved medical marijuana dispensaries in the city. While visiting a medical marijuana dispensary, ensure you hold a medical marijuana card and cash to complete the purchases.
Recreational cannabis dispensaries are illegal in Philadelphia; hence, there are currently no laws pertaining to recreational dispensaries in the city. The Pennsylvania cannabis law, however, stipulates that medical marijuana dispensaries may not be located within 1,000 feet of a public, private or parochial school, or a daycare center. A dispensary may not dispense any amount of medical cannabis greater than a 90-day supply to a patient until the patient has exhausted all but a seven-day supply obtained under a previously issued certification. Proper verification of the certification and identification of a patient must be undertaken before permitting the purchase of medical marijuana.
Unlike in other locations in Pennsylvania, possession of small amounts of marijuana has been decriminalized in Philadelphia. However, decriminalization is not the same as legalization. Through the city's decriminalization ordinance, you will not be charged for possessing, smoking, or obtaining small amounts of marijuana in the city. The ordinance defines "small amount" as 30 grams of cannabis products or less. Cannabis smoking in public is illegal and may attract a $100 fine. Possessing more than 30 grams of marijuana attracts a $25 fine.
In the City of Philadelphia, a diversion program is offered to the majority of those charged with marijuana possession for the first time. Under the terms of the diversion program, you will be placed on probation. If you successfully complete probation, the charges will be dismissed.
In Philadelphia, you may be arrested for driving under the influence, as driving a vehicle with any amount of a controlled substance in your blood is an offense. It is illegal to sell marijuana or travel in and out of state with any amount of marijuana in Philadelphia.
The Pennsylvania Medical Marijuana Act guides medical marijuana activities in Philadelphia. Also called Act 16, the Medical Marijuana Act legalizes the possession, consumption, and sale of medical marijuana in Philadelphia. The Act also establishes a medical marijuana program that allows patients and caregivers to be added to the state medical marijuana registry and obtain medical cannabis identification cards. Philadelphia patients who are unable to make purchases from state-licensed dispensaries may designate caregivers to purchase medical marijuana on their behalf and deliver it to them. There are no cannabis delivery services available to medical marijuana patients except through designated caregivers.
Medical cannabis is not only available to adults in Philadelphia. Minors in the city may also obtain medical marijuana products per state provisions. Minors with qualifying conditions in Pennsylvania may obtain medicinal marijuana but cannot get medical marijuana cards. However, minors may get medicinal cannabis via approved caregivers who may apply for medical marijuana cards on their behalf. As with adults, minors must get a physician's approval before their caregivers may obtain medical marijuana identification cards.
Although no consumption areas are defined under the state medical marijuana law, cannabis consumption is recommended only for private spaces such as personal residences. The possession limit for Philadelphia registered medical marijuana patients is a 30-day supply. Cannabis cultivation is illegal and considered a felony except where explicit authorization has been obtained from the Pennsylvania Department of Health. Medical marijuana is only open to Philadelphia and other Pennsylvania residents and not to out-of-state visitors.
Only by completing an online application to the Pennsylvania medical marijuana registry is it possible to get a medical marijuana card in Philadelphia. The Pennsylvania Department of Health permits persons aged 21 or older with specific medical conditions to apply for medical marijuana cards. Applicants must reside in Philadelphia or another Pennsylvania location to apply.
You can get a medical marijuana card in Philadelphia by following these steps:
Registering in the Pennsylvania Medical Marijuana Registry: Registration is the initial step towards obtaining a medical marijuana card in Philadelphia. You will need first to create an account in the medical marijuana registry. The account will include your legal name, current address, and contact details. To register for the state medical marijuana program, you must have a valid Pennsylvania driver's license or a Pennsylvania Department of Transportation-issued identification card
Obtain Certification from an approved physician: After completing your registration in the Medical Marijuana Registry, the next step is to get a physician's certification attesting that you have a qualifying medical condition. Approved medical conditions include cancer, epilepsy, multiple sclerosis, neuropathies, Parkinson’s disease, sickle cell anemia, autism, neurodegenerative diseases, Tourette’s syndrome, and HIV/AIDS. Your physician will submit the certification directly to the medical marijuana registry. If the department does not approve your attending physician of Health, you may find the approved physicians list on the Pennsylvania Department of Health website
Pay for a medical marijuana card: After you have obtained certification from a qualified physician, the next step is to access the medical marijuana registry and finish filling out your application for a medical marijuana ID card. The fee for obtaining a medical marijuana ID card is $50. Philadelphia patients who take part in assistance programs such as Medicaid, Pharmaceutical Assistance Contract for the Elderly (PACE)/ Pharmaceutical Assistance Contract for The Elderly Needs Enhancement Tier (PACENET), Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP), SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program), and WIC (Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children) may be eligible for discounts on the application fee. However, proof of participation in these programs will be required
It may take up to 3 weeks for your medical marijuana card to be ready. When the card is ready, you will receive it in the mail. Caregiver cards may take up to 6 weeks to be ready due to the need to complete and review background checks.
It is unlawful to use cannabis for recreational purposes in Philadelphia. However, with up to 30 grams of the substance decriminalized in the city, you may consume such small amounts of cannabis in private residences. Medical cannabis consumption is also recommended to be done in private.
There are no legal ways to buy recreational cannabis in Philadelphia as adult-use cannabis is prohibited in the city. However, you may purchase medical marijuana from approved medical marijuana dispensaries in the city by visiting the location of the dispensaries. To find the locations of medical marijuana dispensaries near you, put the search term “weed dispensaries near me” in an online search engine.
Philadelphia does not permit adult-use cannabis sales within its borders. However, an ounce of medical marijuana in the city costs about $300 - $350.
With adult-use cannabis illegal in Philadelphia, Sour Tangie and Sojay Haze are two of the most popular medical cannabis strains in Philadelphia.
No. Cannabis smoking is illegal in Philadelphia.
Possession of small amounts of cannabis is decriminalized in Philadelphia. Such possessions may not be more than 30 grams of cannabis. Philadelphia's decriminalization of small amounts of cannabis does not indicate the legalization of cannabis, as the city still abides by the state law prohibiting cannabis. Also, registered medical marijuana patients in the city may possess up to 90-day supplies.
No. Shipping cannabis into Philadelphia from another state (even if cannabis is legal in that jurisdiction) is prohibited as cannabis remains illegal in Philadelphia and Pennsylvania. This is because federal laws govern transportation between states. Under federal law (Controlled Substance Act), cannabis is illegal and is considered to possess no medical benefit.
No. You cannot order adult-use cannabis online in Philadelphia. Adult-use marijuana is illegal, and the state does not permit the delivery of medical marijuana by medical cannabis retail outlets in the city.
There are currently no approved recreational cannabis dispensaries in Philadelphia. The state law does not stipulate operation hours for medical cannabis dispensaries in its medical cannabis law. Hence, you may be able to find 24-hour dispensaries in the city.
Tourists cannot use adult-use cannabis dispensaries in Philadelphia as recreational cannabis is illegal in the city. Medical marijuana dispensaries in the city are also out of bounds to visitors, except they are registered under the state medical marijuana program.
Currently, it is illegal to purchase recreational weed within Philadelphia, as weed dispensaries are not permitted to operate in the city. However, if you are a medical marijuana patient, you may purchase medical marijuana by presenting your medical marijuana identification card.
Some of the best dispensaries in Philadelphia include:
Ethos Dispensary
Trulieve
Cure Dispensary
Sunnyside Medical Cannabis Dispensary
There are no adult-use weed dispensaries in the city. However, medical marijuana dispensaries in the city will scan your ID when entering their premises. However, state law does not require medical cannabis dispensaries in the city to retain your personal information.
No dispensaries are authorized to dispense adult-use marijuana in the City of Philadelphia. However, there are over 20 medical marijuana dispensaries in the city. You may find the locations of the state Department of Health-approved medical marijuana dispensaries in the city on the list of approved medical marijuana dispensaries published on the DOH website.
Dispensaries are not permitted within the borders of Philadelphia. However, for medical marijuana purchases, payments are typically accepted in cash. Many dispensaries have ATMs on their premises, which buyers may use to purchase medical cannabis products.
You cannot visit a recreational dispensary in Philadelphia as adult-use cannabis dispensaries are banned in the city. However, registered medical marijuana patients may visit multiple dispensaries but cannot purchase more than the stipulated 90-day supplies.
There are no authorized adult-use marijuana dispensaries in the City of Philadelphia. Although medical cannabis is accessible in the city for those who qualify, health insurance companies do not cover it since federal law still deems marijuana as an illegal narcotic under the Controlled Substances Act.
While adult-use dispensaries do not operate in Philadelphia, medical marijuana dispensaries in the city are required by state law to track how much weed customers purchase in their facilities.
Philadelphia has no approved recreational marijuana dispensary. While you may enter a medical cannabis dispensary in the city at 21, if you are under 18, you will require the help of your parent or legal guardian to visit a medical marijuana dispensary.
With recreational marijuana illegal in Philadelphia, the medical cannabis program in operation in the city is overseen by the Pennsylvania Department of Health. The address of the department is:
Pennsylvania Department of Health
Health and Welfare Building
8th Floor West
625 Forster Street
Harrisburg, PA 17120
For further information, visit the Pennsylvania DOH website.
You may report illegal cannabis activities in Philadelphia to the Philadelphia Police Department or file a complaint with the Pennsylvania Department of Health.