Pennsylvania Medical Marijuana Patient Information

What Conditions Can Medical Marijuana Be Used for in Pennsylvania?

Only medical patients with one of the following conditions can participate in Pennsylvania's medical marijuana program:

• Crohn's disease;
• Injury on the nervous tissue of the central nervous system (brain-spinal cord)
• Dyskinetic and spastic movement disorders;
• Epilepsy;
• Huntington's disease;
• Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD);
• Intractable seizures;
• Sickle cell anemia;
• Terminal illness;
• Multiple sclerosis(MS);
• Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS);
• Anxiety disorders;
• Autism;
• Glaucoma;
• HIV / AIDS;
• Cancer, including remission therapy;
• Neurodegenerative diseases;
• Neuropathies;
• Therapy-resistant opioid use disorders;
• Parkinson's disease;
• Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD);
• Severe or intractable pain of neuropathic origin;
• Tourette syndrome.

What does an MMJ Card Permit in Pennsylvania?

While marijuana purchase, possession, and consumption are illegal under federal law, Pennsylvania residents with valid medical marijuana cards can access medical cannabis for treatment purposes. Pennsylvania's Medical Marijuana Act gives MMJ cardholders various benefits, including:

• Thirty-day access to medical marijuana: Medical marijuana cardholders in Pennsylvania are allowed to purchase and possess up to a thirty-day supply of pills, oils, gels, creams, ointments, tinctures, liquid, non-whole plant forms, and dry leaf cannabis for consumption through vaporization.
• Safe and effective treatments: There are many drug alternatives for the various health conditions that qualify for medical marijuana treatment. However, few are truly effective, and most come with dangerous side effects. On the other hand, cannabis treatment dates back more than 2000 years, with no recorded deaths due to its use. It also treats health symptoms more effectively than other drug alternatives.
• Unparalleled Pain Relief: Marijuana contains cannabinoids, which reduce pain in a user's body by rerouting the brain's pain perception pathways. Thus, medical cannabis is beneficial for patients dealing with chronic pain conditions such as arthritis, migraines, and more.
• Legal Protection: According to Pennsylvania's Medical Marijuana Act, medical marijuana cardholders may purchase and consume medical cannabis without fear of arrest, prosecution, and discrimination in child custody cases.

How Long is a Pennsylvania Medical Marijuana Card Valid?

Medical marijuana cards in Pennsylvania have a 12-month validity period. During this period, valid cardholders can obtain medical marijuana in any Pennsylvania county or city.

Medical marijuana cardholders must renew their Pennsylvania MMC before its validity period expires. If the MMJ card expires, the holder loses the protection that the Medical Marijuana Act provides, making it impossible to legally buy medical marijuana anywhere in the state.

Does Pennsylvania have Medical Marijuana Reciprocity?

No, there is no medical marijuana reciprocity program currently in place in Pennsylvania state. Therefore, tourists or visitors with MMJ cards from different states may not purchase or possess medical cannabis in Pennsylvania.

Is an MMIC Valid outside of Pennsylvania?

It depends. If the state has legalized medical marijuana and offers a medical marijuana reciprocity program, a Pennsylvania medical marijuana identification card is valid. You will be able to - legally - buy, possess, and use specific cannabis quantities, according to the state's marijuana laws. However, not all states that have legalized medical marijuana offer reciprocity. For instance, although Pennsylvania has legalized medical cannabis, individuals with medical cannabis cards from other states cannot present those cards at Pennsylvania dispensaries. The states that currently offer medical marijuana reciprocity include:

• Alaska
• Arizona
• Arkansas
• Colorado
• Hawaii
• Illinois
• Maine
• Massachusetts
• Michigan
• Nevada
• New Hampshire
• Oklahoma
• Oregon
• Rhode Island
• Washington
• Washington DC.

Is an MMIC Valid in Other Pennsylvania Counties?

Yes, anyone registered in Pennsylvania's medical cannabis program can use their MMIS to legally buy cannabis from medical dispensaries in any of the state's counties. The Department of Health provides a searchable map where interested persons can find all the dispensaries in Pennsylvania.

Does Pennsylvania Accept Medical Marijuana Cards issued by another State?

Because Pennsylvania does not have a medical marijuana reciprocity program in place, it does not accept medical marijuana cards issued in other U.S. states. Thus, non-residents with medical marijuana cards from their home states cannot present those cards at Pennsylvania dispensaries and expect legal service.

Does a Pennsylvania MMIC Protect Me Under Federal Law?

Per U.S federal drug policy, using marijuana for any purpose is illegal. Therefore, having a Pennsylvania medical marijuana identification card does not protect you from federal charges and prosecution. Even within the state, having an MMIC card might not help you in some situations, including:

• Job Security: If you live in Pennsylvania but work for the federal government, you might lose your job or get rejected for one if you take a blood test that returns positive for cannabis.

• Student financial aid: If you have an MMIC, you might be ineligible for different federally-enabled financial aid opportunities like Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants, Pell Grants, and Perkins Loans.

• Firearm Licenses: Anyone that wants to buy a firearm in America must complete Federal Form 4473, which has questions about marijuana use. As it is federally illegal to use cannabis, registered cannabis users may be unable to buy firearms.

• Federal Housing: If you live in federally subsidized housing, it may be illegal to use marijuana on the premises. You might also lose your federal housing benefits if you face charges for marijuana use.

• Federal land: It is illegal to use marijuana on federally-owned or federally-funded properties in Pennsylvania. Examples of federal lands include:

• Public airports

• National Parks

• Federal courthouses

• Post offices

• Federal buildings

• Military bases

• Ski slopes

• Places that receive a reasonable amount of federal funds