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