Before you can take advantage of medical cannabis in Philadelphia, it’s important to know the local rules and regulations so you can do so legally.
Recreational cannabis is still illegal in Philadelphia, but we’ve got you covered with all the information you need to understand local laws, get a medical cannabis card, and purchase and use cannabis efficiently and responsibly.
Key Takeaways
Legal Age: You must be at least 18 years old to buy and use medical marijuana. Minors with a serious medical condition and with parental or legal guardian consent may also obtain medical marijuana through a registered guardian over the age of 21.
Purchase Limits: You may legally possess a 90-day supply of medical topicals, edibles, oils, tinctures, or dried cannabis flower for vaporization cannabis in Philadelphia.
Consumption Rules: Public use of cannabis for recreational or medical purposes is illegal. Plan to use medical cannabis only in the privacy of your home, but check your landlord’s rules first if you’re renting.
Approved Dispensaries: Patients must purchase medical marijuana products from a licensed dispensary.
If you’re ready to become a registered medical marijuana patient in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, here’s everything you need to know to make the process easier and ensure you comply with local laws.
Everything You Need to Know
What Are the Cannabis Laws in Pennsylvania?
Medical cannabis is legal in Pennsylvania. The Pennsylvania Medical Marijuana Program was created following the passage of the Pennsylvania Medical Marijuana Act (Act 16) on April 17, 2016, and allows Pennsylvania populations 18 years of age and older with documented severe medical conditions to possess and use limited amounts of cannabis.
Minors with an appropriate medical condition and consent from a parent or legal guardian may also obtain medical cannabis through a registered guardian cannabis in Philadelphia. Recreational cannabis remains illegal in Pennsylvania.
Under the Medical Marijuana Act, medical marijuana patients can lawfully possess a 90-day supply of cannabis topicals, edibles, oils, tinctures, or dried cannabis flowers for vaporization.
However, smoking cannabis flowers is illegal in Pennsylvania. This means you cannot light dried hemp flowers on fire and smoke them.
Instead, it must be consumed through a vaporizer. Consuming CBD and other minor cannabinoids derived from hemp-derived CBD, including delta-8 THC and GHA, is legal in Pennsylvania.
To use medical marijuana in Pennsylvania, patients must register with the Pennsylvania Medical Marijuana Program Registry and obtain a certificate from an approved Pennsylvania cannabis physician. All medical marijuana products must also be purchased from licensed state dispensaries.
Transporting cannabis products across state lines is a federal crime, so Pennsylvania residents cannot take any medical cannabis products they have legally purchased to other states or bring any cannabis products back into the state. Likewise, out-of-state medical marijuana card holders cannot legally buy medical cannabis products in Pennsylvania.
The cultivation of cannabis is presently illegal in Pennsylvania. Growing cannabis plants at home is a felony punishable by up to five years in prison and a $15,000 fine.
Cannabis Laws in Philadelphia
In the city of Philadelphia, you can legally consume, possess, or purchase medical marijuana with a medical certificate and a valid medical marijuana card.
Recreational cannabis use is illegal in Philadelphia, but like other local jurisdictions, the city has decriminalized cannabis cannabis in Philadelphia.
This means that if you are caught with a small amount of marijuana (about an ounce or less), you will not be arrested or have a criminal record, but you will be issued a civil violation notice (CVN) and will have to pay a fine.
Conversely, suppose you consume, possess, sell, or distribute cannabis products outside of Philadelphia, in areas where recreational marijuana is not decriminalized. In that case, you can still be arrested and face harsh penalties, including jail time.
Qualifying conditions
To apply for a Philadelphia medical cannabis card cannabis in Philadelphia, you must meet one or more of the following conditions:
- Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is also identified as Lou Gehrig’s disease.
- Anxiety disorders
- Autism
- Cancer
- Chronic hepatitis C
- Crohn’s disease
- CNS (brain-spinal cord) nerve damage
- Dyskinetic and spastic movement disorders.
- Epilepsy
- Glaucoma
- HIV/AIDS
- Huntington’s disease
- Inflammatory bowel disease
- Intractable seizures
- Multiple sclerosis
- Neurodegenerative diseases
- Neuropathy
- Opioid use disorder
- Parkinson’s disease
- Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
- Severe chronic or intractable neuropathic pain.
- Chronic Pain
- Sickle Cell Anemia
- Terminal Disease
- Tourette Syndrome
How to Get a Medical Cannabis Card in Philadelphia
Any Pennsylvania resident who has been diagnosed with one of the approved medical conditions above may be eligible to contribute to the medical cannabis program.
To obtain a valid medical cannabis card, patients must register with the Medical Marijuana Archive and receive a certification from a licensed physician cannabis in Philadelphia.
The certification verifies that they have a medical condition and that medical cannabis may be helpful for treatment.
Patients will then be able to legally purchase, possess cannabis in Philadelphia, and use medical cannabis crops purchased from a licensed dispensary.
Here is the step-by-step process for obtaining a medical cannabis card in Philadelphia:
- Enroll in the Pennsylvania Medical Marijuana Program. Individuals must register online through the Pennsylvania Department of Health and have a valid email address and a Pennsylvania driver’s license or state-issued identification card cannabis in Philadelphia. Anyone ended the age of 18 can register on their own, while anyone under the age of 18 will need a caregiver to register on their behalf. Caregivers must be at least 21 years old. Patient numbers are assigned immediately upon registration.
- Consult with a licensed physician. Individuals with one of the medical conditions listed above can obtain a doctor’s certification to participate in the Pennsylvania Medical Marijuana Program legally. Leafwell makes it easy to connect with an approved Philadelphia cannabis doctor for a virtual assessment to determine if a patient is eligible for certification.
- Pay for a medical card. If approved, the physician will submit the certification to the state of Pennsylvania, and the medical marijuana patient can pay the annual state registration fee online through the Pennsylvania Department of Health, where they initially registered for the program. A Pennsylvania medical card costs $50, although people in specific state programs may qualify for a free medical marijuana ID card. The patient card should arrive within 1-2 weeks of payment.
- Buy medical cannabis products. With a valid medical marijuana card, state-issued identification, or Pennsylvania driver’s license, patients can visit any Philadelphia medical dispensary or other licensed dispensaries in Pennsylvania to purchase medical cannabis products.
Where to Use Cannabis in Philadelphia
Public use of medical cannabis is strictly prohibited in Philadelphia, including places like parks, restaurants, city streets, and public transportation.
Using medical cannabis while driving is also prohibited cannabis in Philadelphia. Driving under the effect of cannabis is illegal in Pennsylvania and Philadelphia. It can have serious legal penalties, such as a fine of up to $5,000 and up to six months in jail, similar to driving under the influence.
Employers in Pennsylvania are not required to accept medical marijuana use, so patients should check their employer’s drug policy. School policies also vary when it comes to using medical marijuana on school property.
The best place to use medical cannabis in Philadelphia is in a private home. However, some landlords have policies against cannabis use in rental properties, so if you rent, it’s best to review your lease before using any medical cannabis products there.
Local Brands/Producers
Here are some of our favorite Philadelphia and Pennsylvania cannabis brands and producers:
- Calypso
- Sunnyside
- Cresco Labs
- ILERA
- Mass Level
Products are only available in Philadelphia and Pennsylvania.
Medical marijuana-affected role can find a variety of products available throughout Pennsylvania. However, some THC-containing cannabis products are only available in Philadelphia and Pennsylvania due to local and state laws cannabis in Philadelphia.
Here are some of our favorite local brands:
- Turtle
- Organic Remedies
Where to Buy Cannabis in Philadelphia
If you have a medicinal marijuana ID, you can use it to acquire medical cannabis from a Philadelphia dispensary cannabis in Philadelphia. Here are a few options to consider:
Kuralef
1125 E Passyunk Ave, Philadelphia, PA 19147
(267) 691-0565
Restore
957 Frankford Ave, Philadelphia, PA 19125
(215) 999-2980
Zen List
2504 Welsh Rd, Philadelphia, PA 19152
(814) 447-2936
Sunnyside
4502 City Ave, Philadelphia, PA 19131
(267) 603-1918
Freedom Cannabis
8900 Crewstown Rd, Philadelphia, PA 19115
(267) 686-2824
Featured places to buy cannabis in Pennsylvania
Maitri Medicinal Products cannabis in Philadelphia
5845 Center Ave, Pittsburgh, PA 15206
(412) 404-7464
Block Dispensary
3650 Nazareth Pike, Unit 1, Bethlehem, PA 18020
(484) 214-5400
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