How Do I Get A Medical Marijuana Card In PA?

Whether you’re a Pennsylvania resident considering applying for an MMJ card or if you are a current cardholder looking to move to Pennsylvania, there are steps you can take to secure your medical marijuana card online. The Pennsylvania medical marijuana card process can be done entirely online. 

One will first need to obtain a certification from a licensed physician that they have a qualifying condition. Once certified by a medical professional, patients can go through the application process online, either through the state website or telehealth providers. Read on as we go over the steps to apply, renew, and become a caregiver in Pennsylvania. 

The United States and Legal Medical Cannabis

In the United States, medical marijuana programs have been legalized in thirty-six states and the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, Guam, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Medical marijuana programs allow patients with specified conditions to own, grow and utilize cannabis products to aid in managing their condition, even if recreational cannabis users are not authorized.

Approved requirements vary by state, and many programs will require patience to apply for a medical cannabis card. This process will typically include a consultation and evaluation by a physician. A primary care provider can often suggest it for medical cannabis patients with long-term or chronic conditions.

Medicinal Cannabis Use

Over fifty peer-reviewed medical studies have been conducted on the potential medicinal benefits of cannabis and its many cannabinoids and terpenes. The consensus that emerged from these studies is that cannabis can provide medical benefits for many different conditions.

While most of these studies have focused on the help of the specific cannabinoid CBD, other major and minor cannabinoids, in conjunction with terpenes, show significant promise in treating both physical and mental ailments.

PA Patient Eligibility

A Pennsylvania medical marijuana patient must be 18 or older to visit a medical marijuana dispensary. Only those who can prove PA residency can apply for a patient id number and a license for Pennsylvania’s medical marijuana program (valid Pennsylvania driver’s license, Government ID). A Pennsylvania resident must also have medical history showing a diagnosis that qualifies a doctor to recommend them as a patient that can legally obtain medical marijuana.

Qualifying Conditions in Pennsylvania

In 2016, Governor Wolf signed Senate Bill 3, legalizing cannabis for medical use for patients under several qualifying conditions.

 These medical conditions include: 

• Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis
• Anxiety disorders
• Autism
• Cancer, including remission therapy
• Crohn’s disease
• Damage to the nervous tissue of the spinal cord with an objective neurological indication of intractable spasticity; damage to the central nervous system
• Epilepsy
• Glaucoma
• HIV/AIDS
• Huntington’s disease
• Inflammatory bowel disease
• Intractable seizures
• Multiple sclerosis
• Neurodegenerative diseases
• Neuropathies
• Opioid use disorder for which conventional therapeutic interventions are contraindicated or ineffective, or for which adjunctive therapy is indicated in combination with primary therapeutic interventions
• Parkinson’s Disease
• Post-traumatic stress disorder
• Severe, chronic, or intractable pain of neuropathic origin or severe chronic or intractable pain in which conventional therapeutic intervention and opiate therapy is contraindicated or ineffective
• Sickle cell anemia
• Terminal illness

Steps to Apply for a Medical Card

There are a few steps to get a medical marijuana card in Pennsylvania with the help of Leafy DOC. First, you’ll select your State to receive the most accurate and up-to-date information about the Pennsylvania medical marijuana card process.

Skip the wait at the doctor’s office and schedule your evaluation from the comfort and convenience of your home. Submit an intake form with a few personal details and a summary of your medical history; then, we’ll help you book an on-demand telehealth appointment or schedule a convenient time for later.

An online recommendation with Leafy DOC starts at 195 USD for new patients and renewals in Pennsylvania. There is a money-back guarantee if you are not approved for PA medical use.

Connect with the right medical marijuana doctor in minutes and easily chat with your provider on a smartphone, computer, or tablet via phone call or video.

A licensed medical marijuana doctor will evaluate your qualifying condition, address your questions and concerns, and then provide a recommendation for medical cannabis via email within two business days.

A person must be registered online at the Pennsylvania Department of Health’s portal to administer medical marijuana or participate in the Medical Marijuana Program. Register as a patient or caregiver for medical marijuana use at www.medicalmarijuana.pa.gov.

After the State approves your Pennsylvania Medical Marijuana Program registration, they will email you a temporary patient ID card and a physical card within ten business days. Once you have the MMJ card, you can visit Pennsylvania dispensaries and purchase medicinal cannabis products.

Can Leafy DOC help?

Absolutely! Not only can Leafy DOC provide a way to see a doctor via telehealth and obtain your medical card, but we also offer access to knowledgeable and helpful customer support and a personalized health coach that can guide you before and after the MMJ card process.

Our mission at Leafy DOC is to provide a seamless customer experience, educate people about cannabis, and ultimately help people get medical cards quickly and efficiently.

Additional MMJ Card Fees in PA

The annual cost of a medical cannabis card is 50 USD. Qualified patients who participate in assistance programs, including Medicaid, PACE/PACENET, CHIP, SNAP, and WIC, may be eligible for reduced or waived fees.

The Renewal Process

It is recommended to renew around a month before the expiration date to have time to complete the renewal appointment and application. Pennsylvania medical marijuana cards expire one year after the certification date on the physician’s recommendation. New cannabis ID cards are issued upon recertification approval.

The fee for an MMJ renewal card in Pennsylvania is 100 USD. Renewals require a current physician’s recommendation and updated personal information.

How to Apply as a Caregiver

A primary caregiver is an adult over 21 legally allowed to purchase, transport, educate, and administer medical cannabis to medical marijuana patients with a valid medical card.

Over thirty states have legalized medical marijuana programs, allowing caregivers to assist qualified patients. In these locations, state legislation provides legal protection for the patient and the caregiver from criminal penalties. 

Designated caregivers can purchase medical cannabis at an authorized clinic and possess, transport, and administer it to patients.

The Pennsylvania caregivers application process includes:

• Apply for the program through the State’s Registry of Patients and Caregivers.
• Provide a Pennsylvania driver’s permit or an identification card with a present address to prove Pennsylvania residency.
• Complete a criminal history background check.
• Pay a 50 USD registration fee for a medical marijuana identification card.

Where to Purchase Medical Marijuana in Pennsylvania

Once registered for the Pennsylvania Medical Cannabis program and received your ID card, you may wonder what’s next. There are a few ways to receive legal medical marijuana in Pennsylvania as a qualified patient. 

Pennsylvania, some with multiple locations in larger cities. Most Pennsylvania dispensaries offer the following medical marijuana products: Supplements; Oils; Concentrates; Flower; Tinctures; Topical Ointments, Edibles.