How To Get A Medical Marijuana Card In Pennsylvania?

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Pennsylvania’s Governor, Tom Wolf, approved the legalization of the state’s medical marijuana program on April 17, 2016. This legislation provides patients and doctors with safeguards and establishes a structured and monitored system for medical marijuana usage. The state received guidelines and subsequently launched the patient program application in the latter half of 2017. Fifty dispensaries were granted licenses, and they will progressively open throughout the state, with a significant number of them located in Southeastern Pennsylvania.

 

Requirements of Pennsylvania’s MMJ Program

In Pennsylvania, the use of marijuana is restricted to methods such as tinctures, pills, oils, topical forms, liquid, vaporization, or nebulization; smoking the flower is not permitted. Growing, selling, giving it to others, purchasing edibles, and driving under the influence of marijuana are also strictly prohibited.

If you suffer from any of the twenty qualifying conditions listed in Pennsylvania’s Medical Marijuana Program, including cancer, Parkinson’s Disease, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, chronic pain, among others, you have the option to obtain a Medical Marijuana Card.

To participate in Pennsylvania’s Medical Marijuana Program, you must be a resident of the state and provide proof of residency, such as a Pennsylvania I.D. All available physicians are registered with the PA DOH program. Non-residents can also have their cases evaluated by the Department of Health to potentially obtain a Medical Marijuana Card from Pennsylvania.

One of the 17 qualifying serious conditions approved by the state’s program must also be present in the patient. These conditions include:

1. Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis
2. Autism
3. Cancer
4. Crohn’s Disease
5. Damage to the nervous tissue of the spinal cord with objective neurological indication of intractable spasticity
6. Epilepsy
7. Glaucoma
8. HIV/AIDS
9. Huntington’s Disease
10. Inflammatory Bowel Disease
11. Intractable Seizures
12. Multiple Sclerosis
13. Neuropathies
14. Parkinson’s Disease
15. Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
16. 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
17. Sickle Cell Anemia

If you have checked the list and have one of the conditions mentioned above, it is now time to gather all your medical records and take them to a licensed cannabis physician.

 

FAQ

Who is eligible for a medical marijuana card in Pennsylvania?

Patients who have one of the major medical problems that meet the state’s eligibility requirements are eligible. Additionally, you must have legal documentation proving your residency in Pennsylvania.

 

Can my regular doctor recommend medical marijuana?

No, in Pennsylvania, the only people who can recommend medicinal cannabis are licensed medical marijuana doctors.

 

How do I find a certified medical marijuana physician?

On its official website, the Pennsylvania Department of Health has a list of licensed medical professionals. You can look for a licensed doctor in your neighborhood.

 

Is there an application fee for the medical marijuana card?

The medicinal marijuana card does indeed have an application fee. Your patient status may affect the fee amount, and some groups, such as veterans and senior people, may be eligible for discounts.

 

How long does it take to get approved for a medical marijuana card?

The state strives to handle applications as quickly as possible, but approval times can vary. Early application is advised, and patience is advised during the screening phase.

 

Can I use my medical marijuana card in other states?

Only Pennsylvania residents are eligible to use medical marijuana. If you intend to use medicinal cannabis in another state, you must follow that state’s regulations because each has its own medical marijuana legislation.

 

Also Read: Can A Foreigner Apply For A Medical Marijuana Card?

 

Conclusion

It takes several steps to get a medical marijuana card in Pennsylvania, but once you do, you can access a natural treatment option for qualified medical conditions. Patients can take the appropriate actions to obtain their medical marijuana card by determining their eligibility, acquiring their medical documents, and signing up with the Pennsylvania Medical Marijuana Program.