How to Get a Pennsylvania Medical Marijuana Card

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Monday July 10, 2017

Updated on 7/7/2021

By Matthew Mongelia

In April 2016, Pennsylvania Governor Tom Wolf authorized Senate Bill 3, effectively legalizing medical marijuana across the state. Under Senate Bill 3, patients in possession of a physician’s recommendation are allowed to access medical marijuana without criminal prosecution from a state level.

In order to become a medical marijuana patient in Pennsylvania, you will need to suffer from a qualifying condition and obtain a certification from a licensed physician. If you meet both of these requirements, you will be able to apply to the Department of Public Health and enroll in the program.

Patients seeking to enroll in the medical marijuana program must be at least 18 years of age or older. Minors must have a registered caregiver to apply.

Additionally, patients must be residents of the state of Pennsylvania with proof of residency. Additionally, all patients must have legitimate medical records or documentation from a primary care physician affirming the patient’s qualifying condition.

Patients who have been diagnosed with severe, debilitating or life-threatening conditions qualify for medical cannabis treatment in Pennsylvania. Qualifying health conditions include:

• Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS)

• Autism

• Cancer

• Crohn’s Disease

• Epilepsy

• Glaucoma

• HIV/AIDS

• Huntington’s Disease

• Inflammatory Bowel Disease

• Intractable Seizures

• Intractable Spasticity

• Multiple Sclerosis

• Neuropathies

• Parkinson’s Disease

• Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)

• Severe, Chronic or Intractable Pain

• Sickle Cell Anemia

• Terminal Illness (Defined as any condition where life expectancy is less than 1 year)

• Ulcerative Colitis

Before you are able to enroll in the Pennsylvania medical marijuana program, you must obtain a signed certification from a licensed physician registered with the Department of Health.

To obtain a certification, you will need to find a doctor who is registered with the Department of Health. Once you have found a qualifying doctor, you must be diagnosed as having a qualifying medical condition. Be sure to bring legitimate medical records documenting your condition to this appointment.

If the doctor believes you qualify, he or she will write you a certification for medical marijuana.

Once you have received certification from a registered physician, you are now ready to register and enroll in the Department of Health to obtain your identification card.

Once you have enrolled in the Department of Health, you will receive your medical marijuana identification card in the mail.

Unfortunately, Pennsylvania does not allow reciprocity for their medical marijuana program at this time.