Pennsylvania

A LEGAL MEDICAL CANNABIS PATIENT ...

1. is a Pennsylvania resident

2. has a valid Pennsylvania driver's license or state-issued ID card

3. is at least 18 years old (minors may participate through a caregiver)

4. has a valid email address

5. has one or more of the 24 qualifying serious medical conditions. Conditions include:

• Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis
• Anxiety disorders
• Autism
• Cancer, including remission therapy
• Chronic Hepatitis C
• Crohn's disease
• Damage to the nervous tissue of the central nervous system (brain-spinal cord) with objective neurological indication of intractable spasticity, and other associated neuropathies
• Dyskinetic and spastic movement disorders
• 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
• Sickle cell anemia
• Terminal illness
• Tourette syndrome

6. is certified by a Department of Health (DOH) approved practitioner

7. is registered with the Department of Health

8. Registration is up to date

Register with the Department of Health and pay the annual $50 registration fee (fee waived for participants in PACE/PACENET, SNAP, WIC, CHIP, or Medicaid through the Medical Marijuana Assistance Program (MMAP))

ENROLLMENT PROCESS

Follow these steps to register as a patient:

1. Visit a DOH-approved practitioner who will evaluate your qualifying condition and, if appropriate, issue an electronic certification. Many appointments are available via telehealth. Note: Telehealth authorization for medical cannabis certifications has continued through DOH administrative action since 2020. Permanent codification into statute was still pending as of early 2026. Confirm the current status with your practitioner before scheduling a telehealth appointment.
2. Create a patient account or log in at the PA Medical Marijuana Patient Registry. Have your Pennsylvania driver's license or state-issued ID ready.
3. Once your practitioner submits your certification electronically, you will receive an email to complete your registration.
4. Pay the $50 annual registration fee through the patient portal. If you participate in PACE/PACENET, SNAP, WIC, CHIP, or Medicaid, you may qualify for a fee waiver through the Medical Marijuana Assistance Program (MMAP))
5. Your medical cannabis ID card will be printed and mailed to the address in your patient portal. The department post-dates cards in anticipation of mail delivery delays. Check the issue and expiration dates on your card carefully.
6. Once your card arrives and your annual fee is current, you may visit any licensed Pennsylvania dispensary.

A list of DOH-approved practitioners is available as a PDF at pa.gov/agencies/health/programs/medical-marijuana.

For more information, visit the Patients and Caregivers information page.

PATIENT RENEWAL

Patient certifications and ID cards must be renewed annually. Here is what to expect:

• You will receive an email alert from the department approximately 60 days before your certification and ID card are set to expire.
• You do not need to return to the same practitioner for renewal. You may see any DOH-approved practitioner.
• Once a new certification is issued and your annual fee payment is current, a new ID card will be printed and mailed to the address in your patient portal.
• Do not destroy an expiring card until you have successfully checked in to a dispensary with your new ID card.
• You will also receive a separate email alert approximately 30 days before your annual state registration fee payment is due. This fee is not tied to the ID card printing date.
• Log in at padohmmp.custhelp.com to verify your mailing address under Profile Settings before renewal to avoid delivery delays.

Renewal information is available on the DOH website at pa.gov/agencies/health/programs/medical-marijuana/renew.

Important information about ID cards:

• Your annual fee payment date is not necessarily tied to the issue and expiration dates printed on your ID card. A patient may owe an annual fee to the state while still holding an ID card that is within its valid period.
• Check your annual fee payment status by selecting "Make a Payment" when logged in to your patient registry account. Once the fee is paid, you will be permitted to check in to a dispensary.
• Find your Annual Fee Due Date under "Current ID Card Information" in the "Profile Settings" tab of your account.
• To request a replacement card, log in to the patient registry and choose "Request to Replace a Card" under Profile Settings. The fee is $25 for the first replacement and $50 for each subsequent replacement.
• Requesting a replacement card immediately invalidates your previous card, even if you later locate it. You will not be able to check in to a dispensary until the new card arrives.
• If you need dispensary access while waiting for a replacement card, you may add a registered caregiver with a valid caregiver ID card to your profile under "Manage Caregivers." The caregiver may make purchases on your behalf until your new card arrives. You may add or remove a caregiver at any time.

ENROLLING MINOR PATIENTS

Minor patients (under 18) are not issued a patient ID card. A caregiver must apply and register the minor on their behalf. The caregiver ID card is what allows access to cannabis for the minor patient.

Caregiver ID cards for minors are issued to a parent, legal guardian, or spouse. If the caregiver is not a parent, legal guardian, or spouse, an Authorization to Designate a Third-Party Caregiver form is recommended.

Minor patients and minor non-patients are permitted to enter a dispensary when accompanied by their registered caregiver, or when their parent or guardian is a registered patient.

Minor patients may receive a certification from any qualified certifying practitioner. 

A caregiver is an individual authorized by the Department of Health to obtain medical cannabis on behalf of a patient. Caregivers must register with the DOH, complete a criminal background check including fingerprinting, and pay for an ID card.

To be eligible as a caregiver, you must:

• Be at least 21 years old
• Be a Pennsylvania resident with a valid Pennsylvania driver's license or state-issued ID
• Have no convictions for a criminal offense relating to the sale or possession of drugs, narcotics, or controlled substances within the last five years
• Register with the Department of Health
• Complete a criminal background check, including fingerprinting

Caregiver registration options:

• Adult patient: For registering as a caregiver for an adult patient who is already in the system.
• Caregiver for an existing patient: For a patient already registered as a minor, homebound, or a patient who benefits from assistance. This option makes you the patient's second caregiver.
• Caregiver for a new patient: For a patient not yet registered who is a minor, homebound, or benefits from assistance. This makes you the patient's first and only caregiver.
• DOH-approved caregiver registration: By selecting this option, you agree to allow the DOH to share your contact information with patients in your area who need a caregiver.

Approval typically takes three to four weeks after completing the fingerprinting appointment. Once approved, a caregiver may pick up medical cannabis at a dispensary on behalf of linked patients who have an active certification in the PA registry.

Once you have received your medical marijuana ID card, you can purchase medical marijuana at any dispensary in Pennsylvania. Some dispensaries require an appointment for your first visit. 

What to Bring

• Your valid physical patient or caregiver ID card. Copies are not accepted, and providing your name, date of birth, and patient state ID number is not sufficient. The physical card is required for every visit. (Check your card's issue and expiration dates before visiting. The department post-dates cards in anticipation of mail delivery delays, so your card may not yet be valid on its first day of apparent issue.)
• Payment for your medicine. Insurance companies do not cover the cost of medical cannabis. (Check with your dispensary for payment options before visiting.)

Licensed dispensaries are located throughout Pennsylvania. Dispensaries are staffed by licensed medical professionals, including pharmacists and registered nurses, under 28 Pa. Code § 1161a.25. Find a dispensary near you on the DOH dispensary map

POSSESSION LIMITS

Pennsylvania law establishes a Medical Marijuana Unit (MMU) system for possession limits, where 1 MMU equals 3.5 grams of flower, 100 mg of infused THC, or 1 gram of oil concentrate, with a maximum of 192 MMUs on a rolling 90-day basis. However, enforcement of the MMU possession limit system has been stayed pending the development of a reasonable process to calculate compliance. In practice, dispensary purchase limits are currently based on a 30-day supply as determined by the certifying practitioner. Patients should monitor DOH announcements for any changes to possession limit enforcement.

HOME CULTIVATION

Home cultivation of medical cannabis is not permitted in Pennsylvania. Multiple legislative attempts to authorize home cultivation have not passed as of this writing.

Need tips on home cultivation?

Cannabis Product Safety:

Cannabis, in its natural form, is inherently safe for most patients, but it is especially susceptible to contaminants during cultivation, manufacturing, handling & even storing. Whether you are purchasing cannabis from regulated, grey, or illicit markets or cultivating your own cannabis, you should be aware of the contaminants commonly found in cannabis and the symptoms that accompany their presence.

Products sold in Pennsylvania's dispensaries and adult-use retail locations must be tested for contaminants, pesticides, and adulterants based on these thresholds set by state regulators.  For more information about cannabis safety, download ASA's "What’s in Your Cannabis? A Patient & Consumer Guide to Navigating Cannabis Safety."

It can be challenging for patients to determine which businesses offering cannabis products are licensed and approved by the state. Review this map of medical cannabis retailers to find out where to purchase regulated cannabis in Pennsylvania.

Medical cannabis may only be used on private property in Pennsylvania. Public use is strictly prohibited under the Medical Marijuana Act.

Patients who rent their homes should be aware that landlords retain the right to restrict or prohibit cannabis use on their property. If you rent, review your lease or speak with your landlord before using medical cannabis on the premises.

Patients may not use medical cannabis in motor vehicles, on school grounds, or in any other location where smoking or vaping is prohibited by law.

Pennsylvania does not have a legal adult-use cannabis market. A valid medical cannabis registration is the only legal pathway to access cannabis in the state.

Federal Protections Apply Only to Registered Patients

Some federal protections are now available, but only to patients who are officially registered in their state’s medical cannabis program.

A federal order issued April 28th,2026,  AG Order No. 6754-2026, treats a state medical cannabis certification or registration as similar to a prescription under federal law.  This means that being registered is not just a state requirement; it may also affect whether a patient qualifies for federal protections.

To receive these protections, a patient’s registration must stay active, current, and in good standing. Learn more here.

Legal Protections

Under 35 P.S. § 10231.2103, registered patients have legal access to medical cannabis from licensed dispensaries throughout the state and are protected from arrest and prosecution for possession and use of medical cannabis within program limits.

Privacy Protections

Patient registry information is confidential under 35 P.S. § 10231.302. Registry data may not be disclosed except as expressly permitted by law. The DOH does not share patient registry information with federal law enforcement agencies based on program participation alone. The identities of registered certifying practitioners and their patient lists are similarly protected.

Access to Pharmacists

Licensed dispensaries in Pennsylvania are required to have licensed medical professionals on staff under 28 Pa. Code § 1161a.25, including physicians, pharmacists, physician assistants, and certified registered nurse practitioners. Dispensary staff can assist patients with questions about product forms, interactions, and safe use.

Civil Protections

• Employment: Under 35 P.S. § 10231.2103(b), no employer may discharge, threaten, refuse to hire, or otherwise discriminate or retaliate against an employee regarding compensation, terms, conditions, location, or privileges of employment solely on the basis of the employee being a registered medical cannabis patient. Pennsylvania courts have recognized an implied cause of action for wrongful termination based on this provision. Employers retain the right to discipline employees for using or being under the influence of medical cannabis during work, and employers subject to federal law or Department of Transportation safety regulations may enforce drug-free workplace policies regardless of patient status.
• Child Custody: Under 35 P.S. § 10231.2103(c), the fact that an individual is certified to use medical cannabis and is acting in accordance with the Medical Marijuana Act shall not by itself be considered by a court in a custody proceeding. Courts must still apply the best interest of the child standard under 23 Pa.C.S. Chapter 53.
• Organ Transplant: Pennsylvania's Medical Marijuana Act does not include explicit organ transplant protections for registered patients. Verify against 35 P.S. §§ 10231.101-10231.2110 before publishing.

Tax Benefits

Medical cannabis products purchased at a licensed Pennsylvania dispensary are exempt from the state's 6 percent sales tax under. This exemption applies at the point of sale to all patients with a valid medical cannabis ID card.

Note: Accessories such as vaporizers and other paraphernalia remain subject to sales tax.

Keeping the Medical Program Strong

Enrollment helps demonstrate continued patient need for Pennsylvania's medical cannabis program. A strong registry helps protect and sustain the program and supports continued access for patients with serious health needs.

Pennsylvania does not recognize out-of-state medical cannabis patient cards and does not have a visiting patient program. Only patients registered in Pennsylvania's program may legally purchase cannabis at state-licensed dispensaries.

Patients who are Pennsylvania residents but were certified in another state must enroll in the Pennsylvania Medical Marijuana Program through a DOH-approved practitioner to access Pennsylvania dispensaries.

Transporting cannabis across state lines is not permitted, regardless of the legal status of cannabis in either state.

*UPDATE: AG ORDER NO. 6754-2026 CHANGED FEDERAL CANNABIS LAWS  ON APRIL 28, 2026: Learn more here.

Federal cannabis laws affect far more than whether a patient can access medical cannabis. For decades, federal prohibition has limited protections for medical cannabis patients under laws such as the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and the Fair Housing Act (FHA). As a result, patients have often been denied the basic protections that people with other serious health conditions expect in employment, housing, healthcare, and access to federal programs.

Federal prohibition has also affected patients’ access to essential healthcare, housing, and financial support programs, sometimes forcing patients to choose between the medicine they need and the benefits they depend on. It has also created barriers to federal employment, healthcare autonomy, firearm ownership, and other aspects of daily life.

As federal and state cannabis laws change, implementation matters. Advocates must stay vigilant to ensure public agencies, private institutions, employers, housing providers, and healthcare systems update their policies in ways that respect patient rights and protect safe, legal access to medical cannabis.

It is important to stay active, engaged, and informed. Sign up to get ASA updates and learn more about ending patient discrimination. 

Rights and protections for medical cannabis patients are evolving. In some cases, outdated policies may impact how patients are treated. In other cases, like those in the military, policy changes will have to come from Washington, DC. In the case of organ transplants, stigma still plays a role in medical cannabis patients having access to life-saving treatment, even if state laws ban discrimination.  Please use the resources below to better understand patient rights and how to navigate these programs and services.