Medical marijuana is legal in Pennsylvania! On April 17, 2016, Governor Tom Wolf signed the Pennsylvania Medical Marijuana Act into law, which went into effect on May 17, 2016. This means that getting a medical card in PA brings you a whole lot of benefits.
Is Recreational Marijuana Legal in Pennsylvania?
Unfortunately, recreational marijuana is illegal in Pennsylvania. Because of this, getting a medical card in PA is the only way to legally buy, possess, and enjoy cannabis.
While recreational marijuana is illegal, several large cities like Allentown, Bethlehem, Erie, Lancaster, Philadelphia, and Pittsburgh have decriminalized possession of small amounts.
But, despite the lack of legalization, public opinion indicates overall support for recreational marijuana. According to a poll conducted by CBS News, 66% of registered voters in Pennsylvania support recreational marijuana.
Senator Mike Regan, a key Republican senator, has also voiced support for recreational marijuana. He said: “We need to act sooner rather than later to establish an adult recreational use program.”
The Many Benefits of Getting a Medical Card in PA
As we said, you need a Pennsylvania medical marijuana card before you can reap the reward of medical marijuana in Pennsylvania. Here are some of the biggest benefits of getting a medical card in PA.
You’re Granted Legal Protection
Every state where medical marijuana is legal has laws that protect legitimate consumers — Pennsylvania is no exception.
Getting a medical card in PA means that a licensed physician has evaluated your condition and you are duly registered with the Medical Marijuana Registry.
With these legal safeguards in place, you can freely buy and use medical marijuana without fear of prosecution. (Well, as long as you follow the regulations the program has outlined.)
Remember, only people with a PA medical marijuana card enjoy legal protection. If the authorities catch you with marijuana and you don’t have a Pennsylvania medical card, you will face the consequences of the law.
You Can Possess a 90-day Supply With a Pennsylvania Medical Card
Now that you know you have some legal protection, how much marijuana can you possess? As much as you want?
Getting a medical card in PA entitles you to a 90-day supply of marijuana in any of the following forms:
- Pill
- Topicals like ointments, cream, and gel.
- Oil
- Tincture
- Vaporization
- Liquid
This means that for 90 days, you have a secure supply of marijuana, and you don’t have to frequent the dispensary. For anyone without a PA medical card, this is simply against the law.
You Enjoy Therapeutic Results
Medical marijuana has proven therapeutic benefits; in some cases, it provides symptomatic relief when conventional treatment has proven ineffective.
One of the most common medicinal uses of marijuana is to relieve chronic pain, and millions of Americans suffer from this kind of discomfort each year.
According to 2019 statistics by the CDC, 20.4% of adults in America suffer from chronic pain, and 7.4% of sufferers have high-impact chronic pain; that is chronic pain that limits life or work activities.
One significant advantage of medical marijuana over opiates in managing chronic pain is that marijuana is far less addictive and does not carry the risk of an overdose.
Also, medical marijuana for pain relief is a safer option for people with kidney problems or ulcers who are at risk if they take NSAIDs.
Marijuana could also be used to manage pain caused by neurodegenerative diseases like multiple sclerosis and nerve pain.
Besides pain, medical marijuana is used to manage the symptoms of chemotherapy, like nausea, fatigue, and loss of appetite.
Other common uses of cannabis include symptomatic relief of anxiety, insomnia, and PTSD, amongst others.
You can enjoy all these therapeutic benefits and more by getting a medical marijuana card in PA.
Marijuana is often associated with psychoactivity, but this is a common misconception.
If you want the therapeutic effects of marijuana without the “high” feeling, you can go for marijuana products that are low in THC, the active ingredient in marijuana that causes psychoactivity.
With getting a medical card in PA, enjoying the non-psychoactive benefits of CBD products has never been easier.
You Can Access Marijuana Treatment for Many Qualifying Conditions
Did you know that a broad range of medical conditions qualifies you for medical marijuana treatment?
If you have any of the following conditions, getting a Pennsylvania medical card can help alleviate your symptoms:
- Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS)
- Anxiety disorders
- Autism
- Cancer, including remission therapy
- Chronic pain
- 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 or AIDS
- Huntington’s disease
- Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBS)
- Intractable seizures
- Multiple Sclerosis
- Neurodegenerative Diseases (including Alzheimer’s)
- Neuropathies
- Opioid Addiction (If medical cannabis is used as a substitute therapy)
- Parkinson’s Disease
- Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
- Severe chronic or intractable pain
- Sickle cell anemia
- Spinal cord nerve damage
- Tourette syndrome.
- Other terminal illnesses
You will notice that this extensive list of qualifying conditions significantly reflects the superiority of medical marijuana over opiates.
Note that having any of the above conditions does not automatically mean you can buy and use medical marijuana.
Only a qualified marijuana doctor can certify your condition and recommend you for medical marijuana treatment — but that’s where Elevate Holistics comes in!
Our team consists of qualified cannabis doctors that can get you your MMJ recommendation right from home. Then, if you need help with the rest of the process, we have all the resources possible to walk you through it step-by-step.
You Can Buy Medical Marijuana in Other States
Did you know that you can use your PA medical marijuana card to buy marijuana in other states? The reciprocity program ensures you have access to your medication even if you are in another state.
And your Pennsylvania medical card gives you access to that program in other states.
What if I Buy Marijuana in the Neighboring States Where it’s Legal?
Recreational marijuana is legal in neighboring New York, New Jersey, and Maryland. You may think you could go across the border and buy marijuana in those states without a medical marijuanas card in Pennsylvania, but it is not that easy.
First, you must be at least 21 to buy recreational marijuana in neighboring states where it is legal.
By contrast, anyone, no matter how young, can get a PA MMJ card and enjoy the benefits of nature’s wonder plant.
Also, think of the inconvenience of crossing state lines every time you need marijuana. What if you don’t live close to the border?
Even if the border is only a stone’s throw away, you can’t bring marijuana back into Pennsylvania — it’s a state and federal crime.
With a medical marijuana card in PA, you can possess up to a 90-day supply of marijuana, avoiding bothersome trips to the dispensary or a neighboring state whenever you need marijuana.
The Steps to Getting Your Medical Card in PA
Now that you know the amazing benefits of a Pennsylvania MMJ card, let’s discuss the actual steps of getting your medical card in PA.
Like every other state where medical marijuana is legal, you need to provide certain requirements before accessing medical marijuana.
What you need before applying for a medical marijuana card in Pennsylvania includes the following:
- A physician certification
- Proof of Pennsylvania residency: this can be a state-issued driver’s license or state-issued ID card.
- You must be at least 18. Minor patients can apply via a caregiver
- $50 application fee. You may be eligible for lower fees if you participate in Medicaid, PACE-/PACENET, CHIP, SNAP, and WIC.
- A valid email address
After you have your requirements together, you are ready to apply for a Pennsylvania medical card, and we can guide you through the process.
Click here for a detailed, step-by-step application process.
Can Nurses Have a Medical Card in Pennsylvania?
Nothing in Pennsylvania marijuana laws specifically prohibits nurses from getting a medical card in PA and consuming marijuana. However, they must abide by the rules if their workplace has a drug-free policy.
In 2020, the Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission ruled against a nursing student at the Harrisburg Area Community College (HACC) after she filed a complaint against HACC over the issue of marijuana use.
Nursing students at HACC must take an annual urine test for drug screening, and if they fail, the state will boot them out of the nursing program.
The Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission ruled that the student could not opt out of the mandatory drug test even if she is a registered medical marijuana patient.
For clarity on whether or not you can get a medical marijuana card in PA, discuss this with your employer.
Getting a Medical Card in PA: Let Elevate Holistics Be Your Trusted Guide
The therapeutic benefits of marijuana are yours for the taking; all you need is your Pennsylvania medical card.
Thousands of patients trust us to guide them on their marijuana journey, and we want you to be a part of that! Our team makes getting a medical card in PA easier than ever before.
At Elevate Holisticcs, we can help you secure an appointment with a qualified Pennsylvania marijuana doctor hassle-free and 100% online at the cheapest price possible.
Our process industry-standard compliant and conforms to industry best practices, so you are in safe hands.
