How to register as a Medical Marijuana Patient/Caregiver
Understanding Act 16
On April 17, 2016, Pennsylvania became the 24th state to legalize a comprehensive medical marijuana program. The new law, titled Act 16, will protect registered patients and their physicians from civil and criminal penalties and aims to create a regulated system that provides safe access to medical marijuana.
Currently, the Pennsylvania Department of Health is drafting temporary regulations to define the program’s operation. These regulations will determine the application process for growers/processors, dispensaries, patients and caregivers, and physicians.
Implementation Timeline
The Department expects to make applications available to growers and processors in the first quarter of 2017. It will then outline application requirements for dispensaries and physicians, followed closely by those for the registration of caregivers and patients. The Department hopes to complete this implementation process by early 2018.
Though the process is still under development, the Department has outlined the steps patients will eventually need to take in order to become a medical marijuana patient in Pennsylvania.
To become a Medical Marijuana Patient in Pennsylvania, you will need to:
- Register with the department.
- Obtain a physician’s certification that you suffer from one of the 17 serious medical conditions, as defined in the Act.
- Apply for a medical marijuana ID card and submit the application fee.
- Obtain medical marijuana from an approved dispensary located in the commonwealth that has a valid permit issued by the department.
For more information, visit the Pennsylvania Department of Health’s Medical Marijuana Program FAQ.