{"id":3255,"date":"2017-12-17T09:52:10","date_gmt":"2017-12-17T09:52:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/weedmaps.com\/learn\/laws-and-regulations\/pennsylvania"},"modified":"2025-11-26T18:33:27","modified_gmt":"2025-11-26T18:33:27","slug":"pennsylvania","status":"publish","type":"law","link":"https:\/\/weedmaps.com\/learn\/laws-and-regulations\/pennsylvania","title":{"rendered":"Pennsylvania Weed Laws"},"content":{"rendered":"
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\n\tIs weed legal in Pennsylvania? <\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Medical marijuana is legal in Pennsylvania, but adult-use (recreational) cannabis remains illegal under Pennsylvania marijuana laws. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\tIs weed decriminalized in Pennsylvania? <\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Possession of small amounts of marijuana is decriminalized in certain cities, including Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Harrisburg, York, State College, Erie, Lancaster, Bethlehem, and Steelton. The Philadelphia law passed in 2014 made the city the largest to decriminalize possession of cannabis at the time.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\tLegislation history<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The Pennsylvania General Assembly passed the Medical Marijuana Act (Act 16)<\/a> on April 17, 2016, legalizing the possession, sale, and consumption of medical cannabis. It tasked the Pennsylvania Department of Health (DOH) with overseeing the program.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\tWhere is it safe to purchase weed in Pennsylvania?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Patients and caregivers must be added to the state's registry and obtain a medical cannabis ID card<\/a> in order to purchase medical marijuana from DOH-licensed dispensaries.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If patients are unable to make purchases themselves, they may designate a caregiver to purchase medical cannabis on their behalf and deliver it to them. There are currently no delivery services available to patients other than through a designated caregiver.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Consumers are not subject to any excise tax on medical cannabis purchases, although the law requires growers\/processors to pay a 5% excise tax<\/a> on the gross receipts from the sale of medical marijuana to the dispensary. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Finding licensed dispensaries in Pennsylvania<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Medical marijuana cardholders <\/span>can find licensed dispensaries in Pennsylvania<\/span><\/a> and search by major metro areas including Harrisburg, Philadelphia, and Pittsburgh. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\tWhere is it safe to consume marijuana in Pennsylvania?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Act 16 does not stipulate where cannabis consumption is allowed; however, cannabis consumption should take place in a private space such as a personal residence.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\tPossession of marijuana in Pennsylvania<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Lawful possession of medical marijuana limits patients to a 30-day supply. Cultivating marijuana is illegal and a felony unless given explicit authorization through the DOH.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\tMedical marijuana registry<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Pennsylvania's Department of Health administers the statewide Medical Marijuana Program. Only patients and caregivers who are Pennsylvania residents can obtain medical cannabis from dispensaries in the state. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Each patient must have his or her medical condition verified by a DOH-approved physician in order to acquire a written certification for medical cannabis. A list of all the DOH-approved physicians<\/a> in the state is available online. You can also find a local physician by visiting our map<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Pennsylvania has set up a patient and caregivers' registry. Patients or caregivers must register for the Medical Marijuana Program<\/a> before seeking a physician's certification, which confirms the patient has at least one of the required qualifying conditions<\/a> to obtain cannabis.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Qualifying conditions<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n