Pennsylvania is the 5th most populous state in America, and it is also one of the original 13 founding states. In 2016, the use of marijuana for medicinal purposes was legalized in Pennsylvania, making it the 24th state to do so.
Now, over 100,000 patients have enjoyed the benefits of a Pennsylvania Medical Marijuana Card. If you are looking to take advantage of medical marijuana, here are the qualifications that you must meet first.
Government Registration
First and foremost, you have to head over to Pennsylvania’s Department of Health website and register yourself or a family member in the Medical Marijuana Registry.
To register, you must be a resident of the state. You can prove this by submitting a driver’s license or any other state-issued identification. Make sure to correctly enter your name, home address, and contact information to avoid any future problem in technicalities.
Physician Certification
More than 100 physicians are government-approved medical marijuana practitioners. You must first get a certification from any of the physicians on the list provided by the State of Pennsylvania.
To get a physician certification, Senate Bill 3 provides that you or your family member must be suffering from certain medical conditions, such as but not limited to:
- ALS
- Anxiety Disorders
- Autism
- Cancer
- Chronic Inflammatory Demyelinating Polyneuropathy
- Crohn’s Disease
- Intractable Spasticity
- Epilepsy/Seizures
- Glaucoma
- HIV/AIDS
If the physician finds that you are qualified to get a Pennsylvania Medical Marijuana Card, then he will give you a certificate indicating your fitness to use marijuana for medicinal purposes. Make sure that you keep this in a safe area and bring it throughout the application process.
Getting a Medical Marijuana Card
Once you finally finish the registration and certification process, you can get a medical marijuana card by completing the application process.
Using your physician certification, go to a certified medical marijuana card dispensary. The cost of a medical marijuana card is about $50. However, if you have participated in specific government assistance programs such as Medicaid, SNAP, and WIC, you may be able to have particular discounts.
When you have duly complied with these steps, then the ID will be issued to you in no time.
Renewing your Medical Marijuana Card
Renewing your card is also hassle-free. You will receive an automated email notifying that your annual payment is due in 60 days. You need to have a new physician certification vouching for your eligibility to continue your use of medical marijuana. Upon payment, then the card is automatically renewed for another year.
In 2019, the legislative body of Pennsylvania is moving to extend the legalization of marijuana into recreational use, which currently is allowed only in 11 states. However, for medicinal purposes, over 33 states in the country have allowed it, although it is with strict restrictions.
Marijuana has proved to be an effective and safer medicine for pain control, which is why more patients across the state are fighting for its legalization. Indeed, the state of Pennsylvania is an excellent place for those who are in dire need of it.
