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Before possessing or using marijuana or any of its products in Pennsylvania, you need to meet specific requirements to avoid getting into legal problems. Most people that use marijuana to treat a medical symptom may need to get a Medical Marijuana Card. This card makes it easier for Marijuana users to access quality and medical-grade products.
Who Can Get a Pennsylvania Medical Card?
To qualify for a medical marijuana card in Pennsylvania, first, you must be a legal resident of the state of Pennsylvania. This will be checked as you are required to provide proof of residency. Secondly, you must be 18 years of age or older.
If you meet these requirements, the next step is to find out if you have any of the 23 severe medical conditions approved by the State? If you do, it means you can take an in-person examination with an approved practitioner to determine if you qualify to have a medical marijuana card in Pennsylvania. The qualifying medical conditions include:
- Alzheimer’s disease
- Anxiety Arteriosclerosis
- Arthritis
- Cachexia/wasting syndrome
- Cancer
- Chronic Pain
- Depression
- Epilepsy and seizures
- Glaucoma
- Gout & ArthropathyInflammation
- Insomnia
- Dialysis & Kidney disease
- Multiple sclerosis
- Nausea
- Night terrors
- Pneumonia
- PTSD
- Sciatica
- Tinnitus
- Vertigo
- HIV/AIDS.
After your in-person examination with an approved practitioner, you will be given a certificate. This is the final requirement that qualifies you to have a medical marijuana card in Pennsylvania. With this, you can then proceed to schedule an appointment for your health evaluation and apply to have your medical marijuana card so you can become a registered patient.
Steps to Apply for Your Medical Marijuana Card
Once you meet the requirements that qualify you for a medical marijuana card, getting the card is pretty straightforward. If you are not familiar with the process, you can follow the simple steps below.
Get a Doctor to Sign Off
The first step to obtaining your medical marijuana card is to get a certificate from a certified physician showing that you suffer from at least one of the listed medical conditions.
Interestingly, more than 160 practices in Allegheny County will certify your medical marijuana card applications, according to the state health department. However, if you’ve been diagnosed and treated for any of these listed medical conditions by your primary doctor, you don’t have to go through the stress of starting the certification process all from the beginning.
You can ask for your medical records to be sent to you via mail or download them yourself from your clinic’s portal if they have one. Take your medical records to an approved practice and continue your certification application process. You must know that the cost for the certification varies by provider. The good thing is your certification process can be done digitally, as companies or doctors can authorize your card via a zoom meeting or over the phone.
Turn in Application and Pay an Application Fee
Once you are certified by an authorized physician, you will have to return to the state’s health department website to fill out the necessary information to process your request. This includes the certification from your physician and other personal details. You will be required to pay an application fee of $50 when submitting your application to complete the process.
Once your application is successful, your medical marijuana card will arrive within two weeks via mail. You may qualify for a discount if you receive government assistance or meet other conditions that make you eligible for it.
Visit a Dispensary With Your Medical Marijuana Card
When your medical marijuana card is sent to your mail, the next step is to take your card to a licensed dispensary and make a purchase. If you are a first-time patient, you’ll need to schedule a consultation before placing an order. Once you’ve completed this, subsequent orders can be made online for easy pickup. There are several licensed dispensaries in Pennsylvania you can choose to visit.
Ensure You Renew Your Card the Next Year
In the state of Pennsylvania, your medical marijuana card is only valid for one year, after which you are required to update your certificate to continue with the program and keep making orders. To renew your card, visit the Department of Health’s website, log into your account on the website, and pay the $50 renewal fee. Once you’ve made your payment, contact your doctor or the certification company to renew your certification for another year.