If you’re new to the medical marijuana program in Pennsylvania, it may seem like there’s a lot to know. Fortunately, getting started is way simpler than it seems. This handy medical marijuana 101 guide will help you get started on your journey and ease your way to a newfound quality of life.
What is medical marijuana?
Medical marijuana refers to marijuana flower and all medicinal products derived from it. Medical marijuana is legal for registered patients and their caregivers to buy from licensed dispensaries in Pennsylvania. Vytal Options is one such licensed dispensary, serving medical marijuana patients in a number of communities, including Foglesville, Lansdale, Kennett Square, Lancaster, State College, and Harrisburg.
Check out this map to find the Vytal Options locations nearest to you.
Who can buy medical marijuana in Pennsylvania?
In Pennsylvania, state residents with a qualifying health condition who have applied and been approved for a medical marijuana identification card through the state Department of Health are eligible to purchase medical marijuana from state-licensed dispensaries.
To become a registered medical marijuana patient in Pennsylvania, you must first apply on the state website. Then, you must schedule an appointment with an approved medical practitioner to get certified and pay a fee to obtain your medical marijuana ID card. Once you have your ID card, you can visit any licensed medical marijuana dispensary in Pennsylvania.
In addition to registered medical marijuana patients, designated caregivers are also allowed to buy medical marijuana from a dispensary. Designated caregivers must also register for a medical marijuana ID card and pass a background check. Once they do so, they are permitted to purchase medical marijuana products from a licensed dispensary and deliver those products to the registered patient for whom they are a designated caregiver. You can appoint a designated caregiver if getting to the dispensary is a physical hardship. A minor patient also needs a caregiver.
Qualifying conditions for medical marijuana
The 24 qualifying conditions for a medical marijuana ID card in Pennsylvania are:
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- Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS)
- Autism
- Cancer, including remission therapy
- 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
- Epilepsy
- Glaucoma
- Positive status for Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) or Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS)
- Huntington’s Disease
- Inflammatory Bowel Disease
- Intractable Seizures
- Multiple Sclerosis
- Neuropathies
- Parkinson’s Disease
- Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
- Severe chronic or intractable pain of neuropathic origin or severe chronic or intractable pain
- Sickle Cell Anemia
- Neurodegenerative diseases
- Terminal illness
- Dyskinetic and spastic movement disorders
- Opioid use disorder for which conventional therapeutic interventions are contraindicated or ineffective, or for which adjunctive therapy is indicated in combination with primary therapeutic interventions
- Anxiety Disorders
- Tourette Syndrome
- Chronic Hepatitis C
Where can you buy medical marijuana in Pennsylvania?
Medical marijuana patients may legally purchase medical marijuana products from any licensed dispensary in the state. The state Department of Health website maintains a list of licensed dispensaries in Pennsylvania. As of 2023, there were 178 licensed medical marijuana dispensaries operating in Pennsylvania.
Registered patients and designated caregivers may not purchase medical marijuana products in another state and then transport those products into Pennsylvania. It is only legal to use medical marijuana that was purchased from licensed dispensaries within the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
Types of medical marijuana products available in Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania’s medical marijuana industry provides a range of different product types to patients. You may see the following on dispensary menus:
- Flower: Medical marijuana flower is harvested from mature plants. It is generally vaporized and inhaled, offering fast-acting relief and a short duration of effects. You can also use flower to make your own infusions at home. At Vytal Options, we carry flower from leading cultivators, including Insa, Strane, Cresco, and Seven Hills.
- Ingestibles: Ingestibles are consumed orally and include products like 1906 Boost drops, which are swallowed, and &Shine troches, which dissolve in your mouth. Ingestibles slowly ramp up their effects over time and provide longer-lasting relief.
- Vaporizers: Vaporizers and vape cartridges are inhaled products that come pre-loaded with distillate oil, providing fast-acting and potent relief. These easy-to-use products are compact, mobile, and discreet. At Vytal Options, we carry some of the top brands in medical marijuana vaping, including Insa, Cresco, Select, Calypso, and Moxie.
- Concentrates: Concentrates are potent medical marijuana products for high tolerance patients or those with symptoms that require significant levels of THC to manage. This category includes hash products like temple balls, as well as extracts like solventless rosin.
- Capsules: Medical marijuana capsules are orally-ingested products. These familiar products provide relief over time, are easily carried along with you on the go, and offer the utmost discretion. Some of these capsules contain Rick Simpson Oil (RSO).
- Tinctures: Medical marijuana tinctures are concentrated drops that offer potency, fast-acting effects, and a long-lasting duration. They are consumed by placing drops under your tongue.
- Topicals: Topicals include balms, bath soaks, creams, gels, and patches that are placed directly on the area in need of relief. Most topicals have a localized effect, targeting only the area on which they’re placed, making them great for joint pain or sore muscles. They are often used in conjunction with another product form, like flower or edibles.
- Rick Simpson Oil (RSO): This is a concentrated form of ingestible medical marijuana that doesn’t require heat. RSO typically comes in a syringe that’s used to push out a small amount at a time, typically the size of a grain of rice or smaller. You can also find RSO in capsules or in troche formulas to add to their potency.
If you’re not sure which medical marijuana products are right for you, set up a consultation with a Vytal Options pharmacist. These medical marijuana experts can help you find the right products for the symptoms you’re managing, making it easier to find the right products.
Where can medical marijuana be consumed in Pennsylvania?
PA Medical marijuana laws are similar to open container laws, which you may be familiar with. Consumption is permitted on private property, such as residential buildings or another privately owned location obscured from public view. You may consume medical marijuana in your backyard or at a friend’s home with their permission, for example.
Medical marijuana consumption is explicitly prohibited on public land, in a motor vehicle, or while traveling across state lines.
Get started with medical marijuana
Now that you know the most important things about Pennsylvania’s medical marijuana program, you’re ready to get started. If you’re already a registered medical marijuana patient, we hope to see you at Vytal Options soon. We’re looking forward to helping you browse our extensive inventory to find the best possible products for you, so you can better manage your symptoms and get back to living your life to its fullest.