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Medical Cannabis Patient Resources in Pennsylvania

Registry portal, DOH helpline, card renewal, qualifying conditions, caregiver info, and support for Pennsylvania's 440,000+ medical cannabis patients.

Last verified: March 2026

PA Medical Marijuana Program at a Glance

Pennsylvania's Medical Marijuana Program is administered by the Department of Health (DOH), Bureau of Medical Marijuana under Act 16 of 2016. With 440,000+ registered patients, it is the largest medical-only cannabis program in the United States.

Active Patients 440,000+
Approved Practitioners 1,901 (MD/DO with 4-hour DOH training)
Dispensary Locations ~150 (50 permits × up to 3 locations)
Patient Phone (888) 733-5595
Registry Portal padohmmp.custhelp.com
Dispensary Finder pa.gov/dispensaries
Card Fee $50/year ($0 for Medicaid/PACE/CHIP/SNAP/WIC)
Sales Tax 0%
Supply Limit 90-day supply / 192 units max

24 Qualifying Conditions

  1. ALS
  2. Anxiety disorders (~60% of certs)
  3. Autism
  4. Cancer (including remission)
  5. Chronic hepatitis C
  6. Crohn's disease
  7. CNS damage with spasticity
  8. Dyskinetic/spastic movement disorders
  9. Epilepsy
  10. Glaucoma
  11. HIV/AIDS
  12. Huntington's disease
  1. Inflammatory bowel disease
  2. Intractable seizures
  3. Multiple sclerosis
  4. Neurodegenerative diseases
  5. Neuropathies
  6. Opioid use disorder
  7. Parkinson's disease
  8. PTSD
  9. Severe chronic/intractable pain
  10. Sickle cell anemia
  11. Terminal illness
  12. Tourette syndrome

Anxiety disorders account for approximately 60% of all certifications. HB 533 has been introduced to replace the specific list with "any serious condition" language. See our full Qualifying Conditions guide for details on each condition.

Card Costs & Renewal

Fees

  • Annual card fee: $50
  • Assistance Program: $0 for patients on Medicaid, PACE/PACENET, CHIP, SNAP, or WIC
  • Caregiver fee: $50/year
  • Physician evaluation: $75–$199 (separate from card fee, telehealth accepted)

Annual Renewal Process

  1. Get a new physician certification (telehealth OK)
  2. Log into the registry portal at padohmmp.custhelp.com
  3. Pay the $50 renewal fee ($0 with Assistance Program)
  4. Receive your updated digital card (~7 days)

Start the renewal process at least 30 days before expiration to avoid gaps in access.

Caregivers

Patients may designate a caregiver to purchase and transport medical cannabis on their behalf. Requirements:

  • Must be 21 years of age or older
  • Must be a Pennsylvania resident
  • Must pass a criminal background check
  • Must pay a $50 annual registration fee

Caregivers are essential for minor patients (who require a parent or legal guardian as caregiver), homebound patients, and those with mobility limitations.

Employment Protections

Pennsylvania's Medical Marijuana Act includes employment protections under § 10231.2103:

  • Employers cannot discriminate against employees solely for being a certified medical cannabis patient
  • Employers can discipline for on-premises use or impairment
  • Federal and DOT positions are exempt from state protections

For full details, see Employment Protections.

Key Rules for Patients

  • No smoking: Flower is authorized for vaporization only
  • No edible purchases: Dispensaries cannot sell edibles, but you can infuse cannabis into food at home
  • No home growing: Cultivation is a felony — even for patients
  • No sharing: Your card is non-transferable. Only you (or your caregiver) can use it
  • Transport: Keep products in original dispensary packaging during transport

Cannabis Education

Our partner site TryCannabis.org provides free, research-backed educational content on:

  • Condition-specific guidance for anxiety, chronic pain, PTSD, and more
  • Dosing fundamentals and microdosing strategies
  • Methods of consumption — vaping, tinctures, topicals, capsules
  • CBD vs. THC, cannabinoids, and terpenes
  • Safety information including drug interactions and driving impairment

Contact the DOH

For questions about your patient account, card status, allotment, or the medical program:

Patient Advocacy Organizations

  • NORML Pennsylvania — norml.org/pennsylvania — patient rights, home cultivation advocacy, policy reform
  • Marijuana Policy Project — mpp.org — national organization with active PA legalization campaign
  • Keystone Cannabis Coalition — grassroots advocacy for cannabis reform in Pennsylvania

For the full list, see Organizations & Advocacy.

For in-depth cannabis education, dosing guides, safety information, and research summaries, visit our partner site TryCannabis.org