Medical marijuana has been legal in Pennsylvania for nearly a decade for people with specific medical conditions, and nearly 440,0000 Pennsylvania residents have an active medical marijuana card.
But is it legal to consume medical marijuana in a public place, on public transportation or while a passenger in a vehicle?
And what about edible forms of marijuana, are they allowed?
Here’s what to know.
Yes, but only for people with qualifying debilitating medical conditions, who are registered with the Pennsylvania Department of Health as a medical marijuana patient or caregiver of a patient.
Pennsylvania was the 24th sate to legalize medical marijuana. The law here allows patients to buy liquid, oil, tintures, topicals and flowers to vaporize or nebulize.
First, you must register as a medical marijuana patient with the Pennsylvania Department of Health. This step requires a driver’s license or state-issued photo ID, and you must be at least 18 years old, according to risecannabis.com.
Caregivers who buy medical cannabis for someone else, including a minor, must be at least 21 years old and must complete a criminal background check as part of the state registration process.
Patients are also to complete a criminal background check, but even a felony conviction is not disqualifying.
The entire process may be completed online. The state fee is $50 a year.
Individuals who participate in certain low-income government programs may qualify for a free medical marijuana ID card.
Next, you need to obtain a medical marijuana certification, which are only available for an approved condition and through a state-approved doctor. The state has a list of approved practitioners online, and many conduct virtual appointments.
You’ll need to see a doctor once a year for recertification, but it doesn’t have to be the same doctor from year to year. The certification appointment is not covered under medical insurance.
No. The medical marijuana program explicitly forbids smoking marijuana like you would smoke a cigarette, but it does allow for the vaporization of the dried leaf or flower.
Premade edibles such as brownies or gummy candies are not sold in Pennsylvania dispensaries, but you may technically mix medical products into food and consume them.
Yes. An employer is not required to accommodate your cannabis use in Pennsylvania., according to risecannabis.com.
Even if you use marijuana for medicinal purposes, your employer can fire you if the test shows that there is THC in your system.
Anyone with a drug-related conviction in the previous five years and people with a history of drug abuse also may be ineligible, according to risecannabis.com.
No. Medical marijuana use is strictly limited to private property.
If you are not in your own home, you must have permission from the property owner to consume medical marijuana.
You’re not permitted to consume marijuana in public places in Pennsylvania. This includes streets, sidewalks and vehicles, even if you’re a passenger, plus federal property including national parks, schools, day cares and school buses.
Yes, the same way they can bar tenants from smoking on their property. Pennsylvania has no housing protections that prevent landlords from banning its use.
Marijuana is illegal under federal law, so private landlords are not required to allow its use, even for medical purposes.
Crime and courts reporter Jo Ciavaglia can be reached at jciavaglia@gannett.com.